Create Some Jack-o’-lantern Magic  by Carving Your Own Pumpkin in the Dark

National Pumpkin Day

As a young child I participated in many activities for Halloween. I wore a costume and went trick-or-treating. I watched the iconic  “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” TV special. And like most kids I ate too much candy! However, making a jack-o’-lantern was not apart of this  scary holiday ritual. Then during college a guy I dated  suggested we carve a pumpkin together. This was my first foray into creating some Jack-o’-lantern magic.

Although, I haven’t carved a pumpkin since college and am blind now, I still want to honor this Halloween tradition on National Pumpkin day, which is Thursday, Oct 26. It doesn’t matter whether you are blind or sighted, young or old this is a great activity you can do with friends or family. So read these helpful hacks  for selecting  and carving your pumpkin in the dark.

Selecting the Perfect Pumpkin

Before you start your knife wheeling techniques on one of these orange colored gourds it is important to select the best one from the grocery store or pumpkin patch. Here are some tips from Better Homes and Gardens.

1. search for a variety of Pumpkins. These members of the squash family produce fruits in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Select from huge, tiny, stumpy, tall and even bumpy.

2. Look for Green Stems. We tend to focus so much on a pumpkin’s rind that it’s easy to miss the stem, but this part of the pumpkin can give you some big clues about the freshness of the fruit. Look for a firm, dark green stem, and avoid those that look brownish, mushy, or dried out. A cut stem acts like a wick that seeps water from the inside of the pumpkin, leading quickly to shriveling.

3. Make Sure Your Pumpkins Sound Hollow. Like watermelons, the best picked pumpkins have a deep, hollow sound when you tap them. To test for a good one, hold the pumpkin with one hand, place your ear next to the pumpkin, and knock on its side with the knuckles of your other hand. If you hear an echoing, hollow sound, it’s a good one. The louder the sound, the better.

4. Check for Firmness. When pumpkins are ready to harvest, their skin turns leathery and firm. Give the skin a gentle poke with your fingernail. If it springs right back or doesn’t give at all, you know you’ve found one at its peak. Then, check it for soft spots, especially where the pumpkin is touching the ground. If the flesh feels spongy when you press it with a finger, move on.

5. Don’t Ignore Wounds. Pumpkin skin acts like human skin when it gets cut or scraped; those wounds are prone to infection. Open cuts (including once it’s carved) will cause the whole thing to rot faster than if it’s fully intact. Even if your pumpkins appear unblemished, you can reduce rotting by washing the outside with a diluted bleach solution. After that, if you keep them in a cool, dry place and make sure they aren’t exposed to freezing temperatures, your pumpkins could last for several months.

Pumpkin Designing Decisions

After selecting your perfect pumpkin decide what  type of face and/or decorations  you want. Will your jack-o’-lantern be happy? Scary? Round? Lopsided?  Next get your supplies organized. You will need a sharp serrated knife, ice cream scooper, bowls, tape/glue, template  materials and extras for a nice finishing touch.

let the creative juices flow  with  your pumpkin design. The key is making a tactual template that you can then cut around. This template can be made from a variety of materials. Use masking/painting tape, pipe cleaners, wiki sticks, yarn, or paper folded in the desired shapes.

Knife Safety

Be aware and Practice knife safety skills When carving the pumpkin. Use a sharp knife, cutting with the blade away from you. Clean the knife properly after cutting. Then store the knife in a designated location afterward. Some people think that knives are too dangerous for people  with low vision or blindness. But I push back on that assumption. I use sharp knives daily  and have  minimum problems.

The key is  educating yourself on the variety  and styles of knives. Using proper cutting techniques  and then cleaning and storing. I found a great  blog post about knives and vision loss on the VisionAware website.

Your Pumpkin Carving Checklist

Okay, let’s check everything off before we start carving:

• Got your pumpkin? Check.
• Got supplies organized and ready to go? Check.
• Decided on your design ? Check.
• Know how to properly use a sharp knife? Check.

Is everything on your list checked off? If so let’s create some jack-o’-lantern magic!

1. Design Your Pumpkin

First design your pumpkin by taping or gluing down your materials to create a template. Next, cut a circle around the stem to form a lid. Cut with the knife at an angle and away from the stem. This will allow the lid to rest on the top instead of falling down into the pumpkin.

2. Scoop Out Flesh and Seeds

Scoop out the inside. Use your hands and an ice cream scooper or spoon to scrape out the pumpkin flesh and seeds. You can separate  and use the seeds  to roast for a healthy snack. Just toss them in oil or melted butter, add salt and seasonings if desired. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet and cook for about 45 minutes. The flesh can be used to make a pumpkin pie or some other  yummy dessert.

3. Carve Your Pumpkin

After scooping out all the flesh and seeds. Cut the design you created on your template. You can also use tactual materials  like googly eyes, colored tape, bump dots, adhesive braille labels or  confetti. The goal is to have lots of fun. If you are working with blind or low vision children  read  these articles on festive pumpkin fun:

1. Pumpkin Themed Literacy Ideas

2.  Pumpkin Activities for Children Who Are Blind or Low Vision

3. 10 Accessible Pumpkin Ideas  for Halloween for a Child Who is Blind

4. Display Your Pumpkin

Lastly, it is time to display  your masterpiece. Place a battery operated tea light candle in your pumpkin  for light. Cover the openings with colored tissue paper to give your pumpkin a festive glow. Surround it with pumpkins of other sizes, a bowl full of candy and sweet treats, pine combs or other greenery as finishing touches.

So, there you have it! With a little planning and creative ideas  you can successfully create some jack-o’-lantern magic  by carving your own pumpkin in the dark.