The mission of Oregon Gourd Society is to promote, preserve, and teach the art, cultivation, and appreciation of hard-shelled gourds. The Society is a network to connect gourd enthusiasts, nurture creativity, and provide educational opportunities for its members and Oregon communities.

Oregon Gourd Society was granted state chapter status by the American Gourd Society in March of 2026.

We warmly welcome you to join us!  We are a community of gourd enthusiasts, artists, instructors, and growers united to build the future of gourding in the state of Oregon.

We invite you to attend a patch meeting to give us a try. If you would like to attend an upcoming patch meeting as our guest, please use the contact button below.

We started in 2018 when a few gourd artists met in McMinnville, Oregon, and that group continued to meet regularly and grow organically.  Due to the natural overlap between gourds and basketry, the group became part of a regional basketry guild.  As members began focusing their creative endeavors more on gourds, the group branched out on its own as the Northwest Gourders Guild.

The Northwest Gourders Guild became a tight-knit group of gourd artists who met monthly in McMinnville, including via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Member-led meetings focused on various gourd art projects, product demonstrations, and tool techniques.

By late 2024 the Northwest Gourders Guild exceeded 25 members, and in 2025 a transition team began exploring the possibility of becoming a state chapter of the American Gourd Society. Enlisting the support of American Gourd Society to contact its Oregon members, and following the necessary steps, Oregon Gourd Society was granted state chapter status in March of 2026.

Our membership includes award-winning and novice gourd artists, Master Gourd Artists, sought-after instructors, and several members who have been featured in The Gourd Magazine.

We have two active patches that meet monthly in the McMinnville and Portland/Tigard areas.

We aim to grow our membership and patches to more fully represent the state of Oregon, and we invite gourd enthusiasts of all levels to join us!