Making Birdhouses from Homegrown Gourds

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5 жыл бұрын

In the summer of 2017 we grew birdhouse gourds in our garden. We have allowed them to dry for the past year in the top of our barn and it is now time to turn them into birdhouses.
If you are interested in growing and making your own birdhouses, here is a great link. www.amishgourds.com/store/page...
#birdhousegourd #homegrowngourd #homestead #sustainable
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Пікірлер: 457

@LivingTraditionsHomestead 5 жыл бұрын

We are starting to add gourd birdhouses to our Etsy shop. Check them out here. www.etsy.com/shop/LivingTraditionsMO

@robinkrok119 5 жыл бұрын

Just purchased! Excited to put it up- thanks!!

@kathyaakananabluebird 5 жыл бұрын

My husband and I bought one from you this week. It looks fantastic and we cannot wait to be able to hang it out in our garden.

@megrandmomjean5019 5 жыл бұрын

Sarah and Kevin - I love your videos. Have looked in your Etsy shop for a birdhouse gourd, but not able to fine one. They look soooooooooooo nice on the video.

@myocdgarden9705 3 жыл бұрын

Except for a rabbit cook book, there is nothing on etsy.

@bkbliss58 2 жыл бұрын

Have been trying to find somewhere to buy then . I like to decorate them. I Will check out your Etsy

@theresepittman1914 5 жыл бұрын

Great video . I grew gourds a few years ago for my first grade classroom. They really enjoyed planting the seeds and then picking out their gourds. I stored them at my house to dry . A year later the 2nd grade teacher let them paint and or decorate them. in class.

@artist45 5 жыл бұрын

What a lovely idea!

@mirandas7033 5 жыл бұрын

My aunt is a pre-school teacher. She buys gourds from the local farmers and drys them out for maracas that the kids can play with.

@Sg4809 5 жыл бұрын

The world needs more people like you, God bless you

@AliciasInTheKitchen 5 жыл бұрын

My great-grandpa grew gourds for birdhouses. He only made them for martins, and swore they were the most useful birds in the garden. He also used the gourds for cooking utensils, like spoons and ladles. One of the things that I love most about your channel is how many childhood memories of my GGparents it brings back. Bless you all!

@margaretdavis96 4 жыл бұрын

I love how he says "God makes beautiful things". I really could live with them.

@commonweakness9060 5 жыл бұрын

for an even more natural way to make these you could use natural stains from black walnut or old coffee grounds. then use wax to water proof them. thanks for the vids.

@catinabox3048 2 жыл бұрын

FYI, if you make things with it that DO require you to clean it out, I've seen people take a handful of screws and swish it around inside, which seems to scrape things clean. After that, you just pour the debris out with the screws and voilà! In China, people frequently use gourds to make scoops, bowls, and wine containers. There's also a musical instrument that uses it.

@mstyblu379 5 жыл бұрын

Just want to take the time to let you know that I watch your shows nearly every evening. I used to live on a small homestead up in IL and loved it so very much. I did all my own gardening, raised my own beef, pork, and chickens, for eggs only. I loved being able to go to the garden or cellar for my own canned goods or frozen meats to prepare our meals. I've been struck with horrible arthritis n fibromyalgia and am now in a wheelchair living in a senior living facility on the third floor. Talk about disappointing.I miss the country and tried to get a senior garden club started here but that was poo-pooed by our new manager. We had already gotten many to sign up for our raised garden club only to be disappointed. I have no balcony so I tried growing my own tomatoes and Jalapeno's in my apartment but they needed bugs to pollinate them. Finally gave up and now enjoy shows like yours. Your family brings me so much joy, thanks for all your precious time. Love, Grandma Gloria

@LivingTraditionsHomestead 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind note. It is so disappointing that they wouldn’t allow you to have a garden club. I am glad you are able to get some joy from our videos. We do love the country life. God Bless! Kevin

@Sg4809 5 жыл бұрын

GOD STILL HAS PLANS FOR YOU AND WHAT THE ENEMY STEALS OUR FATHER WILL REWARD BACK TO YOU JUST REMEMBER THAT

@martiokrzesik5870 4 жыл бұрын

That manager needs a rabid tazmanian devil placed in his trousers. Grandma i'll help you plant him in some fertilizer.

@Salty4freedom 2 жыл бұрын

God bless you

@caewalker9276 5 жыл бұрын

Great bird house. Take the piece that you drilled out, cut it in half and glue it on an angle to help stop the rain running in. Great project Kevin.

@millermeadows6359 5 жыл бұрын

great idea...

@caewalker9276 5 жыл бұрын

@@millermeadows6359 cheers.

@elrichoward4193 5 жыл бұрын

Would have made great Christmas gifts.

@glendabrekke5475 5 жыл бұрын

how would you attach it Cae? like a roof with toothpicks?

