What fun! I don't know why, but I never heard the story of the Jack O'Lantern! I really enjoyed that.
The trivia is great too! We give our dogs canned pumpkin and our chickens too, but looks like we should give it to the chickens raw!
Also love the recipes!

Great job!

Wonderful article Chris. I enjoyed reading it.
Our chickens LOVE raw pumpkin and the seeds. Honey bees love the flowers too.

Hi Margaret, can I ask, how do you serve the pumpkin to the chickens? I mean, do you just give them a big chunk and let the peck at it or otherwise?

Toss them over the fence and hope they bust apart is my usual method but sometimes will cut them up and toss them over. They fight over them especially the seeds and they don't leave anything but the thin outer hull when they get done. One very large pumpkin might last them about 10 minutes if that as many are attacking it. DH likes to grow them but we don't eat many so 9 plants produce plenty for the chickens plus one of my friends husband brings what he doesn't sell.

Chris what a fun article this was to read. Not just fun though, it was filled with interesting information some of which I had not heard about before. I did not know that pumpkin was originally used for the crust, not the filling. : )
Can't wait to try the recipe Pumpkin Pie Dessert Squares.

It was a fun article to write. I learned some things too!

Lynn, a dear friend gave me that recipe and they are delicious.

But, but, I always heard they are considered squash, which is a veggie--I'm so corn-fused!
I love them, I always line up a few on the front porch for the squirrels to nibble. I figure I can enjoy their beauty before the holes get too big.

Well, I learned a very interesting thing just today. Most canned pumpkin IS actually squash! Check this out:

http://www.thekitchn.com/theki...

I knew that bit of information. We have a big cannery here that does the pumpkins and squash. And not all canned 'pumpkin' is created equal. I happen to love the Libby's brand, but have made pumpkin pies from scratch that were just as good, but a lot more work.

great!!!!-i have a license plate here[in australia] from the Morton pumpkin festival.,,.sometimes i wish i could smuggle those big 'atlantic' pumpkin seeds into my state.,,..,Yes, i do like pumpkin,baked, and served alongside potatos and sweet potatos and parsnips

This was a very well researched and written article.
I have enjoyed reading it! Thank you!

Entertaining read and thanks for the recipe; may try it one day...

Thanks Caroline and Bev!