Ginger Summit
Ginger Summit has had a long history with textile arts and handicrafts. And, in the past ten years much experience with gourds.
In 1988 Ms. Summit discovered gourds as a medium for the arts and crafts.
Traveling the world she has become aware of gourds historical significance to mankind.
Her collection of gourds is large and varied from around the world. She has done an in-depth study on the cultural influences gourds have had in most tropical zones cultures.
Gourds have found a popular place among crafters and artists alike and Ms. Summit has been there to shape and introduce them.
She is a gardener who has supported her own craft by growing for her artistic needs in Los Altos Hills, California.
Ms. Summit has written several books on gourds: "The Complete Book of Gourd Craft", "Gourds in Your Garden: A Guidebook for the Home Gardener", "Making Gourd Musical Instruments" (with Jim Widess), and "Gourd Craft".
Ms. Summit has had her work on display in The Lundscape Gallery, Lund, British Columbia; The Filoli Estate, in Woodside, California; and in the Expressions Gallery, Los Altos, California.
She is a member of the American Gourd Society as editor of the journal "The Gourd", and a member of the California Gourd Society.
Always one to support her community she has been a board member of the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View, California. Also, she is a board member of The Festival of Lights Parade Association. And, maybe most importantly, involved with the Friends of the Library in Los Altos, California.
One of the largest contributions in the gourd world has been made by Ginger Summit. We thank her for her endeavors.
Also see Emily's interview with Ginger Summit or Emily's article on gourds - Think Gourds for Halloween.
Or, visit Ginger Summit's webpage.
Gourds in Your Garden
Whether you're a seasoned gardener enchanted with their lush vines and unusually shaped fruit or a crafter in search of the perfect gourd for a specific project, this easy-to-use primer takes the mystery out of growing gourds. Largely ignored by most gardening books, gourd plants require specific attention to produce healthy vines and satisfactory fruit.
Learn how to: * Identify popular gourd shapes * Plan and cultivate your garden * Grow, train, and harvest a bountiful crop * Control pests and disease with natural remedies * Prepare your gourds for use-in recipes and art projects. Lists of suppliers, a growing calendar, and space for notes on your own garden conditions make this the complete gourd sourcebook.
A delight to read as well as a lasting reference, this long overdue guide to the adventures of growing one of Nature's greatest gifts is an essential addition to any gardener's library. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.