@misstrcarter 5 жыл бұрын

Not a good idea. Gives predators a place to perch and wait for the smaller bird to come out or to dig into the nest.

@darlenep5206 5 жыл бұрын

Gourd~ious !! Thanks Kevin, Glad you're up and around, and Taking it Easy

@RaechelleJ 3 жыл бұрын

Like the play on words

@pamelarichardsen862 3 жыл бұрын

Gourds make perfect birdhouses! Once the gourd was cleaned up and stained, it was amazing to see the beautiful finished product. Your videos are very informative, and so inspiring!!

@claireclaire8370 5 жыл бұрын

Very cool. You should make a bunch and sell at the Farmer's Market. Those are very unique and I'm sure people would buy them!

@rusticnashville Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Great idea! I’m definitely going to randomly plant them on the farm, in the woods, like you said!!! Awesome!

@chelinfusco6403 5 жыл бұрын

When you said that God makes beautiful things, it really touched my heart. Thanks Kevin for the great information. Say... if you wish to sell the seeds, we will send you a self address & stamped envelope for them. Just let us know.

@loriknechtel2387 5 жыл бұрын

Beautiful bird house. Hint of advise. I use my vegetable oil after I fry my fries in it. That makes a great coating. The oil does not go to waste and it does a good job if you are just coating your objects.

@buteobuteo 2 жыл бұрын

I was about to write the same thing, it's works great. Lots of all-natural oils and waxes to choose from.

@michael7423 4 жыл бұрын

Just Incase you didn’t already know hang your birdhouse with the hole facing east or southeasterly so it will get the morning rays of sunlight, also have it open up to a field or open meadow if possible the bluebirds will love it! Great video Kevin, I hope some beautiful bluebirds move in fast and come back year after year!

@larrybrown2906 4 жыл бұрын

Michael is correct.

@PaulaJoDavis 5 жыл бұрын

It looks like an Italian marble birdhouse! Simply beautiful!

@francespannebaker3184 5 жыл бұрын

Usually when you find a chart of the diameter of the entrance hole you also find charts for the area that the bottom of the nest should be and the depth from the entrance to the bottom of the birdhouse. If the depth is too shallow the baby birds can more easily fall out of the nest. It is a problem if the gourds are too small. I think you could more easily make wren boxes with the smaller gourds.

@mikhailkalashnikov4599 11 ай бұрын

Great video. FYI- polyurethane is an interior grade product and will break down fairly quickly in the sunlight. A better option might be an exterior grade spar varnish, it has UV protecting additives in the formula. We just grew goards this year for the first time and I think we'll do ours like yours. Thanks!

@ginafriend1690 3 жыл бұрын

That was enjoyable! Thanks and God Bless you as well! 🙌🐦

@RainbowValleyRanch 5 жыл бұрын

You guys, this is SO neat!! What a unique item to being to farmer's market! I agree, Kevin, God does make beautiful things!! Thanks for sharing!

@karengannon2597 10 ай бұрын

Thank you, I enjoyed learning how to do this. God Bless You Too.

@swianecki 5 жыл бұрын

Are you going to be selling these too? Great gifts for us "city folks". I used to have one but it finally deteriorated after a good 5 years. Thanks for mentioning the Martin house. My grandpa had a big 4 story Martin house that he built when I was a little girl. (Many, many years ago!). I can still picture it.

@n.v.b2 Жыл бұрын

Gorgeous birdhouse! Thank you for the great video.

@cursing_creations 5 жыл бұрын

Those are just lovely! I have an old gourd that my husband’s grandmother etched a design onto. It’s not a birdhouse just an decoration.

@MaryInfante 5 жыл бұрын

40 some years ago, my mom made one for a little family of wrens that came every year and nested there and dang to us all season. She used a quarter to make the tiny little hole and made a little roost stick next to the bird house.

@vickithilges3497 3 жыл бұрын

They really look nice varnished, it brings out the design of the gourd.

@FilipinaDesertGardener 5 жыл бұрын

wow.. I grow just 3 plants and I harvested 86

@timmillan6701 3 жыл бұрын

A great project for kids, et al. Easy ( and fast) to grow, attractive flowers, and a useful end product. This longterm type of project also serves to demonstrate why we do some things that will be beneficial or useful beyond the immediate future - in the long run. Good job

@donnawojdacz6969 5 жыл бұрын

I grew them one year and made the mistake of putting bird seed inside one. The squirrels tore it apart to get to the seeds! My sister used wood stain on hers and they were beautiful! I still have one years later. It really protected the outside.

