THE ARTS CENTER OF MONTROSS

My name is Greer Conrad, and I am a retired Medical Technologist.  We moved to the woods of King George in 2000 and I grew my first ‘egg’ and Tennessee spinner gourds.  That first crop was enormous, and I quickly discovered that I loved 'playing with gourds’.  I painted them with stars and gave them as Christmas presents to my co-workers. I was humbled when a few asked to purchase more.  I discovered the Virginia Gourd Lovers society in 2013 and found others excited to play with gourds.  I belong to the American Gourd Society, the Virginia Lovers Gourd society, and the North Carolina and Pennsylvania Gourd Societies.  Raising and crafting gourds brought me great joy.  I no longer try to grow my own.   

 

 I have expanded my craft by taking classes at the various gourd festivals.  Those classes have given me the courage and knowledge to tackle larger gourds.  In 2019 a few of my gourd sisters in the Fredericksburg area started a local Gourd Patch.  We meet once a month to do a project and learn something new.  I cannot think of a more rewarding and fun hobby than ‘playing with gourds’.