When Welburn Gourd Farm is trying to get rid of the last season's stock to make room for the new gourds they've grown they have a sale.
We just can't resist visiting the farm to see what we can find.
For your viewing pleasure I thought I'd document part of this trip so you can get an idea of the beautiful area the farm is in.
In order to get to the good stuff, you've got to go through the junky stuff. In southern California that means a freeway trip. After a few miles we finally get to our exit in Temecula.
The farm is about 16 miles back into the hills and the first section off the freeway is a grunt. If I had to ride this on my bicycle I'd be ruined, until I got stronger!
Here's the first of two turns. We're in a much more rural area now. The houses back here go from mini mansions to working farms, to avocado fields, and back again.
Take it easy back here. The road is narrow and can take unexpected turns. Scars on the trees show that this is not the place to let your inner Andretti show through.
This is the last turn. If you're passengers are car sick at this point this downhill/hard to starboard turn will win you no friends.
Dorothy, it's not Kansas but it looks like what we're looking for!
There's gourds in them thar fields... Ok, that's enough, I'll stop.
Welburn grows in a number of different fields in the area. There were a couple guys turning the gourds in this field so they'd dry properly.
Welburn Gourd Farm, we have arrived.
The gourds are spread out by type and size in long tables made of welded pipe and chicken wire. You grab a shopping basket and wander up and down the rows looking for the perfect gourd for your upcoming projects.
Although this area can be pretty hot in the California summer it's always cool back here under the oak trees. It would be a great place for a picnic lunch after you've finished shopping and I doubt the Welburn folks would mind, they're pretty friendly.
After you've made your gourd choices a friendly Welburn employee will come size the gourds you've chosen and then take you into the little sales building to ring up your sale. Inside the building they also have all the dyes, tools, books, and materials you could possibly want for making your gourd masterpiece. This really is a one-stop-shop for all things gourd.
Now comes the fun part: we get to make cool things out of our new gourds!
Thanks for reading.
7 comments:
We got to work on our new gourds today and yesterday. Thank goodness for California weather. Most of the cleaning and sawing we can do outside on our patio. Then at night we can do the woodburning indoors.
But don't do what I did and work on your gourds without a dust mask.
The dreaded gourd dust doesn't always affect me but it did this time. My head feels like it's full of cotton.
I can't wait until you update your blog with your new gourd creations. But I knew they aren't quite ready yet to be revealed to the world.
I finally went to that place. Kinda far and I got lost but I think it was worth it. I can't wait to finish my gourdelele!
-Jhoneil
Hi, Jhoneil. I'm glad you made it out there. Either direction is tricky the first time. I prefer to go in from Temecula but after the big rains we had last year we had to go in from Fallbrook... that one was tricky.
I'm looking forward to seeing your end result. Let me know if you need any tool assistance or anything.
My GPS made me go to the back entrance of the farm but it was a dirt road and it was too much for my little Scion. I had to turn back and find the other entrance.
Oh, have you see the ukuleles I made so far? http://smu.gs/AzbMXp
I thought a gourd body would be easier but it's proving that it presents different challenges :)
Wow, I didn't even know the gourd farm had a back entrance! I'm glad you found your way in.
Those ukuleles are beautiful!
Actually, having seen the work you put into your bows I shouldn't be surprised. You're a pretty accomplished craftsman, and artist.
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