It all starts with a seed…

Aunt Fannie plants seeds in the gourdchard after the last frost — in Vermont this is around mid-May. The vines grow vigorously over our trellis and begin flowering as early as June when fruit begins to grow.

After the gourds spend the summer in the sweaty Vermont sun, Aunt Fannie begins the harvest around (month) when they come inside for curing. Some gourds are air-dried over the course of 6-9 months in the shed. Other gourds are first soaked in water for three weeks (which speeds the removal of the inner flesh) and then air-dried.

Once dry, the gourds are sanded to remove mold and skin then bathed in a 1 percent bleach solution. The bath helps kill any remaining bacteria and mold. Gourds are then finished with linseed oil, hangers are tied, and care booklets are affixed before birdhomes are shipped off to new owners.

All Gourdaments are grown at Aunt Fannie’s Gourdchard in North Ferrisburgh, Vermont. Tennessee spinner gourds are dried similarly to the Birdhome drying process, via water or air drying methods. Then, dried gourds are crafted into Gourdaments and polished with 100% biodegradable linseed oil. They are also subject to molding and yellowing as they age.

Spinner gourds are full grown at 3-4” (7-10 cm). Original Gourdaments use faxed cord for their hangers; Fortune Gourdaments use satin ribbon. Purple or green tags can be removed with scissors prior to hanging. Perfect as holiday ornaments or to hang around the home.

Aunt Fannie’s Birdhomes attract a wide range of species depending on location and placement of the gourd. In addition to the size of the entrance, each species of bird has a size preference of the nesting cavity and physical placement of the birdhouse in your yard.

We’ve hung our birdhouses on berry trellises in our gourdchard and had a consistent supply of bluebirds, which has been beneficial in controlling summer pests around the homestead. Observations from our slice of paradise in Vermont indicate wrens and hairy woodpeckers have also nested in our Birdhomes.

Nesting hole size also determines the types of inhabitants. At the end of each brood season, we found remnants of both grass and stick nesting birds in our gourd cavities. According to informal data collected by our resident ecologist, we’ve had a consistent 98% nest rate in available gourd nesting sites around the homestead.

The size of the nesting hole and nesting cavity inside the gourd will determine the types of inhabitants. A single 2-inch (5 cm) opening is appropriate for martins and flickers while a smaller 1.25 to 1.5-inch (3 cm) opening is best for wrens, bluebirds, and small woodpeckers.

Aunt Fannie’s Birdhomes feature both options, but as a general rule, the smaller gourds have the smaller hole (1.25-inch/3 cm).

Hang your birdhome 6-10 feet (1.8-3.0 m) above the ground with the entrance facing an open area, around the forest perimeter, on the edge of a roof, or in your meadow, and you will certainly get residents!

Linseed oil is an alternate name for flax oil or flaxseed oil. Yes, the same type of flaxseed oil that you add to oatmeal or smoothies. Both oils (and many other flax products) are derived from the flowering plant Linum usitatissimum. Flaxseed oil refers to the oil that is edible, while linseed oil is an inedible version and reserved for use on wood finishes.

Aunt Fannie uses linseed oil that is cold-pressed (not solvent-extracted) making our product 100 percent biodegradable.

A great article on linseed oil by Vermont Woods Studios

Sure can! Interestingly, linseed is high in linoleic acid (a type of fatty acid), which is where it gets its name and why it’s so useful in the curing process. When applied directly to wood (like wood floors or gourd shells), linseed oil is absorbed, forming a matte, polymer-like coating. The oil leaves a 100 percent biological surface and allows the natural surface of the gourd to shine through while providing a long-lasting and resistant surface. Coating our Birdhomes with linseed oil also protects against dirt, moisture and drying out. Linseed oil does not protect against scratches or damage.

In the past decades, linseed oil fell out of favor as a household product in the United States because it yellows over time. However, it remains popular in other countries for ecological reasons. In the U.S., the popularity of synthetic alkyd resins (such as lacquers, polyurethane, and varnish) has replaced linseed oil due to cost and color control.

Yellowing is not a concern for Aunt Fannie’s Birdhomes since they are naturally yellowish in color. The gourds are dry and absorb three coats of linseed oil over the course of two weeks during their preparation to become Birdhomes.

When developing birdhouses out of gourds, a few different types of materials were tested to create the hanger. First, it was important to have a compostable, natural fiber to produce a durable birdhouse hanger. Hemp was nice, but difficult to tie into fancy knots. Cotton and leather were too thick and took the longest time to compost. Coco coir was too scratchy on delicate hands. Eventually, jute cord was used for it’s durability, flexibility, and compostability.

All hangers on Aunt Fannie’s Birdhomes go straight through the gourd, making a stable base for the hanger. However, some birdhouses like the apple gourd require a creative solution to placing a hanger and may sway more in the wind.

Jute is a natural, biodegradable vegetable fiber made from plants in the genus Corchorus, a type of mallow (family: Malvaceae). While New England does not grow jute, other famous mallows in our area include basswood (Tilia americana), hollyhock (Alcea rosea L.), and common or meadow mallows (multiple Malva sp.) with beautiful purple/pink flowers.