@hopeonthetrail6984 4 жыл бұрын

I'm hoping to grow some of these this year. I just burned a huge brush pile in my back field and will work up that area and use this area to grow the gourds. I love the way you left the birdhouse in it's natural state. I might even sneak some luffa's in also. I work in a rehab center and my students love to paint the gourds with acrylics. It will be fun to grow them myself and teach them about the whole process. I'm loving all your videos- being off right now in so many ways has been good but of course not for the tragedy that is happening in our country. Hope all of you are staying safe and healthy. Blessings to all of you. He is so good to us ! Teri

@abebeaku8369 Жыл бұрын

The birdhouse is gourdgeous

@MelissaGemini 5 жыл бұрын

I’m in Vandalia MO. Using your idea of the arch to grow my gourds. I can’t wait to harvest. Robins and purple martins are in abundance here, I love watching them.

@50shadesofgreen 5 жыл бұрын

good day to you Kevin and Sarah !! thanks for sharing another awesome update and adventures on & off the homestead 👨‍🌾🎥👍✝

@igardening1493 4 жыл бұрын

Kevin your priceless!

@duanepainter7870 4 жыл бұрын

We used to do a lot of the things you're doing. I loved the gourds. So easy to grow. I took about 2-3" of the stem and drilled a hole below the opening to create a perch. Our birdhouses mainly attracted wrens. Being a small bird the perch was perfect for them. When the babies were waiting for food those birdhouses would sway back and forth as they were being fed. We enjoyed watching them year after year.

@FilipinaDesertGardener 5 жыл бұрын

I also have a tons of gourd birdhouses this year and a lot of it still drying, but I used loofa to scrubbed them instead of buying that copper thingi you're using it works just as good..

@thomascdurham9130 5 жыл бұрын

Good morning Kevin! Great to see you up and about making videos again. The gourd birdhouses are a great project for kids. Simple tools and no one get smashed fingers from a misguided hammer or splinters when building a simple conventional bird house. Now parents have a great idea for kids who are rained or snowed in. And like you said, because they can be painted, that will make the project even last longer. Great video! :)

@sarabernal8474 3 жыл бұрын

I love these as bird houses! What a clever idea. 😃👍

@amyr505 4 жыл бұрын

I love those birdhouses!

@mfahrney1 5 жыл бұрын

I can't wait to make my gourds into houses..thanks for the inspiration ♡ You guys are awesome! Ps. Sell extra seeds and gourds on ebay!

@goggleuser12 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, love your drying method! 🐦

@lastoeck 5 жыл бұрын

Kevin - You are a good gourd guy!

@charolettwills4358 5 жыл бұрын

I like to add small chicken or any feathers and small grape vines around the door, just by hot glue. It is so rustic and pretty.

@DaybirdAviaries 5 жыл бұрын

Oh, I really like this. My mom does all kinds of "gourd art." I prefer simple bird houses.

@amandabyrd2758 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this video I will be making our bird houses next spring after they dry

@beckydavis2252 5 жыл бұрын

What lovely bird houses. God does make wonderful things.

@patmitchell2389 3 жыл бұрын

That gourd you prepared is gorgeous

@rachelshomemakeithomestead2826 5 жыл бұрын

Good morning to you guys and Rooster 😂

@MrAdamNTProtester 4 жыл бұрын

Very Cool... add a small dowel just below the opening for a perch... because even birds like a porch!

@trishathibodeau744 4 жыл бұрын

I really like the birdhouse you made, they would also make really pretty outdoor lanterns. You can cut the hole bigger so you can use battery candles for an outdoor party or wedding and they could have cut outs to add decoration as well as light. Love the videos you guys do !

@snapstring3134 5 жыл бұрын

Good to see you up and about Kevin

@duanepainter7870 4 жыл бұрын

I like that idea of spreading the seeds around in the woods. I'm anxious to find out how that has worked for you.

@idahohoosier8989 3 жыл бұрын

Found this by completely by accident. So, cool. Y'all never cease to amaze me Kevin Blessings, julie

@simplelivinghighthinking7007 5 жыл бұрын

Simple living is about consciousness. If we live in the right consciousness, our presence enhances the natural world around us. These birdhouses are a great example!

@212acres3 5 жыл бұрын

note: if you are putting these up for blue birds. You need to spread the houses out so that they cant see each others or they will fight. I have blue birds and purple martins and love them both!!!

@evilroyslade2491 4 жыл бұрын

Great video, nothing but the facts.

@sky7wisecrystalrain819 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kevin, wonderful video! It's lovely to see you up and about and doing well!

@danasullivan6250 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Kevin for showing the correct way to make these birdhouses. People want to make a perch just below the entrance and that encourages predators. Its nice to see videos being made that show the correct way to do things. Thank you!

@TracyR4 5 жыл бұрын

This makes me excited to grow our gourds for next year!

@gloriagodfrey3899 5 жыл бұрын

This was a great presentation. I think that I will have to give it a try. Thank you so much and I am so glad that you are doing good after your surgery.

