Nothing seems to be more versatile than the lowly gourd. Though basically inedible, this fall wonder shows its true potential at the hands of artists and craftsmen.
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| This whimsical birdhouse is cute enough to keep in the house! (photo courtesy Pat Elder) |
Nature's Pottery –
The Incredible Gourd
Article and Photographs by Toni Leland
When Fall makes her appearance
with crisp temperatures and a breathtaking display of color, the lowly gourd is
ready for harvest. What unique utensil or enchanting work of art will these
strange fruits become? One's imagination is the only limitation.
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| A good example of a dipper crafted from a long-necked gourd variety. |
When looking at a display of colorful,
shiny gourds in every conceivable shape, it is difficult to comprehend that
these plants were among the first to be domesticated and grown in the Americas.
Based on radiocarbon dating, it has been proven that the familiar bottle gourd
was in use here as a utensil or container for at least 9,000 years! The
original theory was that the bottle gourd was indigenous to Africa, and that it
arrived in the New World via Atlantic Ocean currents. Archaeobiologists later
proved that the early gourds were genetically closer to those found in Asia
today. That research changed everyone's thinking; perhaps the gourds were
brought by boat from Asia, or hand-carried or, indeed, floated on ocean
currents, but via the Bering Strait.
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| Unique Turkish lamp from Calabash gourd. (Wikimedia Commons Image) |
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| Simple gourds make lovely watertight vases. |
Other than utilitarian uses for dipping
and storage, gourds have historically been crafted into musical instruments, lamps,
masks, planters, birdhouses, and even used for skull repair in Neolithic times.
The most common use of many types of gourds is for birdhouses, and no other
bird has benefitted more than the Purple Martin. In fact, east of the Rockies,
these charming members of the swallow family depend entirely on man-made
housing, and the Giant Bottle Gourd is the nest of choice. According to the
Purple Martin Conservation Association, early North American Indians began the
tradition of cutting holes in gourds to attract the birds and, later, the
settlers picked up the idea. From then on, the birds became accustomed to the
gourd nests and abandoned their former nesting habits.
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| Purple martin colonies return year after year to their nesting places, often picking the same gourd nest. |
Dan Mohler of White Cottage, Ohio has been
caring for a flock of Purple Martins for over 40 years and, in August of this
year, he watched almost 600 of his birds take off for their migration to
Brazil. "It's a real sad time for me," he said. But then he
brightened up. "Now the work begins." Once the nests are empty, the
gourds must be cleaned and repainted every year. Dan creates his Purple Martin
colonies mostly from the Chinese Bottle and Giant Kettle gourds he grows in his
own garden. The two varieties are sturdy and have extremely thick skins; some
of the gourds in his colony are twenty-five years old. The gourds have vent
holes at the top to keep fresh air moving through, and drain holes in the
bottom. When asked why he didn't use more of the wooden martin houses, Dan
explained, "Gourds are natural housing for Martins, and much safer against
their natural enemies, the starlings and sparrows."
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| This fledgling house wren likes her cozy, safe nest. |
Give the gourd a chance to shine, and it
does a superb job. Artisans around the world have found the gourd to be most
agreeable to almost any form of art imaginable. From simply polishing and
painting to carving and sculpting, the many varieties of gourd lend themselves
to gorgeous one-of-a-kind creations. Or is that, "gourdgeous"?
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| Jan Row applies her artistry to many of the gourd pots and vases at Glan Bran farm. |
Chuck and Jan Row of Glan Bran Designs in
Granville, Ohio have been growing gourds and designing masterpieces for many
years. Chuck does the growing, drying, and carving; Jan does the painting and
etching. Dozens of creations sit on every surface and hang from every available
hook. Chuck talked about some of the hazards of working with gourds, as well as
the length of time required from picking, to the final piece. "No way to
hurry it up," he quipped. "Plan on about three months."
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| Bottle gourds begin drying in late summer. |
When the gourds are ready for harvest,
Chuck places them in a dry area to begin curing. The first thing that happens
is the gourds become moldy. Once the mold dries, Chuck scrubs it off with hot,
soapy water. The gourd is allowed to continue drying and, when the seeds rattle
around inside, the gourd is ready to be transformed.
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| The colorful birdhouses look like fat mushrooms! |
Gourd and mold dust are toxic and care
must be taken when working with either dried or moldy gourds. It is recommended
that one wear gloves, a mask or respirator, and clothing to cover bare skin
when sanding, cutting, and cleaning both skin and inside surfaces. Working
outdoors is advisable, or in an enclosed area with good ventilation.
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| Pat Elder's gourd birdhouses feature cave art and a Southwest flavor. (photo Pat Elder) |
Patricia Elder in Oklahoma City designs
unusual works of art using epoxy-putty. Building on each gourd's unique form,
Pat adds whimsical touches to bring out the theme of whatever she's creating,
whether it's a birdhouse, pot, bowl, or decorative piece. Living in the
Southwest, she often uses a Native American theme or earthy colors and tones in
her creations.
The versatile gourd isn't just a pretty
face–many American Indian tribes found myriad uses for the bottle gourd. The
Cherokee soaked the seeds and made a poultice for the treatment of boils;
Louisiana Indians applied a poultice of crushed leaves for headaches; the
Seminole tribes burned the seeds to "smoke" the body to cure
insanity; Acoma, Laguna, Cherokee, Havasupai, and Hopi Indians crafted dippers,
bowls, and containers; and, many tribes used the gourds for ceremonial rattles.
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| A beautiful pot, etched with cave-type drawings and finished with antler handle and feathers. Artist: Jan Row. |
This heritage plant and its fruit can
provide anyone with an interesting hobby, be it growing gourds from seed or
crafting unique items from dried gourds. All it takes is a little time and
patience.
Want to Learn More?
A good place to start:
Ohio Gourd Shows:
Mt. Gilead, October:
http://users.owt.comjdixon/ohio.htm
AND Greenville,
September: http://www.ofea.org/view.php?fest_id=51
Fabulous Gourd Gallery:
International Gourd
Festival, Fallbrook, CA: http://www.gourdfestival.com
Growing Gourds:
Enthusiasts:
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©2011 Toni Leland. All rights reserved. This article first appeared in Country Living, Oct '10. No portion of this work may be reproduced without written permission of the author. Links to this article are welcomed, with proper full credit.
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