About Warriors Mark Gourds

Our family began growing pumpkins and ornamental corn on a few acres of land on the family dairy farm in in 2000. Our family, at the time, included myself, my husband Erin, and our children - who in 2000 were 5 years, 4 years, 1 year, and newborn. After several years of growing pumpkins, we added a few goose gourd seeds to our planting and quickly fell in love with the hard-shelled goose gourds after they cured. Shortly after, we began adding gourds to the list of products we grow. 

Every Winter and early Spring, we pour over the seed catalogues and decide what seeds we will plant.  Once the seeds arrive in the mail, Erin spends time mapping out what varieties will be planted where in the field. He then heads to the field to start prepping the soil, and then when the weather is just right, we head out to plan the seeds. Yes, we plant the seeds by hand. Each and every one. Thousands. When the kids got old enough, they would pitch in and lend a hand.

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After planting, Erin spends considerable time monitoring for pests and making sure the plants are healthy. We look forward to warm weather and enough rain to make the plants grow and produce lots of gourds and pumpkins.  

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Starting in early September, we begin picking pumpkins. We don't pick the gourds. They are left in the field throughout the Winter and Spring. During this time, they freeze and thaw many times, and the outer skin molds. At the same time, they are losing moisture and becoming more light weight. The end result is a lightweight, somewhat grungy looking gourd that is then harvested and stored, waiting to be scrubbed clean and used for crafts or decoration.