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Volume 3, Number 29
www.northerndipper.com
Email: info@northerndipper.com
In this Issue:
Joy Jackson - Passionate About Gourds & All Things Gourdly!
The June Grow Report: Get Ready - The Cucumber Beetles Are Arriving
It's CONTEST Time at Northern Dipper!
Dear Carolyn! PLUS Reader's Corner
Gourd Sightings & Trivia
20% off
Guatemalan Gourds
40% off
Apple Gourds
Applicable June 1 - 30, 2007 for both Internet
orders and farm visits.
To view dried gourds click here.
For directions and hours click here.
Joy Jackson
At the age of six, Joy had her first piece
of art work entered in a citywide art show.
Back then her father was her biggest fan and
supporter. Since then her fan base has
expanded and many more entries and
winning pieces have followed over the years.
This is Joy with one of her students
from a make-it-take-it project. (Ohio 2006)
This has been decoupaged with handmade
mulberry paper which gives it a beautiful
textured look.
"I can't say I have a favourite technique,
although painting is what I do the most of, as
it seems to be what people/customers prefer.
I believe that is due to a general lack of
understanding of the various forms of gourd
art in my area. Educating the public is what all
gourd artists and societies strive to do."
Time Flies
"This is one of my favourite pieces. It is a combination of decoupage and collage using
handmade papers and other ephemera papers,
along with pieces of five old alarm clocks
(purchased at a yard sale) I took apart and
attached to the gourd. It won a blue ribbon in the
"I Did It My Way" category in Indiana in 2006."
"I call these "gourd body Santa's". The heads
are purchased ornaments, which are then
attached to a gourd body. I use Creative Paper
Clay to form arms and other 3-D effects, and
even add miniature objects (wreaths, Santa
bags, bird nests, etc.) to some of them. I
have to decide before working with the
clay what he will hold in order to form the
hands the right distance apart and in the right position to hold the item."
"Living out in the country there are lots
of birds to nest in my gourd birdhouses.
This is an Aurelia Conway design."
"This is another of my favourites. Done in
2003, Creative Paper Clay features were added
for her face and feet, along with the handle
of a dipper gourd for a tail. She is painted
like our 19-year-old cat, K.C. (Kitty Cat). She won ribbons at both Ohio and Indiana in 2005. I
have finally decided that I can part with her ~ for something special ~ the auction for the
5th Annual Cherokee Gourd Artists Gathering!"
Let's Celebate Summer and Have A CONTEST
Linda thinks it is time to have some fun at Northern Dipper so lets have a summer contest!
This contest will revolve around the Wartie gourd. People are never at a loss as to what to do with all the different varieties of gourds - all varieties that is except for the lonely Wartie who sits in his pile all winter long. "Why is this?" he cries to his other Wartie friends. "Is it because of my bumps and my hills? Am I not beautiful like the my cousins?"
Linda wants to help out so we are having a contest
to see what kinds of creative ideas people can
come up with on what to do with this type of gourd.
To help you get started Linda is putting the
Warties on sale at 50% off for the month of June.
The Prize
A Northern Dipper gift certificate in the amount
of $50.00 plus a sampling of the new dyed broom corn that Northern Dipper is now selling.
Dyed broom corn is beautiful in rim treatments and
in flower arranging.
The Rules
There are none. Just create a Wartie masterpiece and send in a photo of what you have done. Make sure to include your name, address, phone number and email address. Your photos will be published in a future newsletter. All photos should be received by July 21st. Good luck everyone.
Wartie Art
This impressive WARTIE was coiled by
Ontario artist Catherine Devine.
This piece placed
First in Advanced Weaving in Indiana 2007.
The contrast of texture give it visual impact,
which makes it very appealing.
Birds love the Wartie birdhouse.
To view Wartie gourds at 50% off click here.
To view the dyed broom click here.
The GROW REPORT
Cucumber beetles can be a problem for gourd growers. Approx. 1/4" long they can be
either striped or spotted. They spend winters hibernating in the soil.
Once the weather warms the females lay their
eggs. Once the larvae hatch they crawl
up the gourd plant into the stem or roots. The
larvae pupate and the beetles will eat both the
plant & flowers.
Leaf Damage from the Cucumber Beetle
This beetle will chew into the shells of growing
gourd and spread disease such as bacterial
wilt. June is a problem with this beetle, July is a bigger problem and then in August the population decreases but it never completely goes away.
Cucumber beetles are active in the cool of the
night and they love the night blooming gourd flowers.
Some growers let the population build up to help
with pollination. Some spray part of their gourd
patch but not all of it. This method will decrease and somewhat control the population but does not
alleviate it entirely.
For a natural approach in controlling the cucumber beetle, Ginger Summit author of " Gourds In Your Garden " plants radishes, catnip or broccoli around and throughout the gourd patch. Let them go to seed.
Many people use Sevin which can be bought
at garden centers. NOTE: Follow the directions
from the Manufacturer and always wear
proper safety equipment.
For a good website on the cucumber beetle click here.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/cucumberbeetle.html
To view the Northern Dipper Grow Guide
Tip of the Month
When attaching a handle to a rattle
use wet rawhide lacing to hide the
entry hole. When rawhide dries it
shrinks allowing a nice tight fit and
a clean looking finish to the rattle.
Gourd Sightings
Carnivale is an excellent series set in the 1930’s
Dust Bowl. Eighteen-year-old Ben Hawkins finds
himself all alone in the world but a travelling
Carnivale takes him in. It is a story about good
and evil with a colourful line-up of characters –
well worth checking out if it is on in your area.
A gourd was seen being used as a water bottle.
To learn more click here.
Reader's Corner
The following 3 photos are the art of Marilyn McLeary. We love Marilyn's choice of colours
and the carving in Pic 2 is outstanding.
Painted Cats
Thanks Lois Dean. We enjoyed these!
Designed & Published by
Pam Grossi
1535 Myrtle Ave
Victoria, BC, V8R 2Z7
250/598-9674
Email:
Northern Dipper Farm
5376 County Rd 56, RR # 2
Cookstown, Ont, L0L 1L0
705/435-3307
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