They make good rainsticks...

I like snake gourds, but they aren`t as versitile as many other types.

that's a great photo....nice looking gourds and pumpkins, plus a couple of cuties!!

I like the idea of making rainsticks, or just let the kids paint them...they always come up with cute ideas.

Jan

Pogoduck,

I am very impressed with the quantity and quality of gourds you grew in ND! How will you be drying them?

Kate

Thank you! I was going to dry them in the garage but decided to dry them outside. I didn't want to leave them on the ground, even on a pallet because we can get a lot of snow here. So this is what I did:

I made a sort of hammock out of chicken wire and strung it up out of the way and between 2 trees. I laced ropes on the outside edges of the chicken wire to hang with. Then I threaded good sturdy sticks crossways through the chicken wire at the ends and every few feet or so, so I wouldn't end up with a big sag effect and everything roll to the middle. I pounded supports (again good sticks) into the ground under the crossways sticks (dowels, old tool handles etc) to hold some of the weight and keep it from sagging too bad. When I loaded it with my gourds I hooked the stems in the wires to keep them from rolling together and this worked really well. For the snakes I just hooked the curved ends over the edges. The night after I made it we had big winds with gusts up to 50 mph and my husband said that if it made it through tonight it should make it through anything. It did! It was fine in the morning so I think it's going to work.

Pogoduck, you have e-mail.

Pogoduck, I am a 'oldie--newbie ". 76 years old, &discovered the wonderful world of gourds last year. A snake gourd poked its little nose thru the fence & grew & got stuck, there. The weight of the gourd pulled it in a sort of an S shape, so it takes on the form of a striking snake . so I attached a small piece of wood to the bottom, so it stands upright, I painte green diamonds on the back , glued eyes (wiggle eyes from the craft store) on & painted the 4"stem red.I ave the neatest looking snake & it was such fun doing it. I did have to cut part of my fence out to harvest my "snake" . I hope this helps you to have fun with your snakes. Lois

Those look perfect for making Digeridoos! Didges are easy to play, and your kids will have fun with it - if they can vibrate their lips in a "bronx cheer", they can play one. The only real alteration that will need to be done, is to add a beeswax mouthpiece at the small (stem) end. Both ends are sawn off. Easiest way to make the mouthpiece, is to work a handful of beeswax in your palm until softened, then roll it into a shart 'snake'. Rim the end, and "pull" a bit of the wax down the inside and outside edges to secure it in place. Decorate as desired.

If you would care to sell some of them, I would definitely be interested. Email me if you are.
-M

Thank you for your replies Lois and Marcy. Your snake gourd sounds lovely Lois! I would love to see it.

I thought of digeridoos. They look so neat and I think it would be a fun project. I just thought they would be impossible to play! but your beeswax idea is interesting. I think we'll try it!

Yes I would be interested in selling some after I see what sort of mortality rate the drying takes. Email me again (your email was not *revealed* in the email to me) and I could send you pictures of what has dried in the spring.

Thanks again for your replies.

I have just arrived in Florida for the winter& my "snake is still in Michigan.I would love to send you a picture, but I dont have the means to do it ( or the know how ) . I will give you my Florida address& if yo so choose you can send me yours by mail & I will get a picture to you. Lois Buckner 145 Tropical Shore Way Ft Myers Beach, Fl 33931 I would keep your address confidential

Thanks for posting this! I love seeing pictures. (an idea) Maybe you should paint them as candy canes and sell them on ebay for christmas. :) lol.

~Sam

Thanks Sam and Lois.

Candy canes! Forget ebay :-) I could hang them in my yard trees for ornaments lol. That would be great.

GREAT CROP... I TOO APPRECIATE THE PICTURES... SNAKE GOURDS DO MAKE GREAT RAINSTICKS... IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE, THERE IS A GREAT CD TUTORIAL FOR MAKING RAINSTICKS THAT MY FRIEND RUSS CONLEY MADE AND SELLS FOR $20. HIS RAINSTICKS ARE SPECTACULAR. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT HIS CONTACT INFO...SUSAN

I am looking for ways to use gourds. I see that you are using them to make rainsticks, the only ones I know about, are straight, how do you make them using these gourds? Do you have a picture? I would like to have instruction. I also see that someone is making digeradoo's, HOW?
Thanking you in advance for your response,
Tedge