@ahandmadehomestead 5 жыл бұрын

We grew birdhouse gourds this year for the first time. They did so well! Planted them with jack be little pumpkins and it worked out perfectly over a cattle panel arch. We put a few too many plants though and our arch began to flatten. Lol! They were such fun to grow. Good job on the bird house!

@onemorchatykathy 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, enjoyed the video very much.

@judyholbrook7915 2 жыл бұрын

Good information. You explain steps and why you do what you do. That is helpful for a newbie. I will be working on my gourds soon. Enjoy!!🌞

@danchristinerepp2681 5 жыл бұрын

I grew birdhouse gourds this past summer. I bought a package of inexpensive seeds at the dollar store. Planted along a fence and just let them do their thing. I ended up with about 60 usable gourds. My mother in law carves and paints gourds as an art form. She was thrilled when I gifted her with most of my bounty. I kept a few to use for simple birdhouses and appreciate your instructional video.

@alicewhittington5506 5 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy all of y'all's craft ideas

@lilbitatatime3763 5 жыл бұрын

Beautiful job on the birdhouse. The natural look is really nice. You'll have to let us know when someone takes up residence. 👍

@kristineobrien8878 4 ай бұрын

Beautiful ❤

@Karenooch 5 жыл бұрын

IF YOU WERE SELLING THE BIRDHOUSES AT THE FARMERS MARKET I WOULD BUT ONE.

@artist45 5 жыл бұрын

I was going to suggest the same thing! It's a great thing to sell at the farmer's market. I'm sure not a lot of people have access to those gourds. Perhaps it would be a great winter project for the girls to convert the gourds to bird houses and sell them finished. I know I'd buy one if I lived near!

@MYPERMACULTUREGARDEN 5 жыл бұрын

@@artist45 >>>> Me too !

@najmarehan1657 5 жыл бұрын

@@artist45 go a head Kevin ask girls to help you in this regard

@aleset1 5 жыл бұрын

Good looking bird house.

@legaleagle308 5 жыл бұрын

I have been wondering all this time what on earth you did with those gourds! I’m so happy to see what you are doing with them! Are you planning on selling these at the farmers market? I think they’d be an awesome item! Once again, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

@thewildingslanding 5 жыл бұрын

How beautiful!

@LindaMcClellan1016ofh 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kevin, I suggested growing some to my husband but of course he's not interested. He says you can buy them but wouldn't it be more fun to grow them? I think your idea of throwing the seeds out in the woods and seeing if they come up is an excellent idea. I could throw the seeds in the backyard of the empty house next door! What do you think? lol Merry Christmas!

@PleasantPrickles 4 жыл бұрын

Gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial! 🐦

@evagirl3542 5 жыл бұрын

Love it..can't wait to do this..thank you..

@noworriessoap5494 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the tutorial - that is absolutely gorgeous.

@kathipeerboom7412 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to make this video! I grew gourds this last summer and thought I did something terribly wrong drying them out because of all the mold. Now I know how to clean them and finish them up for the birds. :)

@mlo6965 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Kevin! Protecting the garden : )

@bsofar1675 5 жыл бұрын

Very helpful information. I love the finished product. My Dad made me a beautiful wooden bluebird house, which I painted blue, of course. No birds liked it. Later, I learned that if you paint your birdhouse, it could be a year or more before they would be interested in it.

@cherlpotter2248 5 жыл бұрын

Love these.

@bethmarcom6463 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the instructions! Great, informative video!

@genal5808 5 жыл бұрын

Wow! Thanks for sharing! That is such a cool birdhouse!

@kimcouch8285 5 жыл бұрын

Wow thats beautiful!

@suzykamiyama26 5 жыл бұрын

I love watching you guys!!! thanks so much for doing this...

@38kimpossible 5 жыл бұрын

Love it!

@RockingCHomestead 5 жыл бұрын

Very cool project! Thanks for sharing!

@jkhenderson1 5 жыл бұрын

It's amazing how beautiful the stain makes it look. Great job!

@aliverseidge 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Great fun. Take care of yourselves.

@maryjemisonMaryjay1936 5 жыл бұрын

Love the bird houses, gourds really did well

@maryreynolds5310 5 жыл бұрын

Good to see you! Yes, they are so fun to make, AND watch become homes!

@fourdayhomestead2839 5 жыл бұрын

Glad to have run across this video. Forgot what size hole to make, so now back to last falls project. Ps. The seed cavity membrane makes a good fire starter (sunflower stalks do too)

@MidwestGirl 5 жыл бұрын

That was fun and interesting! Love this channel. :)

@sashanoel167 2 жыл бұрын

I loved this!!! Someone gave me two large gourds. The first one spoiled and I threw it out. The second one started to look like it was going bad, so I drew a circle cut it out (with a knife) and scraped out everything inside, then put it in the oven on the lowest temp for 10 minutes. "BUT" wish I had watched your channel first, so I'd know what I was doing 😉😱