A Growing Interest In Gourd Arts And Crafts In Local NC. What are gourds? Are gourds fruit? Are gourds vegetables? What can you do with a gourd? For the answers you can just watch the people in and out of craft shows, consignment shops, flea markets and farmers markets.

Its seems that the gourd is everywhere in North Carolina. I saw about twenty gourds hanging in the front yard of a home in Carolina Pines in Raleigh NC, gourds of all kinds as yard décor on 50 highway outside Garner NC. I have even purchased a bowl at the NC State Fair grounds and thought it was wood at the time of purchase. I covered Gourd Day at the NC State Farmers Market and got a close up look at quite a few gourds of all kinds and talked to some interesting people about the art of gourd crafting and the different things to do with gourds.

First of all I was stunned at the beautiful art work that these artist had on display. As I took pictures I asked questions about the gourds to get a measure of their thoughts on the incredibly detailed designs. One lady enjoyed the fact that her kids was so fascinated by the variety of gourds. Lots of customers at the market had collected information from the gourds vendors and some could hardly wait to try a project.

In an interview with “Ken Hardee” the vice president of {NORTH CAROLINA GOURDS SOCIETY} said it’s not expensive to start growing and crafting gourds, if you got a few tools or you may have to invest in a good set of tools and it depended on what you plan to do with the gourds. Ken Hardee and his wife Kathy have been in gourd crafting for (7) seven years and with the North Carolina Gourd Society for (6) six years.

I ask Ken what got him into carving gourds or gourd crafts? He said his wife Kathy went out and purchased a Jack-O-Lantern for the holiday and told her he could carve that, (the jack-o-lantern) and he did and been carving every since.

Ken and his wife are very passionate about their gourd craft, They like meeting new people and sharing ideas. He explained that they are in it for the joy of it and it‘s very rewarding. Ken won three blue ribbons for his gourd crafts last year at the NC State Fair, he will not be competing this year, he will be judging the competition.

The North Carolina Gourd Society is a nonprofit organization. KEN AND KATHY HARDEE 1393 HARDEE ROAD FUQUAY-VARINA, NC 27526 (919)552-4777 65th ANNUAL NORTH CAROLINA GOURD FESTIVAL. NC STATE FAIRGROUNDS RALEIGH NC KERR SCOTT BUILDING……………………………………………………………

Sadac Israel