October badge Pumpkins and squash

[lillizzie24]

Pumpkins

this months leaders are @beanbean @DaddyRaven  and if needed @lillizzie24. Please pick a leader and ask them before starting the badge. 

Please pick 3 to 5 activities

1. Research

a. Learn How to grow a pumpkin or squash

b. Learn the health benefits of pumpkin and squash

c. learn the different types of pumpkins and squash

d. learn the history of the jack o lantern

e. learn what the largest pumpkin on record is.

2. Pumpkin fun

a. Make a jack o lantern out of anything you can find. It can be pumpkins, gourds, fruit, veggies, paper, fake pumpkins. Be as creative as you can!

b. color a pumpkin picture or squash

c. make pumpkin slime

     https://eatingrichly.com/pumpkin-slime-recipe/

d. go to a pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin

e. read a pumpkin story

    some stories u can find on YouTube are the runaway pumpkin,  the pumpkin thief, Pete the cat and the 5 little pumpkins, pumpkin soup and so much more!

 

3. cooking with pumpkin and squash 

a. find fun pumpkin  and squash recipes and share your favorites

b. make a pumpkin desert

c, cook with squash and try different varieties of it

d. roast pumpkin seeds

[jenny70]

@lillizzie24 can you be my leader?

[lillizzie24]

12 minutes ago, jenny70 said:

@lillizzie24 can you be my leader?

sure I can!

[lillizzie24]

@beanbean will you be my leader

[beanbean]

Of course 

[jenny70]

15 hours ago, lillizzie24 said:

sure I can!

Thank you!!!! 

 

[jenny70]

20 minutes ago, jenny70 said:

So, where do I put my research at? Thank you

 

 

 

[beanbean]

1 hour ago, jenny70 said:

Thank you!!!! 

 

I am very excited to see you what you can do with these themes 

[BabyPoppy]

1 hour ago, jenny70 said:

 

Under the category of Photos can go here, start a new topic with your name and the name of the badge. So I would put Poppy's Pumpkin Badge, the type up what you have for research. 

[jenny70]

2 hours ago, beanbean said:

I am very excited to see you what you can do with these themes 

☺️

[jenny70]

I have to ask about the jack o lantern origins, I looked it up and I dont think littles need to read it

[BabyPoppy]

I know it... I agree it's violent... 

[PrincessGraci]

@beanbean will you please be my leader for this badge?

[beanbean]

3 minutes ago, PrincessGraci said:

@beanbean will you please be my leader for this badge?

Of course looking forward to what yo can do

[jenny70]

9 hours ago, BabyPoppy said:

I know it... I agree it's violent... 

So, the G version or the extreme disturbing version 

[BabyPoppy]

12 minutes ago, jenny70 said:

So, the G version or the extreme disturbing version 

 

@lillizzie24 will need to answer that.  It's her badge. 

[lillizzie24]

G version defnitely

[jenny70]

Just now, lillizzie24 said:

G version defnitely

Is this where I put my badge research?

 

[lillizzie24]

1 minute ago, jenny70 said:

Is this where I put my badge research?

 

start a new post under monthly badges

[jenny70]

Research- 
Learn the health benefits of pumpkin and squash-Pumpkins and winter squashes are nutrient-dense powerhouses loaded with beta-carotene, fiber, and essential vitamins that support eye, heart, and immune health
Improves Vision: High levels of beta-carotene (which converts to Vitamin A) plus antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin help protect eyes from cellular damage and age-related sight loss.
 Boosts Immunity: A rich blend of vitamins A, C, and E strengthens the body's defenses and helps you recover faster from infections.
 Supports Heart Health: Potassium and magnesium work to regulate blood pressure, while dietary fiber helps lower cholesterol levels.
Aids Digestion and Weight Management: Packed with water and soluble fiber, these gourds promote a healthy gut microbiome, support regular bowel movements, and increase satiety with very few calories

Learn the different types of pumpkins and squash-
A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. It may be used in reference to many different squashes of varied appearance and belonging to multiple species in the Cucurbita genus.
Squashes are a kind of vegetable. They are originally from the Americas. Gourds are in the same family as squashes. Pumpkins and zucchini (courgette) are types of squashes. Although squash is a fruit according to its botanical classification, it is generally considered a vegetable in food preparation. A squash can grow up to fifteen feet tall.

