The Illinois Gourd Society was formed in July, 1998 by a small group of gourd artists and growers who wanted to promote this craft in Illinois.  The goals of this Society are directed towards the education and instruction of individuals within the state of Illinois who are interested in gourd culture, uses, history, and/or crafting. This Society continues to grow in numbers since its inception. The ILGS is a member of the American Gourd Society http://www.americangourdsociety.org/ Sister states with gourd societies are Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, and Kentucky. There are 24 states with gourd chapters of the AGS. Check our links page page for their web pages and more information on gourd resources. 
 
President of ILGS Bonnie Cox  ilmidwife@comcast.net
Vice-President Paula Farrell  chkieg68@yahoo.com
Secretary: Sue Cutter  cutterms@prairieinet.net
Treasurer/Membership  Rhonda Adair  jkadair@adams.net
Newsletter Editor: Karen Caldwell klcaldwell@comcast.net
Join us! - membership form

  Upcoming Events:
  • February 10-12, 2012 -The Midwest Herb and Garden Show in Mt. Vernon
  • May 5-6, 2012 - NW Regional Gourd Festival in Galena at the Council Hill Station
  • June 2,  2012 - The Great Gourd Gathering in Arthur  at the Great Pumpkin Patch 

    •        Vendor and Instructor Application - due by April 6
  • June 23-24, 2012 -  Lebanon  Art and Gourd Festival
  • Sept 14-16, 2012 - State Festival --Chicago Botanic Garden 

    •        2012 competition rules
           Request for vendors -- contact:  Paula Farrell  chkieg68@yahoo.com
  • October (all weekends) - Morton Arboretum.  Gourd art vendors and workshops.  Contact Jill and Wes Nelson for details. twofeathers25@yahoo.com

    • The President's Message -- January 10, 2012
              Welcome to the Illinois Gourd Society web page. We are glad you are interested in gourds, and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about growing, crafting or vending these inspiring objects!  We have regional directors in each region of the state who are busy coordinating gourd activities in their regions.  See the regional map and contact information for the regional directors. Paula Farrell our VP is working on establishing two gourd patches in the Chicago area in Palatine and Naperville. Her contact information is  630-209-7066 or chkieg68@yahoo.com  There are regular monthly gourd group meetings in Peoria (Bonnie at ilmidwife@comcast.net), Springfield (Liz at fefifofarm@hotmail.com), and the Quad Cities ( Carol at cjvan@hotmail.com). A gourd patch is a meeting of folks who are interested mainly in crafting gourds. Usually there is a monthly project, show and tell and sharing of ideas. 
         The Midwest Herb and Garden Show in Lebanon, February 10-12, will feature gourd art and is a very large garden show with speakers and vendors from many Midwest areas. Contact Karen and Paul Wilson at wilsonsgourds@yahool.com or 618-459-3283.
          Our next gourd festival is the NW Regional near Galena May 4-6 at the Council Hill Station. There will be gourd demonstrations and gourd vendors as well as country music.  The biggest gourd event of the year is our state festival at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Mark your calendars and plan to meet us there September 14-16. We would welcome your questions and participation. 
    . 

            Best wishes,
            Bonnie Cox, ILGS President.  ilmidwife@comcast.net


           Photos from recent events . . .
      tMidwestern Herb and Garden Show at Times Square Mall, in Mount Vernon in February
      tIL NW Regional Festival in Galena, May 2011
      tGreat Gourd Gathering in Arthur, June 2011
      tFall Festival at the Botanic Garden in September 2011
      tLebanon Art Festival in Lebanon, June 2011
     
     
    Want to learn more about gourds? Visit our Gourd Society links page