Essay On Gourds
The Craft of Gourds
The purpose of this research paper is to inform the reader about the wonders of the gourd. It is meant to inform on these topics. First, what is a gourd? Second, the history of the gourd. Third, The different methods of decorating gourds across a variety of cultures. Fifth, the process of creating your own decorated gourd or gourd birdhouse. Sixth, gourds in contemporary culture.
What is a Gourd?
In The Garden of Gourds, botanist L.H. Bailey wrote a very broad definition…” Members of the Cucurbitaceae family which produce a hard-shelled durable fruit grown for ornament, utensils, and general interest.” In reality the Gourd family is very large, with more than 100 genera and 1,000 species. Some of the more familiar fruits …show more content…
You want to select your gourd based on a few things. First you want a shape that works for the project you want to use it for. For instance you would want a nice pear shaped gourd for a bird house or a flat bottom one for a bowl.
Many people get grossed out by mold and dirt but don’t let that affect your decsision making in the selection process. This can all be easily removed by gently scrubbing your gourd in mild soap and water.
Scrub dirt and mold from the gourd's surface.
Cleaning a Gourd
The second step in the gourd making process is cleaning your gourd. It is a simple process that should only take about 15 minutes. First you will take the gourd and soak it in warm water for about ten minutes or so. After the gourd is done soaking take the scratchy end of a sponge and gently scrub off the leftover dirt and grime.
Most gourds should be able to be cleaned within fifteen minutes. Some dirty areas may take more time to clean than others and there may be some spots that need some light rubbing. After cleaning let gourd sit and dry for about thirty minutes. Keep in mind that some gourds have a natural discoloration but that is all apart of the beauty of gourd
The purpose of this research paper is to inform the reader about the wonders of the gourd. It is meant to inform on these topics. First, what is a gourd? Second, the history of the gourd. Third, The different methods of decorating gourds across a variety of cultures. Fifth, the process of creating your own decorated gourd or gourd birdhouse. Sixth, gourds in contemporary culture.
What is a Gourd?
In The Garden of Gourds, botanist L.H. Bailey wrote a very broad definition…” Members of the Cucurbitaceae family which produce a hard-shelled durable fruit grown for ornament, utensils, and general interest.” In reality the Gourd family is very large, with more than 100 genera and 1,000 species. Some of the more familiar fruits …show more content…
You want to select your gourd based on a few things. First you want a shape that works for the project you want to use it for. For instance you would want a nice pear shaped gourd for a bird house or a flat bottom one for a bowl.
Many people get grossed out by mold and dirt but don’t let that affect your decsision making in the selection process. This can all be easily removed by gently scrubbing your gourd in mild soap and water.
Scrub dirt and mold from the gourd's surface.
Cleaning a Gourd
The second step in the gourd making process is cleaning your gourd. It is a simple process that should only take about 15 minutes. First you will take the gourd and soak it in warm water for about ten minutes or so. After the gourd is done soaking take the scratchy end of a sponge and gently scrub off the leftover dirt and grime.
Most gourds should be able to be cleaned within fifteen minutes. Some dirty areas may take more time to clean than others and there may be some spots that need some light rubbing. After cleaning let gourd sit and dry for about thirty minutes. Keep in mind that some gourds have a natural discoloration but that is all apart of the beauty of gourd