Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater: Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Everywhere!



pumpkin knitting is fun!

In honor of autumn, I have dedicated this blog post to the lovely, versatile, amazing pumpkin. There aren't many things that can be used for food and decorations, but pumpkins (along with other squash) can be both. Pumpkins have been around for quite awhile, with the earliest known seeds dating back between 7000-5500 BC, which were found in Mexico (Thanks, Wikipedia). Pumpkins can be grown on every continent except Antarctica, with the U.S., Mexico, India, and China being the largest producers. In the U.S. alone, 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced every year, of which 95% are grown in Illinois. The other 5% of pumpkin-producing states include Indiana (yay!), Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.


pumpkin pie


Pumpkin is an extremely versatile food. It can be sweet or savory, put into a Thanksgiving classic like pumpkin pie, or whipped into a creamy pumpkin soup. Almost everything about a pumpkin is edible, including the shell, leaves, and flowers. It is definitely a staple food at many autumn gatherings, and if you're lucky, hopefully you'll be able to sample more dishes other than pumpkin pie (like pumpkin cookies, yum). Of course, pumpkins are also carved every year at Halloween, something many people look forward to, including myself. Last year I went for a large open-mouth motif (think: scream). It was a little creepy at night.


party in my pumpkin



Autumn, my favorite season, the season of all seasons, makes Ben White Forist happy (and me, too). Last year, we invented a lovely arrangement in a ceramic pumpkin container, and it was quite a hit (pictured right, Party in My Pumpkin). Well, the ceramic pumkins arrived today, packaged in bubble wrap, anxiously awaiting their new homes and ready for you, our beloved customer, to purchase. Not only do they look lovely in your home beautifully arranged with flowers, but once cleaned out, they become amazing candy dishes (or whatever your heart desires).