How To Save Your 2010 Gourds for 2011

It's that time again, time to think about switching fall decorations to Christmas.  Don't throw away your gourds, dry them and use them again next year.

How?  It's easy!  Below is a picture of my 2009 gourds.  They were so pretty!  Would you believe that one of the pumpkins beside the bowl stayed pretty through October of 2010?  It lasted way over a year and kept its color, too.

After you've enjoyed your gourds, instead of composting them or throwing them out, spread them out in a dry area of your home.  I put mine beside an unused wood stove in our basement.  I will say that we run a dehumidifier in our basement year round, so my basement may be drier that what most people have.

Here are my 2009 gourds as of 11/7/10.  Not so pretty!

Some will rot and you'll have to throw them away.  Don't worry if just the surface has mold.  It will wash off easily.

Clean the gourds with a sponge and a brush while holding them under water.  Here are my 2009 gourds all cleaned up. 

Use an old t-shirt to rub stain on the gourds.  This will bring out the pattern and color that's left now that they are dry.  After the stain dries, coat them with Future floor wax for added shine.

Put them in a pretty bowl and enjoy.

My 2010 gourds will soon start the drying process for 2011.

If you'd like more information, click here for my 2009 post and this process and here for my 2008 post.  I've collected quite a collection of dried gourds and use them all over the house for fall decorating. 

I'm sharing with Amanda at Serenity Now for her Weekend Bloggy Reading Party and with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.  Click on the buttons below to join the fun!