Classes Just For Flair!

Make a Gourd Night Light!
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40 US dollars
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Make a Globe Light!
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65 US dollars
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Pierced Pendant
Make a sweet little lamp that throws a beautiful pattern on the wall.
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75 US dollars
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Pysanky Gourd Ornaments
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20 US dollars
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Ignore this stuff.......

In 2024 the seed giveaway will be different.... all of the seeds hold potential mystery gourds! Gourds from these seeds might look like the photos, or they might not. But they will definitely be hard-shell gourds!

Do you want seeds sooner, or want a better selection? Or more apt to be true to type? Inexpensive gourd seeds can be found at any of my favorite seed sources:

If you've never grown gourds before, I highly recommend you read the growing tips in the slideshow above, and seed-starting tips here, before sending for seeds. Gourds require LOTS of space, good rich soil, and as much time on the vine as possible. Gourds look nasty and moldy when they're drying... DON'T THROW THEM AWAY!!!

This is how it works: I don't sell them, I give them away.

Note: I'll start sending seeds in late March. Envelopes received before then will be safely stored until then. Envelopes received after mid-April will be safely saved until Spring 2024!

Send me a self-addressed stamped envelope, regular business size is best, with a note saying which seeds you'd like; choose 2 or three types (see below). I'll send your envelope back with seeds! Just a few, because I want lots of people to get some. My address can be found here.

Seeds Available Spring 2024:

Hawaiian Dance Mask

The top of this gourd is sometimes straight (photo on left), and sometimes rounded (right), almost like a small African Wine Kettle. In either case, they are thick and beautiful! We'll grow these on the ground this year, as we lost several when they fell from the trellis prematurely.

Bushel Gourd

It's big, it's splendid, it's a bushel gourd! About a foot in diameter, with a nice little nose on the top. Each plant produces 3 or more big beautiful gourds, if treated with all due respect.

Umbilical Gourd

This is my favorite. Smaller than the bushel. I just can't get over that sweet little hook at the top, which only happens if they're grown on the ground. If they hang, the neck will be straight (see photo at right). The shell is of medium thickness, and quite dense.

Very Nice Thick Gourd

Nice, but not particularly true. Meaning, you might get another shape, but it will definitely be nice. And probably pretty thick.

We have lots seeds from more-or-less pear-shaped gourds this year!

Dipper Gourd

Dippers are so versatile! If they hang while they grow, the weight of the ball will pull them straight. If grown on the ground, they'll have lovely graceful curves. What will you make with yours?

The balls on these dippers will be elongated, like the photo on the left.

Miscellaneous Bottle Gourd

It's not an Indonesian bottle, nor is it a Chinese Bottle. It's just a random bottle gourd, with a bit of a bowling-pin shape. About 10-12" tall. You know these are not rotting, right?? The skin gets moldy as they dry.

Copper Canyon Canteen

Aka Old Reliable, in my book. Given plenty of space, this plant will produce lots of beautiful, uniform 6-8" egg-shaped gourds. Such a nice plant.

Aim for healthy dark green compact seedlings, like that happy one on the right.

Sennari

This bountiful plant will produce dozens of little cuties! At the same time, it might attract more cucumber beetles than any other cucurbit in your garden. Trap crop?

Three days of gourd crafting! We’ll be doing so much… cleaning, staining, waxing, designing, cutting, carving, and having fun making art. This all-you-can-learn workshop at Gourdlandia is geared towards beginners or moderately experienced gourd crafters looking to get some new skills and ideas. The focus will be on tools and techniques, as opposed to finished products (although there will be lots of those!).

We’ll start daily at 9 am. At 5 pm we’ll spend some time sharing what we’ve learned virtually, for people who are unable to come and learn in person. This daily sharing is an important part of this workshop. There will be opportunities to have dinner together, and time in the evening to work on projects started earlier. Here’s the tentative plan….

Day 1: Bowl and Night Light

We’ll apply a water-based ink, and two-step wax finish to a large gourd. The bottom will become a bowl. We’ll talk about different possible rim treatments, and drill holes if you’d like to apply pine needles, beads, etc later. The top will become a night light with attached ears. We’ll use a dozen tools at least, just for that!

Day 2: Box and Pendant

In the morning, we’ll experiment with etching and dark line pyrography on small gourds or shards before designing and creating boxes. In the afternoon, we’ll create beautiful pendants with thousands of holes. This will be great practice for…

Day 3: Table Lamp

My very favorite thing to make! I plan to show you all of the tips and tricks. If we’re diligent, we can finish them in time to show off at our final virtual session, at the end of the day.

Details….

The cost of the three day workshop is $500.

The workshop is limited to 8 participants. If interested, please email me (graham.ottoson@gmail.com) with the following information.

Name
Email
Phone number
Address
A few sentences about your experience and interest in gourd crafting
Any questions you have about the workshop

I am arranging to provide inexpensive lodging nearby, in our community guest rooms (EcoVillage at Ithaca). In your email, please indicate whether you’d be interested in this lodging.

Applicants will be notified regarding acceptance by the end of November, and payment will be due at that time.