It’s the end of the growing season, when pumpkins shrivel on porches and leaves blanket our yards. But instead of sending that fall waste to the landfill, gardeners can turn it into something useful.

Seamus Allman is the urban horticulture manager at Louisville Grows, where he helps residents care for community gardens and build healthier soil.

I spoke with Seamus about composting pumpkins, reusing leaves, and how to prepare gardens for the next season.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Ayisha Jaffer: It's just after Halloween, and a lot of us are staring at those collapsing pumpkins on our porches. What's the best thing we can do with them? And why is that better than throwing them out?

SA: Some people may already have a compost pile. This is an opportunity to

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