Learn what the largest pumpkin on record is-The heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,278.8 kg (2,819 lb 4 oz) when it was presented by twin brothers Ian and Stuart Paton (both UK) at the 6th Wargrave Nursery Giant Vegetable Weigh-off in Wargrave, Berkshire, UK, on 6 October 2025. The record was confirmed by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth

Read a pumpkin story https://youtu.be/EaFpqFBwlvw?si=QFqYIUOfL-xJPnjg

Find fun pumpkin  and squash recipes and share your favorites-
classic squash and pumpkin soup
potato squash and pumpkin gratin
pumpkin and peanut butter stew
one pot Cajun pumpkin
winter squash carbonara

An long time ago, the tradition of making jack-o'-lanterns started across the ocean in Ireland and Scotland, but people didn't use pumpkins at all—they used turnips, beets, and potatoes!
🥔 The Vegetable Monsters
• Scaring Away Spirits: Families believed that during the fall season, the curtain between our world and the spirit world grew very thin.
• Creepy Lanterns: To protect their homes, children would hollow out large turnips, carve spooky faces into them, and place a glowing candle inside.
• Porch Protectors: They set these glowing turnip monsters on windowsills and front porches to scare away wandering ghosts, including a tricky man named Stingy Jack.
🎃 Finding the Perfect Pumpkin
• Moving to America: Hundreds of years later, many Irish and Scottish families packed up their bags and moved across the ocean to America.
• The Big Discovery: When they arrived, they couldn't find many turnips to carve, but they found something much better growing in the fields: pumpkins!
• An Upgrade for Halloween: The families realized that pumpkins were native to America, much bigger, softer, and way easier to hollow out and carve than tiny, hard turnips.
A fun new holiday tradition was born! Today, children carry on this centuries-old custom by carving happy, silly, or spooky faces into pumpkins every October to celebrate Halloween with their families.

 

[lillizzie24]

2 hours ago, jenny70 said:

Research- 
Learn the health benefits of pumpkin and squash-Pumpkins and winter squashes are nutrient-dense powerhouses loaded with beta-carotene, fiber, and essential vitamins that support eye, heart, and immune health
Improves Vision: High levels of beta-carotene (which converts to Vitamin A) plus antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin help protect eyes from cellular damage and age-related sight loss.
 Boosts Immunity: A rich blend of vitamins A, C, and E strengthens the body's defenses and helps you recover faster from infections.
 Supports Heart Health: Potassium and magnesium work to regulate blood pressure, while dietary fiber helps lower cholesterol levels.
Aids Digestion and Weight Management: Packed with water and soluble fiber, these gourds promote a healthy gut microbiome, support regular bowel movements, and increase satiety with very few calories

Learn the different types of pumpkins and squash-
A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. It may be used in reference to many different squashes of varied appearance and belonging to multiple species in the Cucurbita genus.
Squashes are a kind of vegetable. They are originally from the Americas. Gourds are in the same family as squashes. Pumpkins and zucchini (courgette) are types of squashes. Although squash is a fruit according to its botanical classification, it is generally considered a vegetable in food preparation. A squash can grow up to fifteen feet tall.

Learn what the largest pumpkin on record is-The heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,278.8 kg (2,819 lb 4 oz) when it was presented by twin brothers Ian and Stuart Paton (both UK) at the 6th Wargrave Nursery Giant Vegetable Weigh-off in Wargrave, Berkshire, UK, on 6 October 2025. The record was confirmed by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth

Read a pumpkin story https://youtu.be/EaFpqFBwlvw?si=QFqYIUOfL-xJPnjg

Find fun pumpkin  and squash recipes and share your favorites-
classic squash and pumpkin soup
potato squash and pumpkin gratin
pumpkin and peanut butter stew
one pot Cajun pumpkin
winter squash carbonara

An long time ago, the tradition of making jack-o'-lanterns started across the ocean in Ireland and Scotland, but people didn't use pumpkins at all—they used turnips, beets, and potatoes!
🥔 The Vegetable Monsters
• Scaring Away Spirits: Families believed that during the fall season, the curtain between our world and the spirit world grew very thin.
• Creepy Lanterns: To protect their homes, children would hollow out large turnips, carve spooky faces into them, and place a glowing candle inside.
• Porch Protectors: They set these glowing turnip monsters on windowsills and front porches to scare away wandering ghosts, including a tricky man named Stingy Jack.
🎃 Finding the Perfect Pumpkin
• Moving to America: Hundreds of years later, many Irish and Scottish families packed up their bags and moved across the ocean to America.
• The Big Discovery: When they arrived, they couldn't find many turnips to carve, but they found something much better growing in the fields: pumpkins!
• An Upgrade for Halloween: The families realized that pumpkins were native to America, much bigger, softer, and way easier to hollow out and carve than tiny, hard turnips.
A fun new holiday tradition was born! Today, children carry on this centuries-old custom by carving happy, silly, or spooky faces into pumpkins every October to celebrate Halloween with their families.

 

great job u have earned your pumpkin badge

1

[RoseyLittle]

@beanbean Would you be able to be my leader this month please? I plan on going to a pumpkin patch and picking pumpkins, making jack o lanterns, roasting pumpkin seeds and coloring a pumpkin picture. 🎃

[beanbean]

16 hours ago, RoseyLittle said:

@beanbean Would you be able to be my leader this month please? I plan on going to a pumpkin patch and picking pumpkins, making jack o lanterns, roasting pumpkin seeds and coloring a pumpkin picture. 🎃

Of course 

[RoseyLittle]

7 hours ago, beanbean said:

Of course 

Thank you ☺️ 

[beanbean]

Always looking forward to seeing what you do