- When allowed to dry, gourds make excellent bird houses for small birds, such as the purple martin. Make a hole large enough for the bird to enter, and empty out the seeds and other material, then hang the house in a location where birds are likely to nest. Gourd birdhouses can be left natural or painted, carved, or otherwise decorated.
- Large gourds work well as hanging planters for herbs and other relatively small plants. Like birdhouse gourds, they must be emptied of all excess material. Cut a larger hole to accommodate small plants, and fill the gourd with a light potting mixture. Plant any small herb or ornamental plant inside and hang the gourd for an attractive and useful decoration.
- Luffa or loofa gourds produce a spongy vascular system inside their shells. When dried, this material works well as a dish scrubber, exfoliant sponge or packing material. Small pieces of luffa may be used to scrub or scrape root vegetables without the need for peeling. Dry the gourds until their shells are hard and dry, then remove the pulp inside, discarding or saving the seeds. Soak luffa pulp in water to remove all brown pigment, then dry it for later use.
- Young gourds are edible, and were eaten in medieval Europe in dishes similar to modern squash dishes. According to the University of Georgia, luffa gourds 6 inches in length or less can be chopped and eaten in stews and soups. Some other gourd species are also edible when small, and provide an interesting alternative to summer squash.
Bird Houses
Planters
Luffas
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