What Good is a Gourd?

By this time of year, you’ve probably seen gourds at the market; those funny-shaped, knobbly, twisty little hard squashes that kind of look like little pumpkins. They are a clear symbol of fall but what are they, really? And what are they used for? 

What are gourds, anyway?
Gourds are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, along with pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, watermelons, and more. (It’s a big family!) Gourds vary widely in size and shape, but can be recognized by their hard skins and tough stalks.
Can we eat gourds?
Gourds are different from pumpkins and other squash in that they are almost always grown for purposes other than eating. Gourds are often decorative but can be used in other ways too. You could try to cook up a gourd and eat it, but it probably wouldn’t be very satisfying!

Are gourds useful for anything?
Yes! Thanks to their hard skins, larger gourds can be hollowed out, cured (a process in which they are dried to protect them from rotting), and made into all sorts of useful and beautiful items.

Native American tribes have long used gourds of different shapes and sizes for storage containers, musical instruments, ornaments, and utensils. You may have seen musical shakers or rattles made from gourds, or gourds painted or carved into works of art.

This time of year, many people like to buy gourds and display them in their homes as symbols of autumn harvest time. You can find a variety of gourds at the market this week if you’d like to do the same!