Pumpkins can be ‘rescued’ from landfill

Free service takes them for composting

PORT ANGELES — SisterLand Farms is collecting unwanted pumpkins for its inaugural Jack’O’Lantern and Pumpkin Rescue on Friday.

Port Angeles-based SisterLand Farms is joining forces with WSU Clallam County Extension and Country Aire Natural Foods to divert thousands of pounds of pumpkins from regional landfills following Halloween celebrations, according to a press release.

Unwanted pumpkins and jack’o’lanterns can be brought to Country Aire, 200 W. First St., Port Angeles, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday.

SisterLand and Clallam County Extension will have helpers on site, ready to take the pumpkins and compost them, returning them to the local food system. The one-day-only service is free.

Of the 2 billion pumpkins produced in the USA each year, it’s estimated that 1.3 billion end up in landfills, according to Arlene Jenson, co-founder of Sisterland Farms, in the release.

For each 100 pounds of pumpkins wasted, 8.3 pounds of methane — a potent greenhouse gas — is released, Jenson said, adding that the transportation of pumpkin waste to distant landfills itself creates a hefty carbon footprint.

“With the passing of House Bill 1799, Washington has to enact plans to reduce its organics waste by 75 percent before 2030,” Jenson added.

“Diverting pumpkins from landfills might seem like a small thing for our farm to do, but when you consider the weight of this material and its associated greenhouse gas emissions, it’s actually an enormous opportunity to do the right thing.”

Jenson said that after partnering with Port Angeles Fine Arts Center to compost the tons of pumpkin waste created at its annual Celebration of Shadows, “it became clear that a city-wide pumpkin drop-off was sorely needed.”

SisterLand Farms has experience in composting organic waste. It operates Clallam County’s only kitchen waste compost pick-up program that serves Port Angeles homes and businesses.

Each year, the farm collects and processes over 30,000 pounds of organics waste like apples, banana peels, coffee grounds, brown paper, tea bags and spoiled food.

After a year of turning this compost with manure and straw, the soil is used to grow flowers.

“Then, after a year of flower production, the compost can be used to safely grow more fresh food for sale and donation; a system that keeps nutrients in regional soils and in Port Angeles’ kitchens,” Jenson said.

For more about Sisterland Farms, see sisterlandfarms.com.

More in News

Port Angeles teachers’ union votes to honor paraeducators’ picket line on April 8

Members of the Port Angeles Education Association voted overwhelmingly… Continue reading

Funding needed for Port Townsend homeless shelter

Operation at Legion Hall to close April 30

Fire district volunteers lauded

Clallam County Fire District No. 3 recently recognized seven members… Continue reading

Clallam to continue providing deputy to Forks

Contract includes wages, mileage and maintenance reimbursement

Maintenance closes section of Olympic Discovery Trail

A portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail is closed… Continue reading

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif., members of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and working with the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Board, remove poisonous hemlock weed from along the Larry Scott Trail in Port Townsend on Monday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Poison hemlock removal in Port Townsend

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif.,… Continue reading

YMCA to build childcare facility

$1-2M still needed for $6.7M project

Port Townsend Police Department recognizes award recipients

The Port Townsend Police Department recognized officers, employees, volunteers… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School evacuated due to bomb threat

Nothing suspicious found, principal says

A tree that has grown out of its tree box and shattered a nearby curb and sidewalk in the 100 block of North Oak Street is among those targeted for removal and replacement in downtown Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles tree and sidewalk replacement to begin Monday

The Port Angeles downtown tree and sidewalk replacement project… Continue reading

Grant for Forks treatment plant to be discussed

The Clallam County Opportunity Fund Advisory Board will discuss… Continue reading

Planned power outage to affect 4,100 West End customers Thursday night

Clallam County Public Utility District No. 1 will turn off… Continue reading