Jute fibers also make burlap and gunny cloth, popular in many Asian countries where the plant is indigenous. Jute products are more common in these countries while plastic equivalents are used more commonly in the United States.

Fortune Gourdaments come with a hand-picked fortune, some containing lucky numbers and/or language learning opportunities. All fortunes are chosen from Aunt Fannie’s personal collection which has been in the works for over 20 years!

During the development of Birdhomes, Aunt Fannie was re-reading a travelogue her best friend, Jessica, wrote in 1989. In the travelogue, she included three friendship bracelets, one of which used the hitch knots. In research for Birdhome hangers, a macramé type knot added interest and also provided a stable base. Both types of knots are quick and easy to create, plus they add a level of elegance to a Birdhome that birds definitely appreciate.

• Forward or Backward Hitch knots make a single spiral

• Half Knot Sinnet or Half Knot Spiral makes the nerdy “double helix” portion of the hanger.

Be creative in your hanging site by adding additional jute, garden twine, etc.

Feel free to cut the hanger off your gourd or re-tie it in a way that works for your planned birdhouse location! A simple slip knot is easiest to use to re-tie your jute hanger onto a branch, post, etc.

It’s good practice to clean your birdhouse gourds once nesting is complete so another bird can reuse the cavity. Alternatively, you can discard your birdhouse.

We do not paint our gourds with latex or polyurethane. Both of these products can be harmful to baby birds and our environment.

When birdhouse gourds are painted, air circulation is limited. Healthy chicks need air. A painted birdhouse cannot be composted or burned safely. Additionally, bright colors on the outside of a birdhouse can attract predators and competitors. Birds prefer to “blend in” when nesting; thus, we use 100 percent linseed oil to protect and finish gourds.

While there are no conclusive studies that indicate painting or wood treatments can harm birds, we err on the side of caution to support our declining bird populations.

For more information: Cornell's Features of a good birdhouse

This is part of the natural Birdhome process! Over time, Birdhomes kept outside (always recommended!) begin re-growing mold on their surface as the natural linseed finish naturally biodegrades in nature. Typically, this happens after one season outdoors.

Please do not keep Birdhomes inside (especially for those who are sensitive to molds).

A mature gourd’s skin (aka rind) occurs in a range of green hues and appears splotchy. Different variations of gourds have different hues in their skin. Gourd skin protects the seeds and flesh inside the gourd as it develops throughout the season.

Solid colors and beige hues are created when a gourd has lost all of its skin before any mold has developed. This is common for the gourds Aunt Fannie has soaked in water. The skin peels off like an orange and is easy to compost.

Mottled brown, black, and/or white patterns are more prominent in gourds that have been air-dried. The longer a gourd dries, the more patterns that develop as the mold digests the skin of the gourd, leaving behind the hard shell. Molds are indication of moisture inside the gourd but this is different than rot (a sinking or spongy, soft spot on the gourd).

Some gourds also have natural blemishes caused by insects, animals, or environmental damage while growing in the gourdchard. Over time, these blemishes become part of the gourd and may be retained through the drying process. Some skin refuses to come off no matter how much Aunt Fannie scrubs! These part water-processed, part air-dried gourds can have properties of both!

At the end of the season, you can reuse, compost, or burn your gourd. Remember, some birds can nest up to three times per season, so cleaning your birdhouse must coincide with the type of birds nesting in your gourd.

To clean and reuse your gourd birdhouse, remove all the nesting material (twigs, grasses, etc.) and discard. You should wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after this task for your own safety.

In the Gourdchard, we have bluebirds, which can raise three broods per summer. Once each brood has fledged, Birdhomes are cleaned and reused using the method described.

Nesting material should not be reused since bird diseases can spread via contaminated nests. From our observations, most birds prefer to build a new nest due to natural instincts. Once the nesting material is removed from your gourd, submerge it in a bucket of water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of bleach for at least one hour. You may need to put something heavy on top of the gourd to keep it fully submerged. After soaking, hang your birdhouse to dry, then rehang in your favorite location.

Once the gourd begins to decay, or whenever you choose, you can dispose of your birdhouse by burning or composting. Aunt Fannie recommends crushing your birdhouse to discourage animal habitation before adding to the brown bin of your compost pile. The linseed oil used to finish Aunt Fannie’s birdhomes and jute hangers are compostable and safe for your bin.

If you choose to burn your gourd, make sure you do this in an open area as some molds can become airborne and inhaled. You can wear a surgical mask or burn in a high temperature fire pit to ensure quick, safe disposal.

For additional information, visit your local Audubon website for a list of resident birds and their nesting requirements.

One of my favorite resources - The Cornell Lab or Ornithology

Depending on the thickness of the gourd, a birdhouse can last up to 5 years with good care. Thinner gourds will weather and crack under normal New England climates in approximately two years. A thick-shelled gourd birdhouse can last as long as five years!