About Corona Gourd Company

Several years ago, Mary & Gary Gehley were looking for something fun and different to do for the day.  They had heard about something called a gourd festival being held at Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook.  The Gehleys didn’t know much about gourds, or why anyone would hold a festival to celebrate them, but thought it sounded like an interesting way to spend a day.   As it turned out, this trip to Welburn’s Farm was to be just the first of many.  From the farm to the finished gourd art, Mary and Gary were intrigued by the whole gourding process. 

Before long, Mary and daughter Laurie were at Welburn taking a beginning gourding class.  They were totally hooked.  They started creating gourd art for their home, and the next Christmas, all their friends and family received gourds as gifts.  More classes, more gourds, more fun….    

…And so here we are today.  A friend suggested that we go into business doing what we love and we thought, why not?  In August 2006, we started the Corona Gourd Company.  We started selling to friends and coworkers, and set up our first sales booth at Norco’s Hillside Farms Art & Craft Fair in December.  We were excited and encouraged by our success.  In January 2007, we set up our website.  In the meantime, we have had a booth at the Wednesday night Farmers Market at Dos Lagos, Corona. 

Gary Gehley, no longer content to remain on the sidelines as our most valued source of support and encouragement, has also taken a gourding class and now occasionally joins us in the workshop.  His imagination and unique sense of whimsy has added another layer to our creative process.

We are looking forward to the opportunity to share our love of gourds and gourding, and thank you for taking the time to read our story.

Mary and Laurie Gehley