Thanks to my grandparents who motivated, encouraged and sponsored this endeavor. They grew, dried and saved these gourds for several years, often giving away as many as possible to friends and relatives. When my husband and I moved to the farm, there were boxes and boxes stored away. Finally, as my Grandma handed me a book on gourd crafts, she said to me, “Kelly, do something with these gourds!”. So I’ve been turning them into bird houses.

I like the natural color, texture and design that gourds have. Each gourd is different and has it’s own character. As I pencil in the flowers, I look for places that lend themselves to a flower or a stem. Then I choose the colors and paint the flowers. Sometimes I put two coats of polyurethane on, or sometimes I leave it bare.

They are a joy to make, and I am happy knowing that they will be attracting birds to gardens all over this area. As a farmer, I’m learning just how important our flying friends are to a garden.