Organic, locally grown jack-o-lanterns

Heather often teases me for being the Cliff Claven-type. Always wanting to chime in with trivial bits of info that I've just come across and am dying to share...

So in that vein... The origin of the jack-o-lantern. Does anyone know? Really, now. Why would anyone in their right mind want to carve a face into a squash rendering it inedible? It just seems so wasteful. And especially with mean or scary looking faces. Then to try and burn the house down by sticking a candle inside. So this is what got me to Google-ing "origin of the jack o lantern." And, thank you Google, the 84,000 links you provided will give me sufficient blog fodder for today. Well, the story of the jack-o-lantern is a little too wordy and weird for me, and apparently we have the Irish to thank for it. I was hoping to find a cute little jaunty tale I could share with my children, but given the references to the devil, heaven and hell - I think I'll keep all this Cliff Claven Halloween trivia to myself for a few more years. But I will note that the first jack-o-lanterns were carved out of turnips and potatoes. So Heather could probably share a few potatoes with you if you haven't gotten your pumpkins yet...

So let's turn our attention to organic, locally grown pumpkins. And other fun and yummy goings-on:

• The Great Pumpkin Event -- Saturday, October 27, 8:30am to 2pm, Portland Farmers Market in the South Park Blocks -- will feature a pumpkin carving contest, samples, and a kids' costume parade.
• Hillsdale Farmers Market -- Sunday, October 28, 10am to 2pm, pumpkin decorating tips.
• Fall Forest Festival -- Saturday and Sunday, October 27-28, Tillamook Forest Center, 10am to 4pm -- Vote for the best pumpkin, make a Halloween craft or bat house, and storytelling about spooky forest creatures.