Making bowls (and other bits) with gourds

[eccentric_emma]

I was wondering if anyone had tried making bowls/instruments/anything else out of gourds?

When i was little gourds were my favourite thing to grow but other than varnish them and arrange them in a fruitbowl, my mum and i never really knew what to do with them! I've seen a few bits online but wanted to know if anyone here had tried to make anything. In particular I was interested in making bowls as I was reading about some Rasta's who only eat out of bowls from natural materials, i.e. either wood or gourds.

The things I've found online don't really go into much detail about preparing the gourds - do they need to be hung up to dry?

I thought maybe it would be a great way to get a really original dinner set! What does everyone think?

[the.fee.fairy]

I think its a great plan and will be eagerly watching the thread!

[Ellendra]

I know they need to be cured thoroughly, cut carefully, and the insides sanded, then rinsed and let dry several times (not let to soak) in order to get rid of bitter compounds that would get in the food. But, all that is from reading, I've never done it myself.

This year is the first time I'm growing gourds. Goblin eggs, can you tell I'm a Labyrinth fan?

[Shirley]

Take a look at the Groanbox Boys - they use a big one for a drum and it's fantastic. They also use a gourd banjo.

- click on the link to see more if interested.

[Eigon]

It used to be a popular thing for Girl Guides, I think. I remember reading more than one article in old Girl Guide Annuals about growing gourds and then hollowing them out and using them - but it was over 30 years ago, so my memory about what exactly could be done with them is a bit hazy!

[MKG]

Well, here's a start - make sure you use the right kind of gourd

http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garde ... tal-gourds

Mike

[Doc]

G'day

On my blog here I have a small tutorial on using gourds. My partner (Scarecrow) grows a variety of different types so that I can make all sorts of things with them.



Over here I made a small toy drum.

The gourd(s) is/are dried by leaving them in a dry place for 6-9 months, depending on your location in the world.

They are easy to cut using a plaster saw or a dremel-type tool with an appropriate attachment.

I use a sharpened melon/butter baller to scoop the inside white gear (like citrus pith).

If using them as food or fluid containers they can be sealed with beeswax.

When making blow-into musical instruments (wind instruments) a long neck snake gourd can have a small hole cut into the top to allow a cork to be fitted.

This cork can then be cut to allow it to accept a reed - either a bought one from the local music store (only 400km/5 hrs drive from my place, or a home made one from a split straw or reed if you can grow it - from my garden, 10 metres/1 minute 10 seconds away (I walk slowly)

Holes are drilled into the gourd using an ordinary drill and bit and if you an play a recorder then you can probably play one of those gourdy instruments

The external surface can be treated like wood/lumber - paint, stained, sanded (IMPORTANT - Always use a mask when cutting or sanding)

Hope this is helpful.

If not, oh well

Doc

[Shirley]

Thanks for that Doc! Sound great.

[ina]

I just somehow think we can't really get them to the totally ripe and mature state they'd need to be so as not to rot away when you dry them... (Drying, of course, would be the next issue that might be a problem here!)

I think I'll stick to trying to grow a decent pumpkin.

[Doc]

Hi Ina

If you can grow a decent pumpkin you should be able to grow gourds - they come from the same family, just talk with a different accent

How do you store your pumpkin crop?

If you can store your pumkins away somewhere without them going mouldy then that is the place to leave your gourds.

Of course, with weeks of 45C here it is not hard to dry anything out including myself.

Often the gourds are left out on the fence since rain is something we have pictures of so the grandkids will know what it is when it arrives

Doc

[ina]

How do you store your pumpkin crop?

I don't - have never managed to grow one to the state of maturity necessary. I know others have in this area, but I suspect they had a polytunnel or greenhouse to help them along...

[Doc]

Hi Ina

Send my your home address and I will pop over from sunny Australia and whip you up a poly tunnel, chuck together a cob oven and bake you a cake

Seriously, though, are there people near you who could grow them for you, they are great fun to play around with - the gourds, not the people

Doc

[ina]

Hi Ina

Send my your home address and I will pop over from sunny Australia and whip you up a poly tunnel, chuck together a cob oven and bake you a cake

Seriously, though, are there people near you who could grow them for you, they are great fun to play around with - the gourds, not the people

Doc

Thanks for the offer - you wouldn't be the first Autralien Isher to stay at my place, either!

Yeah, I know gourds are good fun (people, too ), they are just not top of my list of priorities at the moment. One of these days, when I have a job again, and a decent sized garden, and energy to do all those things I want to do.... Sigh. Stop complaining - now!