Wildwood Farm Gourds

Each Wildwood Farm Gourd is a one-of-a-kind, totally unique, work of art created by Nature and carefully preserved to provide a thing of SIMPLE, ELEGANT BEAUTY to last a lifetime.

HOW DOES NATURE CREATE HER VARIED PATTERNS and DESIGNS?

Gourds are 80% water and dry from the inside out.  As part of the natural drying process, mold forms as moisture evaporates through the outer skin.  This process created unique patterns on each gourd.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE of NATURE’S ART?

Just as you do your other prized wood pieces in your home!  Lemon oil is excellent to clean and hydrate this surprisingly hard and durable art.

PRESERVING NATURE’S ART

A single gourd vine can reach up to 15-20 feet! Gourds are fast growers but require up to four months or more to mature.

Martin House Gourds

At harvest, gourds must be “cured” (allowed to harden in the sun for a week or more). Then they must be washed carefully to eliminate bacteria that can cause gourds to rot.

The drying process can take up to 6 months to a year, depending on the size of the gourd. Mold is a natural part of the process. Special precautions must be taken anytime mold is doing its creative work! A gourd is dry when you can shake it and hear the seeds rattle inside.

When mold has done its work and must be removed, it must be done with special precautions.  The gourds must then be washed and dried before applying two or more coats of varnish.

To get the preserved, simple elegance of each one-of-a-kind piece of Nature’s gourd art requires a year or MORE of carefulful attention and a LOT of work! You have to love it to do it! You have to be in love with Nature’s Art!