Among the princesses, pirates, and popstars at Canton Village Park this past Saturday, a makeshift pumpkin patch waited for its first curious artisan to arrive. As attendees chose their gourds and began to shovel seed-studded guts into compost buckets, an unexpected visitor made an appearance. A beautiful monarch butterfly settled delicately upon a pumpkin. Did the butterfly feel kinship with its orange brethren? Did it want to be a part of the day's excitement? Or, the most likely conclusion, was the butterfly attracted to the abundant delicacies of sweet pumpkin rind? 

Whatever the reason for the butterfly's alighting, the attendees of Nature Up North's carving station were excited to greet another pumpkin enthusiast.  

On October 24, the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce hosted Phantoms in the Park, a Halloween extravaganza amassing over 200 attendees and featuring family-friendly activities, a costume contest, and of course generous amounts of candy. For the second year running, Nature Up North partnered with Grasse River Heritage to host a pumpkin carving station with an eco-friendly mission. Children sketched spooky faces on the gourds using dry-erase markers before handing off their designs to Nature Up North staff to carve. Wiping off the markers from the smooth pumpkin canvas made the carved rind safely compostable. While intrepid crafters deposited their pumpkins' icky innards in North Country Compost buckets provided by Coakley Home and Hardware, Nature Up North staff handed out informational flyers with tips for at-home composting.  

By the end of the event, 20 pumpkins had been creatively carved, transformed by attendees into grimacing ghouls and jeering jesters alike. Grasse River Heritage and Nature Up North staff then moved the jack-o'-lanterns to the lovely Heritage Park where they could be admired by the community and brought home by their makers.  

Pumpkin carving is a beloved tradition that sparks creativity and connection across generations, and it can hold even more meaning when environmental care is incorporated into the process. It is quite special that a humble plant is so integral to annual Halloween celebrations worldwide. Closing the loop and returning nutrients to the soil by composting can be a great way of expressing one's appreciation for the Earth's gifts. Who knows, your jack-o'-lantern may end up being a butterfly's dessert! 

Photos by AJ DiFranco and Yasemin Eissenstat