Gourds

The gourds I use are called “hard shelled” gourds. Once this type of gourd has been completely dried, the outer shell becomes hard like wood. I organically grow several types of hard shelled gourds such as bushel gourds, bottleneck gourds, and dragon gourds. In the spring I start my gourd plants from seed and transplant them into my garden where they grow until the first hard frost which happens near the end of September. I harvest the gourds at this time storing them on my front porch where they are exposed to the air, but not the elements. About May the gourds will have dried completely. They are then ready to be washed, cut, carved, painted, and turned into something wonderful.