Texas Ranch Thrives On Gourds

Texas Ranch Thrives On Gourds 28-4-9 Growing gourds has turned into a profitable business for 77-year-old Arnold Kornegay at 7K Bar Ranch near Gause, Texas. The funny thing is, he and his cousin, Virgil Wall, got into the business by accident. "I bought a package of birdhouse gourd seed at Wal-Mart, and after growing them, I cut holes out to make purple martin houses," he says. "After I shook the seeds out of them, I swept the seeds out of the door of the shop. They sprouted and next season I had more gourds than I knew what to do with. So I strung them up on a line between two posts. I put up a sign and people started stopping." He and Virgil produce about 20 varieties of hard-shell gourds. They come in many shapes, sizes and textures, according to Kornegay. The bigger the selection he offers, the better it is for business. Kornegay grows, harvests and sells unwashed gourds directly out of the field. People turn them into birdhouses, bowls, or candleholders and some paint them. Last year, Kornegay and his cousin planted nine acres of gourds. His sales have averaged more than $1,000 per month over the past 13 months. This was his third year in business. "I was very surprised by the income these gourds have generated. I'm making more than a lot of people who have jobs," he says. "It helps that I'm located right along Hwy. 79. It's quite extensively traveled. The other day I had one guy from New York who bought $250 worth of gourds to paint and re-sell." Kornegay says gourds are a little bit difficult to grow because they require so much water. They must be irrigated every other day. He adds that it's necessary to go out into the field everyday and set newly formed gourds up on end so they will be flat on the bottom as they grow. The plants grow 40-ft. vines and the gourds are left in the field to dry for four months before being picked and sorted into similar groups for pricing. Kornegay sets them out in his yard on 16 ft. long tables he made out of cattle panels. Prices range from $1 to $12, with special ones bringing a premium of $15 to $20. "Our business is on the honor system, so if we're not at home, people can come in and pick out what they want. I have an old breadbox that is locked which I cut a slit on the end of. I call it the bank and put out a sign telling people to put their money in it," he explains. He produces some extra-large gourds by placing an IV in the stem and letting it drip water. One big gourd is perfectly shaped, about 4 ft. around, and weighed 150 lbs. green, but only 10 to 12 pounds dry. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Arnold Kornegay, 12231 E Highway 79, Gause, Texas 77857 (ph 979 279-2528; email: sevenkbarranch@aol.com).

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