Greensboro Daily Photo

Got Okra?

We love growing okra in our backyard. It tolerates the heat of summer very well and keeps on giving well into fall. This photo was taken just this week and there is no sign of our okra stopping production of these wonderful pods. Of course, as we see the days get shorter and the temperatures dropping, it will be another story. Okra is in the mallow family, making it related to hibiscus. Usually, we grow green okra, but this year decided to grow red. A fun fact is that it reverts to green when cooked. Okra has long been a staple is Piedmont cooking. Lucky 32 and Blue Denim Restaurant are two Greensboro restaurants that often have okra on the menu. Sometimes it is available at the Coliseum Cafe. It can be eaten raw, boiled, steamed, and fried. It is a key ingredient in gumbo. How do you like your okra?

For a plant that grows so well in Greensboro, once established, and so full of nutrients, we encourage you to plan to plant some next spring.

Happy Wednesday!

Meet Watts @ Revolution Cycles

Today's photo features Watts Dixon, owner of Revolution Cycles, located at 1907 Spring Garden Street. Watts, originally from Atlanta, came to Greensboro to attend college. However, his passion for bicycling and working at Friendly Bikes helped hone his career path, as he bought the business in 2007. Seven years later, he moved the shop and changed the name.  Once at the current Spring Garden Street location, Watts added beer on draft and in cans to the shop- in addition to selling bikes and merchandise and making repairs.*  Stop by and partake on any day of the week, but especially at the Shop Social gathering every Friday, when people drop in and share their biking plans for the weekend.

This independent bike shop is the go-to place locally for those interested in bike-packing adventures, touring, biking on gravel, and mountain biking. If you need a bag for your bike or any specialty item, if he doesn't have it in stock, Watts knows exactly where to get it. Biking is such a great way to get from Point A to Point B while getting exercise and reducing your carbon footprint. Once you start, it becomes a lifestyle. Just ask Watts!

Happy Wednesday!

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Goodwill by the Pound

Last year, Triad Goodwill received more that 25 million pounds of donations. We're guessing once the donations get pulled from the shelves of the "regular" Goodwill stores, they move on to the by-the-pound Goodwill. Their ads, however, say that it is the same quality as in their retail stores. Definitely, the by-the-pound venture takes treasure hunting to the next level. The above outlet is located at 1235 South Eugene Street. Clothing, shoes, stuffed animals, and toys are sold at $1.59 a pound, and household goods, furniture, electronics, etc. are 79¢ a pound. If you are interested, here are the rules. It is interesting to see what is being sold there and how people are shopping.

Our big take-away, however, is the fact that in the Greensboro area alone, more than 25 million pounds were donated to Goodwill. Over-consumption is definitely an issue; however, as we learn to reduce consumption, reusing and recycling helps. Wondering just how long we could go without making purchases of non-essentials!

Preservation Greensboro Tours

Last night, we took one of Preservation Greensboro's walking tours of downtown Greensboro. The theme was the historical equity in Greensboro. We were so lucky to have Benjamin Briggs lead the tour. Benjamin is the executive director of Preservation Greensboro and he can answer just about any question about the history and architecture of our city. There are so many examples of people and places of Greensboro that contributed our community being equitable and acceptable. Benjamin started by explaining how the Quakers' believe that all are equal in God's eyes. This perspective was very forward thinking for the 1700s. Quakers were supportive of the Underground Railroad  (1810- 1850).  Benjamin mentioned the role of Greensboro's institutions of higher education, providing opportunities for marginalized people. We have two HBCUs; two women's colleges. Bennett remains a school for females; UNCG is now integrated. We learned that Moses and Caesar Cone relocated to Greensboro in the 1890's because they felt our community was more open to the Jewish faith than other cities in North Carolina. We learned that the brutalist architecture of Governmental Plaza was designed by an Argentine architect, Eduardo Catalano and that after a 20 year effort it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Benjamin even touched on the trials, tribulations, progressive advances made, and current resources for the LGBTQ community. 

Preservation Greensboro's walking tours are free and open to the public. They have many interesting themes. In spite of the drizzle, we had a dozen participants last night. Some people were from Greensboros, including a woman retired from Wrangler. There were participants from Winston-Salem. Four participants were from France. What a great way to spend the summer solstice, even though it was drizzly and in the 60ºs.

Happy Thursday!

Farmers Market Day

Today is Farmers Market day. The above photo is the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville, across from the old War Memorial baseball stadium. It opens at 7:30 am today and continues until about noon. Two other well attended markets are the one on West Market Street at St. Andrew's Church.  The Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge is another good option. It is not to late to plant if you are interested in having a garden. Any of these markets, or the smaller pop-up markets, would be a great option. Just getting out and being around people and seeing fresh vegetables is a good thing. Greensboro is really blessed to have all of these options for farm to table food.

While you are out and about, you can also go to Preservation Greensboro's 13th annual tour of homes. This year, they will be in Westerwood- today and tomorrow. See here.

Have a great Saturday! 

Sheldon Herman, Bicyclist and Volunteer Extraordinaire

As we continue our posts about biking in Greensboro during National Bike Month, we would be remiss if we did not feature Sheldon Herman. Sheldon was co-owner and business manager for Lotus Center on Lawndale Drive. In retirement, Sheldon has not slowed down in the least. He works tirelessly with the bike community to get people riding and to make cycling safer. He also helps get bikes for people who have no means of transportation to work. In 2021, Fox News featured Sheldon's efforts to make bikes available to Afghan refugees, others in need, and children who need to experience the joy of riding a bike  (read more here). Bikesboro, a local biking network and group of volunteers, donated more than 400 bikes to adults and children. Through the Bikesboro group, you can become part of a great biking community.  Sheldon is also one of the founders of the bicycle shop in Barber Park, which is where the above photo was taken.

The bicycle shop in Barber Park is located in an older brick building at the bottom of the hill, just beyond the enclosed sports complex. There, people bring bikes to donate, volunteers come to learn to repair bikes and get them road ready. While the bike shop at Barber Park has been open for a while now, they have started a new initiative: The "Bike Library." Every Sunday from 1:00pm- 4:00 pm, people can check out bicycles to ride around the park. The volunteers make sure the bike is the right size and even give lessons for those who have not yet learned to ride or who need a refresher. The grand opening of the "Bike Library" will be this Sunday, May 21st from 1:00pm- 4:00 pm. The opportunity borrow a bike is free! A heartfelt thank you goes out to Sheldon and all of the other volunteers. See you at Barber Park on Sunday!

Happy Friday!

Wheels on the Greenway, Plus!

 

Today's photo features the May First Friday in downtown Greensboro- yesterday. LeBauer Park had música latina and tents for creating and crafting. Reconsidered Goods was one of the non-profits bringing creative joy to people visiting the park. The warm weather and Cinco de Mayo brought out a lot of folks. Today will be equally busy downtown. In Center City Park, Tabitha Brown will be on site. She has several tents of activities planned. Also, she will roll out her line of clothing and household items, to be sold at Target. Since she is from the Triad, she will hare her designs with us first! Her event is free and open to the public.

Equally exciting today is the 8th annual WHEELS on the Greenway event. As you can see on the sign above, the event starts at 9:00 am in the park at the corner of Murrow Boulevard and Lindsay Street (405 N. Murrow Blvd.). If it has wheels, you are invited to bring it participate. Several community partners will be offering interactive activities. There will be helmet giveaways, opportunities to learn to work on bikes, a "bling your bike" station, and so much more. Please follow the link at the beginning of this paragraph to see just how many community partners are involved and all of the activities will be associated with WHEELS on the Greenway. We are so proud of Greensboro and just how much there is to do hear. The community just keeps getting better and better!

Happy Saturday!

Earth Day 2023 at Congregational Church of Christ

Did you have a nice Earth Day, yesterday? Guess what? Today, at Congregational Church of Christ they are holding an Earth Day Festival. It will be held to day from 12-3pm,  in the Refugium in front of the church. The church is located at 400 West Radiance Drive. We attended last year and it was a great job to learn more about native plants, and we even got to take some home. There will be food, music, exhibits, and more. According to their website, there will be over 15 displays, demonstrations, activities for children, plants for sale and give away, and more. Food from Reto's Kitchen and Maxie B's will be on a donation basis. This church is conveniently located just off of Friendly Avenue and Josephine Boyd. 

While, technically everyday is Earth Day, is is nice to take a day to be extra appreciative of the amazing balance in nature and to learn what we can do to help decrease our carbon footprint and environmental impact. If you are looking for an open-minded, liberal church, this may be just the church for you.

Happy Sunday!

Camille's Closet & Theo's Threads

Prom season is upon us and the Greensboro Youth Council is holding a pop-up, prom dress giveaway today from 5:30- 7:30 at the Glenwood Community Center at 2010 Coliseum Boulevard. The program has been so successful that they added two more dates (yesterday and today). This Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department Program provides formalwear outfits to middle and high school students free of charge. Each student-shopper is entitled to a dress (or jacket/suit), shoes, and an accessory. As you can see in the above photo, there are plenty of options for dresses- in every color. The program is sponsored by Four seasons Town Centre,  BackPack Beginnings, and Cheshire Center. 

If you go there to select an item, notice the volunteers. They are all high school students volunteering through the Greensboro Youth Council. This is a well-established group that helps students develop leadership skills and confidence in working with the public. The program is a great way for teens to meet other teens from across the Triad. Also, involvement with GYC is a way to earn service learning hours. In case you are wondering, dressing rooms are available. Just like the whole event, the dressing rooms are pop-up, but they are definitely functional. Now that you know about the program, we hope you will donate formal clothing or money to help support the clothing. Especially needed are menswear and dresses in larger sizes.

 

Congregational United Church of Christ: Solar Panels

According to church records, 145  United Church of Christ churches have solar panels. The Congregational United Church of Christ in Greensboro is one such example. It is one of eight UCC churches in North Carolina with solar panels. We noticed the panels driving along Josephine Boyd near Friendly Avenue.  The actual location is Radiance Drive.

One of the UCC solar churches reported liking the lower energy costs and  also sees the initiative as "eco-evangelism" * It is seen as "creation-justice"  work. The solar panels are located on the east side of the church, capturing the energy from the morning sun. This church also has a habitat refugium in the front yard for plants, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The church is committed to using native plants in their habitat refugium. This seems like a church that really makes an effort to welcome people  of all backgrounds, and they make an effort to teach people how to live sustainably.

Happy Sunday!

 

* reference and more information HERE.

Dogwood Time in Greensboro!

Greensboro's landscapes are enriched by its understory of pink and white dogwoods; and below the dogwoods, the pink and white azaleas. Dogwoods like soil that drains well, shade, and temperatures under 95º.  in 1955, the Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs held a dogwood planting program. Approximately 11,000 dogwoods were planted locally, in an effort to help the city become known as "The Dogwood City."* The average lifespan of a dogwood tree is about 80 years. Many of those dogwoods from "Operation Dogwood" are starting to age out. Plus, as the tree canopy gets cut down, the dogwoods struggle. In 2004, there was again an effort to implement a planning program and every 5th grader in Greensboro received a dogwood seedling to plant. This Arbor Day initiative came with a week-long curriculum for teachers to use in the classroom, in an effort to inspire students to plant their seedlings- and to give them the skills to know how to plant their little dogwoods. Part of this curriculum taught students the benefits of trees and the importance of keeping our shade trees.

Operation Dogwood was such an inspiring program. Let's all consider planting a dogwood for Arbor Day 2023. It is Friday, April 28th. Remember, pink dogwoods are cultivars of white dogwoods and almost always need to started from cuttings of pink trees. Most seeds of pink dogwoods yield white trees. It would be so nice for someone to read this post and take on this initiative; maybe even a student looking for a service learning project.

Here are some organizations that helped with previous "dogwood" initiatives: N.C. Division of Forest Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Region; N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Guilford County; Greensboro's Urban Forestry Program; Greensboro's Parks and Recreation Department; Greensboro Beautiful; Guilford County Master Gardeners; Council of Garden Clubs; Davey Tree Service; and many of the local retirement communities. It is always worth asking to see if anyone is interested in helping fund another round of planting dogwoods. It has already been 19 years since the 2004 effort. Come on, Greensboro, we've got this! Do you have a dogwood in your yard? Is it from one from the 1955 or 2004 initiative?

Happy Monday! 

 

* reference and more information in this News and Record article by Karen Neill in 2004. We really miss those articles by her! 

Pallet Homes- Addressing Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness

The above photo features the pallet homes at Billie A Nall Park on Clifton Road. If you live in Greensboro, likely, you have learned about this housing initiative through local media. The homes are located near Wendover, Spring Garden, and Merritt Drive. There are 30 of them with each sleeping one or two. They are called pallet homes because they are built on top of pallets. In addition to these small homes, parking spaces are available for those who are living in their cars. Showers, social services, and security are available on site and residents have bus passes to travel around town as needed. 

When we approached the pallet home site, the security guard got out and asked us questions. He spoke positively and respectfully about the program and the residents. He gave us information for how to find resources in case someone needs to seek housing and wants to request one of the houses. Here is a link to the Interactive Resource Center,  the organization overseeing this housing program.  The IRC has really taken a "whole-person" approach to this housing initiative.  We should also add that the area was very orderly and clean, not one sign of litter. There were concerns about the baseball field getting torn up due to this temporary housing arrangement as in the spring and summer, the decommissioned field is used by ARC of Greensboro. Let's hope all continues to go well in this site and that a more permanent solution can be found to place these homes. Little league baseball fields require about an acre and a half; so, for sure these 30 homes could fit on about an acre. Maybe a more permanent solution will be found. As it stands now, they will come down in March when temperatures warm and it is time to play ball. Fortunately, the homes are completely portable and collapse to being flat and easy to store. 

Happy Monday!

 

NeighborWoods Program Brings Trees to Westerwood!

This past weekend, people came out in droves to participate in the tree planting event in Westerwood. The NeighborWoods is funded by private donations to Greensboro Beautiful, with support from the City of Greensboro and the Guilford County Extension Master Gardeners. The initiative is an effort to create tree canopy in neighborhoods where trees have been lost or damaged. The trees get planted in public areas and on streets and front lawn areas. In order to be selected, the neighborhood must show that they have the person power to ensure the trees are watered for the first three years and continue with long term maintenance.*

In addition to the fact that Westerwood will get about 150 new trees, it was also wonderful that people of all ages and walks of life came out to help with the tree planting. There were teams of sororities, college groups, master gardeners, neighbors, and more. The 2021 neighborhood to win the grant was Friendly Homes neighborhood. Friendly Homes is the neighborhood between Wesley Long Hospital and Villa drive and Mimosa. It will be fun to drive around the neighborhood this spring, as well as through Westerwood to see how the trees are doing. Greensboro is known for being a beautiful, green city. These new trees are sure to contribute to the beauty. Let's hope they got planted clear of power lines. Finally, we're wondering where all the shovels get stored and if school groups can check them out for school beautification projects.

Happy Monday!

 

*reference and learn more HERE.

Greensboro Science Center at Family Night

Last night, the Greensboro Science Center teamed up with Chick-Fil-A at Friendly Center for their Family Night. From 5:30- 7:00, the theme was butterflies. There were coloring pages,  thumbprint art, and an opportunity to make a paper butterfly. The monarch backdrop was perfect for photo opportunities. There was also a balloon twister and a face painter. If you didn't get by the event last night and want to learn more about butterflies, head to the Greensboro Science Center. The Monarch Conservation Center/Butterfly House is quite a fun experience. There, you can learn how to make your yard a safe stopover area for monarch migration. Between now and early October, the monarch should be migrating south through North Carolina. It is not too late to start planting for their May to July journey from Mexico to Canada.

Over the last two decades, the Greensboro Science Center (4301 Lawndale Drive)  has grown by leaps and bounds; as have their community outreach efforts. The family night at Chick-Fil-A is one such example. This partnering was especially convenient for families who were eating out anyway and we hear the icedream sundaes were a hit. The above photo features set up for the event. How wonderful that in-person events are happening again.

Happy Wednesday!

Reconsidered Goods- Happy 6th Anniversary!!!

The above photo features the indefatigable Paige and Benny, working the second checkout counter at Reconsidered Goods (RG) this past Saturday. The "HELP" had gives you a little clue of how busy they were. To celebrate the 6th anniversary, RG had a 50% off everything sale. The store was almost as busy as a retail business on Black Friday. RG is a creative reuse store. They work hard to keep things out of landfills and into the hands of people who can give old items a new life. They are part art supply store and part heavily-curated thrift store. As an example, they only take vintage clothing or clothing that could be used in theater or as a costume. If they don't think they can sell it, they don't accept it, or send it on to the Goodwill Store. As an example of creativity, in their section filled with the color green, they strung a 6 foot row of wine bottle corks that they had painted green. What a great idea. You could use old corks in the same way that beaded curtains were used in the 1960s; only you don't have to think "wine" if they are painted. But we digress! To be sure the creative types were out en masse. As fast as boxes and carts of treasures were being taken out the front door, volunteers and employees were restocking shelves. Please consider donating your art supplies, nicknacks, small pieces of furniture, art you are tired of, and other items to Reconsidered Goods. 

Happy 6th anniversary to Reconsidered Goods. And thank you to everyone who worked and made this past Saturday a fun shopping experience! Wondering what will Year 7 bring!

Reconsidered Goods, Hello Summer 2022!

Today's photo features Erin Stratford Owens (left) and Tamra Hunt. Erin is the executive director of Reconsidered Goods (RG)  and Tamra is the education program director. Reconsidered Goods is a thrift store for artists and creative types. It is a place where you can find everything from used canvases (to paint over), to pieces of art you want in your house (as is), to items that help you get your creative juices flowing.  In the photo, Erin and Tamra are standing inside the Maker Space in the back right corner of the store. This is the first time for a maker space to be open in the new facility at 4118 Spring Garden Street. On Friday and Saturday afternoons, for a small fee, you can come and create in this space with access to all of the supplies in the designated space. For those few hours a week, RG can become a home-away-from-home studio for your creativity. There is also a Sunday Crafternoon.

Follow RG on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with all of the events, times, dates, prices and other details. Now that Tamra has been hired, RG has been able to reinstate summer camps, too. Both Erin and Tamra have backgrounds that make them a natural fit for their respective positions. Both have grown up in Greensboro, with Erin graduating from Page High School and Tamra from Smith. For their careers, both moved away for a while, Erin to NYC and Tamra to Tennessee. Both moved back to Greensboro only to find it even more creative and art-filled than when they left. Both seem to have landed at RG at the right time, and both have a vision to make RG return to the creative space customers came to love, pre-pandemic. Here's to new beginnings and great opportunities to be creative.

RG is also looking for volunteers and they even have some paid positions available. Imagine yourself HERE!

Urban Gardner, Extraordinaire

Sunday, at the Parisian Promenade in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden,  Stephen Johnson spent the afternoon teaching kids to garden with a paper cup, soil, and sunflower seeds. All while they were planting their seeds in the cups, he was explaining about keeping them watered and how to care for their little planting. Stephen has become an expert, urban gardener,  growing produce on land at 712 S. Elam Avenue. He and his wife live on 3/4 acre just down from the Elam and Walker Avenue intersection. As their website states, they provide food and occasional plants at the Corner Market on Saturdays, all grown on their city lot. They would love to have more people on the urban gardening journey with them. Read their website (referenced below) and you will realize how easy it is to plant edibles!

In the above photo, Liz Lopez (right), is volunteering and helping Stephen for the day. Liz is a teacher and doctoral student. For Liz service and volunteering are a high priority. She has even taught a course in it at UNCG. Thanks to Stephen and Liz, there will be a lot more sunflowers growing in Greensboro and the average age of these young farmers if probably about eight! If you are growing sunflowers, especially one from Sunday, please take a photo and share it with us!

Read the Elam Gardens website, and you, too, might just be inspired to be an urban gardener.

Blueberries As Yard Plantings

If you follow Greensboro Daily Photo, you probably know that we're big advocates of planting edibles. These blueberry bush is planted in a flowerbed (in lieu of flowers) in our back yard. This photo was taken late afternoon yesterday when we were picking the ripe berries. This was about the third time we had picked between a pint or two from a a single bush. Nature is good about not having them all become ripe on the same day. In Greensboro, blueberry bushes are readily available at the local nurseries. There are several varieties. If you are considering planting, they all grow well here; however, some bushes get larger than others, and some berries are larger than others. Be sure to plant something that will still fit in the space once the bush is mature.

There are several blueberry farms in the Greensboro area: Blueberry Thrill Farm in Gibsonville; Kernodle's Blueberry Farm in McLeansville; Blueberry Hill in Colfax; and Honey Sweet Blueberry Farm in Reidsville. Call the farm or check their website for hours and to see if they sell bushes or just blueberries. It is fun to get out and talk to the farmers. Blueberry Thrill has been around since 1982; that's almost 40 years of blueberry goodness on that one farm alone. Blueberry bushes are pretty in the fall, too. Plant edibles; you won't regret it, and the birds will thank you! Just look how pretty they are. Happy Tuesday, July 6th... fireworks should be behind us for another year!

Little Free Library at Eclectic By Nature

Reading books from the Little Free Libraries around town is so much fun. The above library is in the middle of a lovely garden on State Street at Eclectic by Nature. As stated on the website, "Eclectic By Nature is a woman-owned store that specialized in Spirituality products." They have everything from herbal healing and Reiki to Wicca and Shamanism. The books at a Little Library often reflect the interests of the person who installed it. That pairing doesn't always happen, but you would be more likely to find a book on some type of spirituality here than the libraries in other neighborhoods.

Here is a link to the homepage of the Little Free Library with all of the details, in case you would live to install one. If you enter your zip code on the website, it will give you a list of all the libraries that have registered. You could even use this service on vacation. Wouldn't it be fun to make a list of titles of  all of the books you've taken from one of the libraries, as well as the ones you donated. We like to try to return them to the same place we got them. Also, if you ever see a person working in the yard or sitting on the porch of a private residence with one of the libraries, say hello or thank them. We have met some really nice people that way. If they are in front of a business, go inside and meet the keepers of the library. The garden at this one at Eclectic By Nature is absolutely beautiful this time of year, and, last we checked, the book selection was great!

Cluck Old Hen

Providence Farm, located at 2569 Huffine Mill Road, is a North Carolina Bicentennial Farm as it has been in the same family for over 200 years. It is fascinating to visit when Joy is in a position to take you on a tour. She is one of the owners and the person who oversees the animal husbandry aspect of the farm. She comes by her name honestly as she is a joy to listen to as she talks about her daily routines and the personalities of the animals. You can read about the farm by following the link at the beginning of today's post, or, you can go out to the farmers market they hold most Saturdays. You can also follow the farm happenings and fun on Instagram.

Today's photo is of a group of chickens who took up at the  farm, but won't integrate with the other chickens on the farm. In the above scene, you see the chickens on a wooden dance board eating the corn meal a dancer put down to make it easier to navigate the dance floor. Earlier, she was flatfoot dancing while musicians we playing old-time tunes on the fiddle and banjo. The chickens didn't waste any time. When the musicians and the dancer took a break to eat, the chickens moved in and ate the corn meal they'd been eyeing. As the chickens pecked at the corn mean, it was as if you could hear them keeping time to the tune, "Cluck Old Hen". Those are the fun and funny antics you experience when you hang out on a farm. Do you have a go-to farm in Guilford County? If not, check out the eastern end of the county. These are a few farms near Providence Farm that also have opportunities for the public to be on site. 

Happy Tuesday!

Styrofoam Recycling Part Two

In January, we featured the styrofoam recycling boxes on East Gate City Boulevard. Well, the program has been so successful that they've doubled capacity. The area is hard to photograph, especially when the sun is harsh, but what you see in the photo is just one side of the enclosure. The other side also has another big, blue box and three giant plastic bins. As you can see, they were full when we were dropping off styrofoam recently. It is located behind the Tiny House Community Development building. A nice feature of these boxes is that they are always available. They accept styrofoam #6 and foam egg cartons, foam plates, take out boxes, bowls, and cups as long as they are clean and dry. Also, they can't have labels and tape on them. It is really important to adhere to the rules so that the program continues without glitches.

The really exciting part of this styrofoam recycling in Greensboro is that the materials are densified into ingots which, in turn, are manufactured into useful products like picture frames, molding and other building materials. Here is the link for more information and the process at the facility at 1310 West Gate City Boulevard. West Gate City from the intersection of Josephine Boyd near UNCG and Elm Street is transforming before our eyes and the Tiny House/styrofoam recycling center is a big part of this transformation. Happy Friday! It is a beautiful time to be in Greensboro.

The Farmers Market & A B Seed at Sandy Ridge

The Farmers Market and AB Seed at Sandy Ridge were hopping yesterday. It seemed like all of Greensboro had been anticipating the Saturday cold weather and rain. By Sunday, people were cleaning patios, gardening, and out in search of plants and mulch. In the Farmers Market side of the market, Sandhills strawberries were a big seller. Asparagus and the cold weather vegetables are also in season now. One vendor had the last of the Richmond County pecans. Farmers markets remind us that foods have seasons and we await our favorite crops with great anticipation. Here is a North Carolina harvest calendar, if you want to see what will be ripe when. 

The above photo was taken at the outdoor area of AB Seed. If you notice the fiber screen overhead does a tremendous job of cutting down on the full sun, allows light, air, moisture, and some rain filter through. In the photo, the fluffy white clouds are a lot more noticeable than they are in person. You really owe it to yourself to spend time at the farmers market talking to the farmers and their assistants. Also, if you need glazed decorative pots for your porch and patio, AB Seed has just about every size and shape you can image. Happy Monday!

GTA Bus On Route #1 Heading East on McGee St

As we were leaving Just Be, yesterday afternoon, bus #782, the #1 West Wendover Avenue GTA bus was heading east on West McGee Street. It is one of the diesel-electric New Flyer XDE40 buses; it is clean, quiet, and a smooth ride. Today is Friday, a good day for taking the bus, and this one goes from Wendover, along Spring Garden, to town. Friday is always a great day to head to downtown Greensboro.

Notice the snappy ad for an ad on this bus and also worth mentioning is the reflection of the 300 block of South Elm Street in the windshield of the bus.  Can you spot the façade of the Green Bean Coffee Shop in the windshield? Everything looks better with a good dose of sunshine, including bus windshields!

Honk if you love Fridays!

Reflecting on Infrastructure and Sustainability

Infrastructure and sustainability are much in the news these days. President Biden spoke about infrastructure just yesterday. Infrastructure and sustainability are also the focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (see #9 here). Did you know Greensboro has a Community Sustainability Council? Their next meeting, a work session, will be April 12th. UNCG defines sustainability as "the enduring interconnectedness of social equity, the environment, economy, and aesthetics" (reference) and they even have a sustainability office. NC A&T is also playing a leadership role in sustainability research and efforts. Infrastructure system and sustainable practices are key concerns of The Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA). As of January 2020, GTA has modernizied its bus fleet with  battery-electric rechargeable busses.

The above bus stop is located at the corner of Spring Garden Street and South Holden Road. We don't know how many times a day it is served by one of the battery powered busses, but we did notice that it has a solar panel. Likely the energy generated by the panel lights the shelter by night. Perhaps there are solar charging stations at the bus stops.

Today's high school and college students are the ones who will be finding creative ideas to enhance Greensboro's sustainable practices and infrastructure system.  The possibilities are so exciting. 

Electric Vehicle Charging Station at Deep Roots Co-op!

The passenger car plug-in market share is growing, albeit, not quite as fast in the USA as in other countries. As an example, the total plug-in new car sales for Norway in 2020 was 74.7% and for the USA, 1.9%. * The electric car revolution is coming to Greensboro, too. It is especially encouraging to find charging stations, like the one here, downtown at Deep Roots Co-op - 600 North Eugene Street. It makes perfect sense for a grocery store co-op to have a charging station. The station is located near the back of  the Deep Roots parking lot, in the grassy median on the Joymonger's side. Just behind the tree in the background, middle, is the Lincoln Financial Group building (to help you orient even more).

While Earth Day is not technically until April 22nd, every day should be Earth Day. Those who have converted to hybrid or total plug-in cars are leading the way on doing their share to reduce their carbon footprint. Happy Tuesday!

* reference and more information HERE. 

Community Garden at First Baptist Church on Friendly Avenue

Yesterday, at First Baptist Church, a group gathered to repair and refresh the raised beds to their community garden. With the church as a backdrop, the volunteers worked for several hours. Due to water runoff, the south side of the wooden frames rots first and they need to be replaced before the first seeds are planted. From Associate Pastor and Music Director Doug Vancil to other church members, volunteers had frames reinforced after a day of manual labor. The beds are planted and cared for by church and community members. The adjacent neighborhood is Westerwood. Soon, it will be time to plant and, before you know it, the watering, feeding, weeding, harvesting, and sharing of produce will begin to unfold. The plots are ready! Winds were strong and temperatures cool yesterday, but the glorious sunshine made working and being outside absolutely glorious.

If you want to hear a sermon from First Baptist, they are available on the website (see HERE). You can also log on to the Facebook page of  First Baptist Church of Greensboro and the service starts at 10:30. First Baptist is a liberal church. If you are looking for an active congregation that has something for everybody, at all ages and stages of life, First Baptist is a great church to consider. From what we hear from members, it is a great religious home. We learned firsthand, yesterday that the music director is kind and inviting. May their congregation and community garden thrive.

Happy Sunday!

Southern Railway Passenger Station

Yesterday, we posted a photo of a railcar. Today, we are featuring the first railway passenger station in Greensboro. We owe much of the early rail traffic through Greensboro to Governor John Motley Morehead. While he died before the above station was built, he played a major role in having the trains travel through Greensboro. Governor Morehead's home is just a few blocks northeast of this rail station. The Southern Railroad Company commissioned the Southern Railway Station, which opened in 1899. The exterior is made of brick with granite trim. The station served travelers coming in and out of Greensboro.

This depot at 400 South Elm Street was replaced in 1927 by the J. Douglas Galyon Station on East Washington Street. The above building has changed considerably over the last 122 years. According to Preservation Greensboro, the elaborate Victorian elements were removed.*  While the turreted roof is long gone, the round brick support feature on the northeastern side of the building is still a noticeable feature. Also missing is the 3rd floor which was built under a clay roof filled with dormers. As of 1980, the has been on the National Register as part of the downtown Greensboro Historic District. So, hopefully, the building will be around for a very long time and will be repurposed into something Greensboro fabulous. The neighborhing Cascade Saloon was rescued and brought back to life by the Christman Company. The depot deserves to be restored. You can tell by the above photo that is has good bones. Happy Thursday, dear readers!

