Instructions for Halloween bean art below!
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As the full moon rises and shadows creep across the yard something sinister lurks in the darkness…but it’s not just ghouls and goblins—it’s waste!

Halloween is a time for thrills, creativity, and spooky celebrations, but it often comes with a heavy environmental cost—plastic decorations, single-use costumes, and individually wrapped candies haunt landfills long after the jack-o’-lanterns fade away. This October, Mimi’s Zero Waste Market dares you to break the cycle and conjure up an eco-friendlier Halloween. All the fun with fewer frights for the planet!

Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About with Sustainable Décor

Skip the plastic pumpkins! These eco-friendly alternatives will not only reduce waste but also add natural fall charm to your home or office:

• Local Pumpkins and Fall Gourds: Purchase your pumpkins (for carving and baking) from a Washington farm or a business that locally sourced their produce. Illinois, California, and Indiana are three of the top pumpkin producers in the United States, so be conscious of sourcing for your gourds. This reduces transportation emissions and supports nearby agriculture. If your pumpkins are still fairly fresh after Halloween, leave them out in the yard for squirrels to enjoy or compost them at the end of the season.

 

• Jar Lid Pumpkins: This option is for those of us that have an out-of-control collection of Mason jar lids. With the help of jute string and a couple of cinnamon sticks, you can make rustic pumpkins in just a few minutes. After Halloween, disassemble and use the lids again.

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Check out step-by-step instructions by Crafts By Amanda to get started!

• Bean Art: Craft pumpkins, skulls, or spiders from dried beans—everyone in the family can help! Come fill up jars with black beans, Great Northern white beans, and pinto beans for your color palette.

Check out instructions by DIY Candy to get started with this project!

• Natural Elements: On your next walk, gather leaves, pinecones, and twigs for simple décor like garlands or wreaths. As with pumpkins, you can compost everything at the end of the season.

Creep It Real with DIY Costumes

The best costumes don’t come prepackaged, but instead from flexing your imagination to make a truly one-of-a-kind outfit: 

• From Your Closet: Look at your current wardrobe through a creative lens – a black dress is a great start for a witch, an old striped shirt transforms into a pirate, and a strategically tied bed sheet turns into a toga.

• Thrift Stores: Check out the thrift stores in your community. You’ll likely find unique costume pieces from hats and jewelry to shoes and purses. There’s also a chance you’ll be able to wear your purchases all year round.
• Costume Swap: Organize a Halloween-themed swap with friends or neighbors to give new life to already loved costumes (and décor), or post last year’s costumes on your local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook.

No Tricks, Just Treats with Greener Candy Choices

You can enjoy all the delicious treats of Halloween and still be conscious of your holiday footprint with mindful candy choices:

• Big Name Candy Options: When you’re in the store, take a careful look at all the different packaged candies available. Some classic goodies – such as Dots and Junior Mints – offer individually-wrapped treats in cardboard packaging instead of plastic wrappers.
• Bulk Candy: Consider skipping your usual candy aisle and grab bulk treats instead. Package goodies in small, compostable bags. We use them at the market—perfect for candy bundles, sealed with fun washi tape!
• Candy Collectors: Avoid using single-use plastic bags and buckets to collect your mountains of candy. Bust out the tried-and-true pillow case, a canvas tote, or a reusable shopping bag to hold your candy haul. You can even decorate your reusable candy bag to be more festive for the season.

Scary Good Recipes with Mimi’s Zero Waste Market

Visit Mimi’s Zero Waste Market to stock up on high-quality, package-free ingredients for your favorite fall recipes or try something new. Eating Richly suggests this delicious pumpkin bread recipe and offers additional tips for using your whole pumpkin.

 Pumpkin Guts Bread

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Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (gluten free options available)
• 3 cups sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 eggs, beaten (or flaxseed egg for vegan)
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or sunflower oil)
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups of fresh pumpkin guts, the stringy part separated from the seeds
• 1 cup chopped pecans, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease two 9x5 loaf pans well, then dust with flour.
2. Use your fingers and a pair of scissors to separate the pumpkin guts (put seeds aside to roast separately!)
3. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
4. Add eggs, oil, water and pumpkin. Stir until you have a smooth batter.
5. If using pecans, you can mix the nuts
6. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 1 hour, and check for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, your loaves are done.
7. Cool slightly in the pans (about 10 minutes) then let them cool directly on a rack.

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