Remember that luffa we got back at the end of October? It's been drying in a dry, well-ventilated spot all this time, on a table in our living room. Yes, that's right--We've had a gourd sitting on an end table for two months.
All this time, it's been getting lighter and lighter and a little more shriveled bit by bit until, finally, it got to the point where it was frightening people. Seriously. People would touch it and be freaked out and yell, "Get it away!"
So I decided it was time to open it up and get my sponge! Of course, by this time, I've lost my directions, and it seems like no one online can agree on the best way to proceed. After reading several opinions, I pretty much decided to wing it and hope for the best.
So, the picture up top is what it looked like once it dried out. I actually thought it felt kind of neat and leathery. And the seeds inside made a nice rattling sound.
I started by pushing my thumb into the flower end of the gourd. The flower end would be the end opposite the stem end. (Probably obvious to everyone but me.) Then I turned it upside down and shook and shook and shook and shook to get the loose seeds out.
Next, I submerged it in a sink full of water for about fifteen minutes.
Then I just started peeling off the skin. It came off very easily. Looks like an ear of corn, doesn't it?
See how easy it was? One piece!
Looks like I missed a LOT of seeds! I soaked it some more, then I carefully poked in there with a chopstick.
Finally, it's mostly clean!
Almost every set of directions tells you to dry the sponge on a baking rack for a few days. I just set mine on the radiator, and it dried overnight.I have to admit, I thought this whole thing was pretty cool. If you have kids, by all means, grow some luffas next summer!
9 comments:
Huh. Who knew those things came from squash.
I didn't know that either. I thought it was a sponge thing...er...or something...never really gave it a lot of conscious thought. very interesting though.
neat-o!
the boys will definitely get a kick out of that. I'll put it on my 'to plant' list.
I had no idea you meant loofah until I got to the end! I probably made up my own spelling, but I was pronouncing yours "luff-uh"... rhymes with tough. Woops!
Too funny, when I saw what was inside I was amazed. I thought you meant like a sea sponge. It's the whole loofah in there, cool! haha I have to try to grow that sometime.
wow! I had no idea loofahs, or luffas/the sponge, came from a gourd. I think my boys would enjoy seeing that as well. I think I will plant a luffa or loofah gourd! Thanks for the detailed instructions!
WOW I didn't know they came from plants COOL!
Cool pics showing the whole process! I knew that they were some kind of gourd, but I had never actually seen them in their natural state. I usually spend more time on your crafting blog. It's fun to see another side!
I had no idea about that, thanks for sharing!
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