I promised my vast and faithful audience that I would continue to explore the wide, wild world of gourds and gourd art, and I always keep my word. I also have an ulterior motive; my sister’s birthday is coming up soon, and for the girl who has everything, what could be more appropriate than the gift of a gourd?

So I set about looking for some of those, you know, free, instructions on beginning gourd-crafting. It wasn’t that easy, everybody seemed to want actual money. After a great deal of hunting and pecking, I found that what I was looking for was right in front of my face. Or rather, on another of my posts. The free e-book that I mentioned from Welburn Gourd Farm in California, is excellent. Check it out at:

www.welburngourdfarm.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=31&dc=FGAL

Please note that the above photo is from Kentucky Crafts Network @ www.kentuckycraftsnetwork.com/

Then, I had the shocking realization that at some point, I would have to actually buy a gourd, or gourds, in order to pull this off. This led to some other really neat websites…. I believe that there is a gourd society for every state in the union, and an “American Gourd Society” as well. Hell, there might be a “Global Gourd Society”. I haven’t checked that yet.

The Florida Gourd Society site is great fun, they have festivals with design contests, workshops, and a “hat and mask parade”, among other things. They sponsor retreats, seminars, workshops and whatever else all those gourd people do. See for yourself:

flgourdsoc.org

As you have probably figured out by now, I live in Florida, so I researched for the closest place in which to acquire one or more of these elusive vegetables, and found “Fernsink Farms”, near Ocala. I emailed them, and received an immediate and personal response from Barbara, the gourd lady. She even offered to have her daughter meet me somewhere and deliver them to me! Her website is still under construction, like mine, but you will still find some interesting information here.

www.fernsinkgourds.com/

I promise to keep you “posted” on my progress.

Leslie