Bedford Artist “1 had always grown pump ldns” Leon explains. “And, one year I threw in a handful of gourd seeds. My mother decided it would be a fun gift” ‘Turned out to be a practical one. I enjoyed the magazine and began learning a lot about grow ing gourds. The first thing you team is that there isn’t much to leant because there certainly has never been any gourd research done.” But Leon did leant there is a market for gourds especially among artists. - It was the reason for his gift to Holly. Browsing through an “idea” folder. Holly was surprised to find a clipping she had saved on an art ist she particularly liked. T realiz ed he was painting gourds.” she remembers. Coming... Binkley & Hurst Bros., Inc. Annual DISCOUNT CASH & CARRY DAYS Starting Monday, December 20th, 1993 Thru Saturday, January 9th, 1994 I BIG SAVINGS ON PARTS I Year End Discount Machinery & Tractor Deals Are In Effect Now As You Read This Ad! 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Holly has created all types of gourd art, but her specialty has be come “Santa Clauses.” “At first I resisted,” she admits. “A lot of gourd painters do Santa Claus. But then, I found that they sell ex- tremely well I have trouble keep ing up with the demand.” Some of her Santa Claus crea tions ate rosy cheeked and twinkle eyed while others have the more sedate appearance of the early American St Nicholas. Her Santas sell from $l2 to $34 while other, more artistic crea tions go as high as $5O, wholesale. She sells to “arty” and museum Recliners $ 2lO To $ 290 gift shops. Holly alto plant to at tend the New York Gift Show in January. The entire Coia family includ ing husband, Gene, and daughter, Emily, enjoy browsing through museums where they can tee the many uses of gourds throughout the centuries. “Gourds have been used for dishes, vases, eating utensils, and as artwork. They have made their own contribution to the civiliza tion of man.” Once the gourds are picked, they must be allowed to dry on their own. As the moisture comes out of the gourd, it turns into a mass of mold which, at first, caus ed some panic reaction in Holly who had just purchased a truck load from her friend, Leon. Once the gourds rattle, they can be scrubbed off and a nature’s canvas is ready for use. Leon plants about three acres of gourds on the family’s 2SO-acre i no— i— r—yww fluueflw. December 11, IMMI7 Je ■ *f Ww from. He can get' about 1,000 gourds per acre in a good season. Like all other types of fuming, the weather must cooperate. Gourds like moisture, hut will tolerate dry weather better than some crops. An early frost is die biggest threat. If the gourds have not reached maturity by frost, they do not survive. The Sollenbergers, dad, Ray; sister, Lori; and Leon also milk 75 registered Jerseys. “Actually my dad and sister do the milking,” Leon says. “I’m not a cow man. 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GAP HILL FARM WAGONS 15549 Lincoln Hw* - Gap, M 717^429489 October, forget it,” he advisee. “But the gourds can be attrac tive to artists anytime.” one of his latest customers is a company which makes trolls and uses spoongourds for noses. Gourd varieties include such names as “spoon,” “bottle,” “le gendary,” “dipper,” “crown'of thorns,” “penguin,” “snake,” and “shevit.” Gourds sell from $1 to $lO per piece and that is exactly the way they must be harvested • by the 4 piece. “It’s a lot of manual labor,” admits Leon. “Planting can be done with any seed planter, but the picking is done by hand, piece by piece.”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers