FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS — FAQ
Q. How do I buy an ipu item from the ipufarm.com web site?
A. We use Square® and PayPal® for payments by credit card purchases — please visit ipu SALES to order your unique ipu gourds conveniently on line.
Q. Will I receive the actual ipu item pictured on www.ipufarm.com online photo catalog?
A. Because all of our ipu items are unique and hand crafted from organic materials our catalog pictures are only representative of the items ordered (unless otherwise clearly noted). Upon request, a snapshot of the item(s) and its dimensions will be e-mailed to you.
Q. Do you craft all of your ipu that are sold?
A. Although we do sell "raw" ipu, when we sell the crafted ipu, all are hand made by our family.
Q. How long does it take to grow an ipu (gourd)?
A. The entire seed-to-shelf process takes about one year. The growing season is from March to November, and the drying season is from November to March!
Q. Do you use a trellis for growing gourds?
A. In our area, a trellis is unnecessary, and ipu can be grown on the ground but must be monitored daily or weekly.
Q. Are all of the gourds you sell grown on your farm?
A. Not all of our gourds are grown on our farm, when we run out of certain shapes or sizes, we go to other local organic gourd farms for "raw ipu", and we take it from there!
Q. What is the difference between an "uncleaned" and "cleaned" ipu gourd?
A. An uncleaned gourd has a natural layer of field dirt, rind, and mold on the surface. A cleaned gourd has been scrubbed with a pot scrubber and water, or something similar, and the inner seeds and pith have been removed.
Q. How do I start an ipu heke or ipu heke 'ole gourd garden?
A. You can start a garden with our high quality ipu seeds produced on our farm.
Q. Can I visit the farm?
A. Visits are by appointment only upon availability. We are located about 30 minutes from San Diego, CA.
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