Meet the Owners

On July 1st, 2006 Carolyn Cooper and Linda Bond took over Northern Dipper from founders Peter Bell and Pam Grossi.

A message from Carolyn
Linda and I started a woodworking business in 1998. We had a small store on our property where we sold some of our products. We also did the trade show venues to get our name out. While being vendors in a show, I saw my first gourd, (it was Canadian gourd artist Gloria Pengally 's booth) and it was love at first sight. Gourds fit like a glove for me. I have both a love of gardening and of art and gourds provided both.

We grew our first crop in 2002.  It was a sorry sight but I was determined to learn as much as I could. I spent time doing research as well as speaking to other gardeners that might have any growing tips. Then one  day I found out about this company called "Northern Dipper” They were going to be at Canada Blooms, a large garden show in Toronto. Linda, my Dad, and I went and our lives pretty well changed from that day forward. I was completely mesmerized by Peter and his knowledge about gourds. I couldn't really get him to talk enough about them. Little did I know that within a few short years I would be travelling to Guatemala with him. 

The next year we did very well growing our own gourds. Eventually we decided we wanted to be able to supply some gourds to other painters we knew and we wanted to start holding some classes. To reach our goals we felt as though we needed a larger property. Now we live just outside of Cookstown, a pretty village located close to Newmarket, Ont. Our property is beautiful, a country setting with a pond and wildlife and a larger store. Plus we now have lots of space for workshops.

In 2006, we once again went to Canada Blooms and it once again changed our course of our life. We ran into Peter from Northern Dipper and we heard that the business was for sale. It put a bee in our bonnet and now we are the new owners. And we are so excited! So that, in a nutshell, is how it all got started.

    Future plans:
1.  To be able to supply quality gourds at affordable prices.
2.  To be a one-stop supplier of all gourd related material. We would like our customers to get all their gourd related supplies from Northern Dipper.
3.  To focus on providing workshops to new and experienced gourders. We are in a central location and our farm is a beautiful, peaceful, back-to-nature environment.
4.  To be the host of future Gourd Fests.
5.  To present at various trade shows and to educate about gourds as an art form.