What is the best way to prepare gourds for curing and painting?

Question

bird house gourds, bushel gourds

Answer 1

several sites to consider here

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Ascr...

Answer 2

When your gourd vines turn brown, pick the gourds and allow them to dry in a cool place. When they are totally cured, you can shake them and the seeds will rattle inside. Take a mixture of bleach water and a pot scrubber and scrub them clean and allow them to dry again.  From that point you are ready to create birdhouses or whatever with the gourds. Apple gourds are really easy and fun to grow and make the cutest birdhouses ever!