Pumpkin Lunacy!   It's that time of the year again when the trees begin to turn and people say: I've never bowled with a pumpkin?  Let's give it a go and google it!   Well here you are for more factoids that you can never use again except near Halloween!

Pumpkins are believed to have originated in Central America and appear to date back 7000 years ago.

The pumpkin capital of the world is Morton, Illinois (figures!) where Libby has it's pumpkin industry and plant.

Pumpkins are grown on six of the seven continents, with Antarctica being the only continent where they are not grown.

Pumpkin carving comes from ancient Celtic (Irish) traditions. But, at the time, they didn't carve pumpkins, they carved turnips and rutabagas.

The previous world record for the heaviest pumpkin is held by Geneva Emmons from Canby, Oregon. Her record pumpkin weighed 1,262 pounds.  The new world record for the heaviest pumpkin is 1337.6 pounds grown by Charlie Houghton of New Hampshire. Now that's a lot of pumpkin!

I gotta find a pumpkin!  Pumpkin Farm list by counties!

Anatomy of a Pumpkin

Pumpkin Carving Stencils

Pumpkin Party Suggestions

Pumpkin Bowling  (will you need shoes?)

Preparation and Cleaning

When selecting pumpkins for carving, lighter colored ones carve easier, as they are softer. The downside is they do not last as long.

Pick a pumpkin with a nice stem and a carvable face.

Clean the pumpkins off outside by washing them off with plain water and a sponge. Allow to dry.  Keep the pumpkin outside, or in a cool place, until you are ready to carve it.

Pumpkin Ideas and Tips

Use an ice-cream scoop to clean out your pumpkin instead of bending your kitchen spoons.

For a unique jack-o’lantern, add a little glow paint, or fake blood.

Insert a bowl into a carved pumpkin and add dry ice and warm water to create an extra spooky, smoke filled jack-o’-lantern.

Making your Pumpkin Last

Apply a light coating of petroleum jelly on the cuts. It will seal the wound and the pumpkin will last longer. After carving, place the pumpkin in a cool, dark place. It will spoil quickly if left at room temperature and will attract fruit flies.

Did you know? You can usually revive shriveled pumpkins by soaking them in a bucket of water.

Serious Pumpkin Designing and People with too much time on their hands!

Pumpkin Carving Gallery (you might have to click on gallery, then pumpkins)  

This is serious sculpting here!  Great stuff!   Pumpkin Art

Extreme Carving

Resources:
http://www.stevespumpkinart.com/
http://www.pumpkinart.ca/gallery.htm
popsnchellor.blogspot.com
mylt.ltcdn.com
www.crainium.net