A cool breeze is on the horizon blowing us toward the season of tricks, treats, and colorful foliage. Not unlike the wind that carried Dorothy to the Land of Oz, we’ll soon be transported to a different world as well: Trustees Halloween. With it comes autumnal celebrations across the state involving thousands of jack-o-lanterns, gourds, and fall treats. Yet unlike the smoke and mirrors of Oz himself, The Trustees holds true to the principles of sustainability and eco-friendliness throughout the season.

“Halloween is my favorite time of year,” said Amanda Duquette, Trustees Senior Regional Engagement Manager for the Western Hills and Berkshires. “I start celebrating on September 1, and The Trustees isn’t too far behind me!”

Those festivities kick off Friday, September 27 with The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show and Halloween on the Hill. For an entire month, Naumkeag (Stockbridge) and Long Hill (Beverly) are taken over by thousands of jack-o-lanterns, gourds, seasonal adornments, and fall treats. You might believe having so many seemingly disposable decorations isn’t very eco-friendly for a preservation and conservation nonprofit, but that’s where you’re mistaken.

“We put a lot of thought into how we can be environmentally mindful every year,” said Julie Olivere, Trustees Senior Regional Engagement Manager for North Shore Properties. “We practice what we preach here at The Trustees!”

Funkins, Pumpkins, and Gourds, Oh My!

That practice takes the form of Funkins, foam pumpkins that are carefully crafted and painted to look just like real pumpkins. Over 3,000 are displayed at Naumkeag and Long Hill—with more added each year—as replacements for pumpkins that would rot and need to be thrown away after every Halloween.

“The best part is that people don’t know they’re fake until they’re told or get up close to touch it,” said Olivere. “Using Funkins we’re able to be sustainable but also economical.”

Each year in August, the Funkins are pulled out of storage and assessed for their overall quality. If some need to be fixed due to weathering or breaks in the design, they’re taken to the “pumpkin hospital” where Trustees staff and volunteers use hot glue and toothpicks to put them back together.

“If something is too broken, we’ll think of a way to reuse as much of it as we can,” said Duquette. “That’s where the idea of the ‘Face Wall’ came at Naumkeag, a space where we could reuse single sides of broken Funkins in a captivating new section of the show.”

Not every damaged Funkin can be salvaged though, and a few dozen are disposed of yearly. Replacing them—and adding more—keeps Trustees Halloween fresh for return visitors. Local artists carve intricate designs into the foam, adding exciting new themes and enlivening older sections.

We Aren’t in a Landfill Anymore

While Funkins are the majority of what you’ll see during Trustees Halloween, around 200 real gourds (which includes close to 60 pumpkins) decorate The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show. However, their yearly acquisition, use, and disposal are all done with sustainability top of mind.

Only a 10-minute drive down the road from Naumkeag is a local farm where the gourds and pumpkins are grown and procured. Trustees staff and volunteers carve dozens of jack-o-lanterns from them, scooping out the seeds and innards that go back to local farmers to feed their livestock. Sometimes, the carvers will take the seeds home to roast for a special fall treat, and in past years a few buckets have gone to local schools.

Throughout the Halloween season, a handful of jack-o-lanterns and gourds will be replaced due to weather damage or rot. Yet even when they’re discarded—whether it’s throughout October or when the show has finished—the organic material is composted.
This upcycling and composting work together to ensure that even when real gourds are used for decoration, The Trustees are keeping sustainability and the environment in mind.

There’s No Place like Sustainable

Being environmentally mindful doesn’t end at the autumnal decorations; It extends to the fall treats and seasonal retail items as well. You’ll notice when walking through Naumkeag or Long Hill that single-use plastic is limited. Water comes in reusable aluminum cans, drinking cups and lids are compostable, and shopping bags are paper (if you need one at all).

Even the food and gifts themselves are as local as possible. Long Hill’s pop-up retail shop during Halloween on the Hill is full of local products boasting themes from the Trustees sustainability mission. The majority of Naumkeag’s food comes from local farm stands, and alcoholic beverages are from a local distillery just down the road.

“We try to be as eco-friendly as we can in all facets,” said Olivere. “We’ve come a long way since the first Halloween on the Hill only a few years ago and are still finding little ways we can make a big impact.”

Experience Trustees Halloween firsthand! Attend this year’s events from Friday, September 27–Sunday, October 27 on Wednesdays–Sundays.

The Trustees Member Pre-Sale starts Thursday, September 5. Not yet a Member? Click here to join and gain access to the pre-sale!