We Had No Idea Birdhouse Gourds Would Grow So Well!

This week we had our first frost of the fall. It wasn't a bad frost but it made us realize that it is time for the gardening season to come to and end. Our birdhouse gourds have done amazing all summer and we are excited to start harvesting them.

**Some of our MOST FAVORITE homestead products**

AMAZON STORE:

HARVEST RIGHT FREEZE DRYER: (Affiliate link)

Solar Generator: Bluetti AC 200 Max and B230 that we use to power our workshop.

*SAVE 10% off with code LTH10

AZURE STANDARD Bulk Organic Foods: (Affiliate link)

GREENHOUSE and WEED FABRIC:
**Save 10% with code LTH10

Our RABBIT COOKBOOK on Amazon:

***** Connect with Us! We'd Love to get to know you! ****

Send Mail to:
Living Traditions Homestead
PO Box 323
Ava, MO 65608

**** About Living Traditions Homestead ****

Living Traditions Homestead is all about living a simple and sustainable way of life. We believe the world has gotten too “busy” and that people are missing out on many of the true blessings this world has to offer. We started as a small urban homestead in Gilbert, AZ and after the city grew up around us, decided it was time leave corporate America and take a big leap of faith by moving our family to the Missouri Ozarks.

We put out 2 new videos every week! Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you will become part of our homestead family by subscribing to our channel and watching as we give up the rat race and live simpler, more fulfilling life in the country.

[normacardenas]

In Mexico my family turns these gourds into canteens they hold a lot of water and keep cooler than plastic.

[fredaidumwonyi-dee]

Back home in Nigeria we dry them and make them into musical instruments called marakette

[Barbarra]

My Aunt grew birdhouse gourds on about an acre, they do require about a year to cure if you don’t drain them. To speed up the process we drilled four holes in the bottom of each gourd, stored them upright on newspaper in her barn over the winter so they were ready by mid Spring. The holes serve as rain drainage once they are turned into birdhouses and feeders. We used either a 1/8 to 1/4 inch bit.

[intuit]

Actually, frost doesn't harm them at all...in fact, it's easiest to leave them hanging through the winter unpicked, and they will be completely dry and ready to use come spring!

[robinmurray]

Last spring I hung a bunch (dried ones) of these in a a big maple tree. Wrens moved in like mad. Have a little tree swing I relax in just to watch them build nests and hear them sing. They eventualy get freindly and the babies would stick their heads out the hole and chirp at me like I was mama.

[sarahcross]

I know this is an old video, but you just bring joy to my day. You your excitement really wears off, and you make me want to try new things with my garden. Thanks!

[GV-suov]

Those with brown stems you can use for crafts. The one with green stems not very matured ones you can cook. They are very gòod vegies, taste great. They are very prolific. I actually grew round ones. They are very common in Asia. Try this simple recipe. Peel the skin the way you would a cucumber or a honeydew melon. Remove the seeds and cut in strips or small julienne cut. Saute some onions, add some tomatoes and some ground pork if you wish, add soy sauce or some fish sauce if avallable in your area then add the gourd. Put a little water to cook the gourd until soft but not soggy. Add a bit of salt and ground pepper, to taste. Lots of ways to cook it.

[williamjenkinsiii]

They make great Purple Martin houses . Hang them in clusters of 4 . Hang them about 30 feet away from trees barns etc. and about 20 feet off the ground . They will eat a lot of bugs ! Once they establish a good place to stay they will come back every year ! Keep a record of when you see them coming in and watch the next year, they will be back around the same time !!!

[JadeBlackWolf]

First time viewer. I just watched the luffa gourds and I was amazed. Never did I know that before. Thanks. and I love your channel so far.

[clayhicks]

Love your been raising them for 25 years. Love it and love the Birdhouses I make out of them!!! One year aired 27 different gourds. Should leave them on vine and let them dry naturally. Harvest them in early spring when seeds raddle. Their beautiful.

[GardensLadyBug]

As a kid I had a couple of painted goards as piggy banks. I'd save up Christmas money for a year and bust it open and go shopping.

[loisbarone]

You crack me up! Your enthusiasm and energy is contagious! I had some loofah’s and seeds gifted to me. I pulled up your videos on that and that led me to this video. Now I’m HAVE to get me some birdhouse seeds a try this! Thank you for sharing.

[KathyM]

I love the country sounds of crickets and other insects. No city sounds. Thank you for this video.

[eikebraselmann]

I‘ve seen a plant like this grown under a pine tree at Sepp Holzer‘s Farm in the high alps. It hat climbed all over the tree, and they just left it there, to see what would happen. Over the years, many of the gourds became homes for birds, squirrels, dormice, bumblebees, wasps, you name it. It lasted really long and looked very cool.

[johncraftenworth]

This cattle fencing u-shaped trellising setup for your gourds was the most beautiful gardening project I've ever seen! I think this is a fantastic idea and particularly for me, as I am running out of space to grow melons and squash in a field setting (we just put it all into field strawberries and corn), but using this method I think I could grow them in my dedicated garden, which I have avoided doing in the past because of their out of control, sprawling and messy nature! I have garden rows spaced apart with 4 foot center to center, so using a total of 3 of my rows, this should create a nice shaded center row with two rows of either melons or squash on the 2 outer rows. This could be beneficial for growing salad greens or peas in that center row, possibly in the hot months of july and august! Now that would be some awesome plant synergy! Next season I have got to give this a try. Thanks for showing us your very creative gourd project, it was truly beautiful and artistic just like you said! Kudos.

[cyndiburkhart]

I absolutely love the tunnel used for these gourds! I'm planning on using this methods for ALL my vining stuff.

[sueglass]

Definitely sell them. There are gourd clubs that need them to paint, carve and decorate and then they sell them and/or enter contests in their clubs.

[lawsonone]

8:39 They look so beautiful in the sun.

[sarabernal]

How exciting! My grandfather used grow these. He used them for water containers. 😃👍

[briannayoung]

I found this video about 7 months ago and decided I would try to grow the luffa and bird house gourds in 2019, it’s almost spring and I’ve already ordered my seeds. I’m so so so excited thank you so much for this video!!