Halloween is just around the corner and what’s better than some cost-saving family fun activities, like making a Halloween pumpkin lantern or scarecrows. But before you dive into this: chack out what to grow this month:
Flowers: Begonia, Celosia, Dianthus, Salvia, Sunflower
Veggies: Capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, tomato, sweetcorn
Want to know more veggies to grow, find your climate here.
Make a Pumpkin lantern
Bonus, if this is in your garden already, but if not grab one from your local veggie store!
What you need:
- A whole pumpkin, you choose size and shape (ideally round)
- Pen
- Sharp knife
- Spoon/ice cream scooper
- Candle / battery-operated light.
Steps
- Take your pumpkin and mark up the face of your lantern. Tip: the bigger the gap and square (no points) the lines, the easier it is to cut out later and the more light shines through. See patterns below.
- Cut out a circle at the top and keep this for later. Tip: make sure it’s large enough to fit your hand in to scoop out the middle.
- Get the kids to scoop out all the seeds and inner flesh (save it for later to cook up a pumpkin soup or brownie and save the seeds to re-plant later), leaving just the bare minimum inside.
- It’s cutting time! Once you have removed all the inner flesh, it’s time to use your sharp knife and carefully cut out the face of your lantern. Great for the confident teens!
- Light ‘em up! Move the pumpkin where you want it, place the lit candle/light in the pumpkin.
- Put the cap back on and enjoy!
Make a Scarecrow
Building a scarecrow can be a fun family project that adds some character to your garden. It also helps protect your crops from birds!
What You Need:
- Old clothes,
- hats, and gloves
- Sugar Cane Mulch or leaves for stuffing
- Wooden stakes
Steps:
- Help your children stuff the clothes with straw or leaves.
- Attach the stuffed clothes to the wooden stake to form the body.
- Add accessories like a hat or gloves and place the scarecrow in your garden.
