what to do with gourds after thanksgiving

What can I do with old decorative gourds?

Fun craft ideas with pumpkins and gourds

Cut a hole in the side of a gourd, clean out the interior, and fill in the bottom with birdseed. Hang it outside for an instant birdfeeder. Soak the seeds from inside a gourd in water. After they've softened, thread them with a needle to make unique jewelry.

Can you keep gourds from year to year?

Fresh, uncured gourds may last for a few weeks before going bad. If you dry and preserve your gourds, though, they'll last for many years. After you've preserved the gourds, get creative by painting or drawing your own designs on the shell.

What can you do with gourds?

5 Things to Do with… Gourds

HOUSE A BIRD. Photo: gonzalesmastergardeners.org. It's fun and easy to make a birdhouse from a hollowed-out gourd. ...
HANG A GARLAND. Photo: asoftplace.net. ...
MAKE A LANTERN. Photo: makezine.com. ...
CARVE A JACK-O'-LANTERN. Photo: southernliving.com. ...
CRAFT A CANTEEN.

What can I do with leftover gourds and pumpkins?

What Can You Do with Leftover Halloween Pumpkins and Gourds?

Make a catapult for pumpkin chunkin'. ...
Bake the seeds @ 350 with salt and olive oil from a healthy, tasty treat. ...
Construct a squirrel feeder box and add pumpkin seeds. ...
Make your own pie filling. ...
Scoop out the insides and make a birdfeeder. ...
Donate pumpkins to your local farm or zoo.

How do you keep gourds from rotting?

Wipe the gourds dry and spray lightly with a household disinfectant or mist with rubbing alcohol. Space the prepared gourds on a few layers of newspaper in a dark, warm, dry area (such as an attic) with good ventilation. Replace the damp newspaper every few days, turning the gourds when you do.

What gourds are poisonous?

Part of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes squash, watermelons and cucumbers, gourds are not toxic to humans, though those sold for decoration may need a good wash before being consumed. We turned to the experts to see if these autumnal decorations can actually be converted into tasty seasonal delights.

How do you preserve gourds for years?

How to Preserve Pumpkins & Gourds

Prepare a mixture of bleach, water and dish soap. (One gallon water, 2 T. ...
Soak real gourds for 15 to 30 minutes.
Use a tub or even your kitchen sink.
Rinse and dry well.
Before adding to your decor, it's optional to give your pumpkins a quick coat of spray matte sealer. It helps preserve them even longer.

How do you dry out a gourd?

Find a dark, cool, dry and well-ventilated place to dry the gourds (damp rooms can cause the gourds to rot). Place them on a wire drying rack for proper air circulation, making sure the gourds do not touch. If possible, use fans to dry them more efficiently.

How long do gourds last after picking?

Curing And Storing Gourds

After the one-week drying process place the gourds in a warm, dark, dry area for three to four weeks. This is the real curing process. After this, decorative gourds keep for three to four months. Adding a coat of wax or paint extends the life of the gourd an additional two months.

How long does it take for gourds to dry?

You need to leave them alone. Aside from rotating them occasionally and removing the ones that are rotting, let them dry for a month or more. Large, heavy gourds may take as long as 6 months to completely dry. You may find that a crust or mold appears on the gourds as they dry.

Can gourds be cooked and eaten?

You are definitely going to want to cook them, either in boiling water for 20 minutes, or in your oven for about an hour at 350 degrees. You can add them to stews, soups, curries, pastries, or even just eat them raw (though to be honest that probably won't taste great). And don't forget about the seeds.

How do you seal the inside of a gourd?

Melt a block of paraffin wax to prepare to seal the interior surface. As soon as the wax is completely melted, remove the gourd from the oven, and, quickly but thoroughly, paint the inner surface of the gourd with wax. Apply two or three additional coats of wax, allowing the gourd to cool completely between coats.

Can you throw pumpkins in the garbage?

Plain or carved pumpkins are often considered yard waste or compost and shouldn't be thrown in with the rest of your garbage.

What can you do with leftover Halloween candy?

Sweet Ways to Donate Halloween Candy

Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude sends care packages to U.S. troops stationed overseas and first responders stateside. ...
Halloween Candy Buyback Program. ...
Soldiers' Angels. ...
Ronald McDonald House Charities. ...
Operation Stars and Stripes. ...
Operation Shoebox and Any Soldier.

How long can gourds last?

Ornamental gourds that have been properly dried to preserve their natural color can last for years. You will need to use the two step curing process. The first step dries the exterior of the gourd and takes about one week.

Do squirrels eat gourds?

Deer, raccoons, squirrels, and possums will readily devour the flesh of pumpkins and other pulpy gourds.

How does vinegar prevent pumpkins from rotting?

Brush Vinegar and Lemon Juice on the outside of pumpkin (add 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice to a quart of water). Rub petroleum jelly on the inside and carved parts of pumpkin. This is supposed to keep the insides from drying out and changing its shape.

How do you dry bird house gourds?

Spread the gourds out on top of newspaper sheets in a well-ventilated, dry garage. Arrange the gourds so they aren't touching and turn them once a week so all sides dry evenly. Dispose of any gourds that develop soft, rotten spots during drying.

Are gourds poisonous to dogs?

Gourds are part of the plant family Cucurbitaceae and are considered generally safe for dogs to eat. ... Sparse anecdotal evidence exists of dogs becoming sick after eating this squash. As always, if you have any doubts about a food's safety, don't feed it to your dog.

Why are gourds not edible?

“They're small and hard-rinded and very bitter, so they're not typically eaten.” Of course, there are some gourd relatives that make for good eating. Edible varieties tend to go by “squash” or “pumpkin,” valued for the sweetness and tenderness of their flesh.

What Gourds are not edible?

Tips to avoid poisoning

Ornamental gourds (colocynths): These are all toxic and should not be consumed. ...
Edible squash, purchased commercially or grown in garden vegetable patches: Try a small piece of raw squash and if the taste is bitter, spit it out and throw it all away: it should not be eaten, even when cooked.