Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
 4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
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guitarnan
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Posted: July 27 2010 at 7:55am | IP Logged Quote guitarnan
Has anyone had experience with drying gourds? We're growing some (well...a lot...) and I'm wondering how the process actually works. It seems as though it takes a very long time.

All tips welcome!

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MaryM
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Posted: July 27 2010 at 11:02am | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Nancy, that's really neat. I have so wanted to do this for the past several years, but like my aprons it hasn't happened. Actually it was Sarah's (Plainsong) blog post of a few years ago that got me thinking how neat that would be to grow and craft with gourds. I loved this post - thought it quite an adventure. Anyway, I did some compiling of resources but lost those in a computer crash last spring. Hopefully Sarah will weigh in here with personal experience (or you could PM her). As I understand the drying process, it should be in an area that gets very good ventilation. Everyone says it's important to make sure they are mature before drying. If picked too early they will rot instead of dry out. This Amish Gourds site seems to be very knowledgeable about the process and indicates that vine drying is fine (and even preferable).

I really need to do this but due to several factors each year haven't managed to plant a garden for several years. But everytime I see how much they charge for these decorative/craft gourds I wish I was growing them.

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guitarnan
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Posted: July 27 2010 at 11:59am | IP Logged Quote guitarnan
Don't laugh - we didn't plan to garden at all this year! Half our yard was dug up for a room addition in late spring. But...our cold composting efforts turned into the gourd plants...!!! So, without meaning to, I am gourd gardening.

Thanks for all the info!

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MaryM
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Posted: July 27 2010 at 12:39pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Oh, I see...you are an accidental gourd farmer, too...just like Sarah...

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SeaStar
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Posted: July 27 2010 at 8:02pm | IP Logged Quote SeaStar
That is too funny! How neat!

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juliana147
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Posted: July 27 2010 at 9:17pm | IP Logged Quote juliana147


I also have gourds in the garden- we planted ours intentionally this year. I know our library had a book about gourd crafting that I checked out years ago- I will see if it is still there. I remember something about using a dilute bleach solution on them to get rid of mold. I see that Mary's website link above recommends that, too.

I was training them onto poles the other day and realized that I had forgotten how absolutely foul the foliage smells. Uuugh. Maybe my nose is unusually sensitive this year!
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