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Recycle Styrofoam In Greensboro Now!

How wonderful. It is finally possible to recycle styrofoam in Greensboro. The above photo features the foam container bins conveniently located at 1310 West Gate City Boulevard, behind Tiny House Community Development, Inc. There is a narrow driveway to the right of the Tiny House building. However, it is also possible to enter to the left of the Tiny House building, just to the right of the Sprinkle Service Station. The above photo helps with the orientation. If you notice, the bins are back by the railroad tracks. As a matter of fact, a train was passing when the photo was taken. Also, the UNCG water tower can be seen in the background. Just behind the bins is a model, tiny home!

If you want more details, here is a two minute YouTube video that will give you more information about this foam recycling program. Really interesting products are made from the recycled foam that gets broken down and extruded as a product that looks like a toothpaste. . The funding partners for the project are Emerging Ecology, Environmental Stewardship Greensboro, Greensboro Beautiful, Inc., and Tiny House Community Development. So, if you purchase something like an exercise bike, it will arrive packed in at least 8 jumbo pieces of clean, styrofoam that will not biodegrade if thrown in a landfill. Please recycle your foam and offer to take your neighbor's foam to the bins if they are having trouble getting out. Also, if you haven't been to this part of town lately, you might be surprised just how much the area has grown. Have a great weekend. See you back here in the morning!

 

Watch the short, informative Youtube video here.

Free Food Pantry

Food insecurity is a big issue in Greensboro. There are, however, several organizations committed to helping people have access to food. One such initiative is the Free Food Pantry at the corner of Haywood and McCormick Streets. This location is between the UNCG buildings on Gate City Boulevard and the Glenwood neighborhood. All of those big buildings in the background belong to UNCG. The above free-standing food pantry resembles the free libraries. This yellow one looks like a giant block of cheese!  Supplying and using the box is the honor system. People donating only put food in the pantry (hence the box of toys at the side); people taking only take what they need and keep it nice. Yesterday when we visited, it was filled with plenty of bread, spaghetti-O's, and chick peas. There were a few other items like powdered milk and a couple cans of green beans. 

There are several other sources of free food and meals in Greensboro. If you use these services, likely you know who is serving where and on what days. If you know someone in need of food, or you are in a position to help, here is a list of organizations getting food to those in need. As the saying goes, it takes a village and Greensboro is a pretty awesome village. Happy Wednesday!

Summer Gardens Winding Down... Cool Weather Gardens Winding Up!

These watermelons, grown in northwest Greensboro, remind us that summer gardens are quickly winding down. Soon, it will be time to pull up summer plants and plant winter, cool-weather crops like greens, broccoli, beets, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage. If you haven't tried gardening before, the fall crops would be a great place to start. If your summer garden didn't turn out as expected, the the cool weather vegetables give you a second chance. Here are some great pointers from the NC Cooperative Extension and here is their absolute beginner's guide.  Summerfield Gardens has an organic garden and they pick by hand. Soon, they will have gourds galore for you to pick from for your fall decorating. Some of those gourds actually look like the above watermelons. Actually, now that we think about it, watermelon are a member the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds! Happy Tuesday! Happy harvesting! 

 

Amanita Caesar Mushroom

It is not usual for August to be the "rainy season" in Greensboro, but this August has been extremely wet. The average August rainfall in Greensboro is about 3.8 inches (U.S. Climate Data). It appears that Greensboro has already had close to 7" this month (see here), almost double. With rain comes mushrooms, and they are currently abundant. All of these mature trees and natural mulch in Greensboro are the perfect host for mushrooms. The above photo is an Amanita Caesar mushroom found near an oak tree. If you look closely, you can see an acorn and cap in the background.

These mushrooms are so beautiful and almost jump out at you when out walking. If you are spending a lot of time working or studying from home, please take time to get out and enjoy nature. With a little practice, it is pretty easy to identify mushrooms. However, never, never, eat mushrooms unless you are with an expert. It is really best to leave them alone and let nature take its course. The woodland animals seem to really love the Amanita Caesars.

Happy Tuesday, and happy second day of virtual/online/remote school, if you teach or have someone in your life who is a student in Guilford County. Have patience. Every day will get easier and better. Take a mushroom hunting break on your scheduled time for exercise.

Farmers Market at Providence Farm

Today, from 10am-1pm, Providence Farm will be holding their Farmers Market. It is located at 2569 Huffine Mill Road. Darryl and Joy Cobb, who live at the farm have a variety of products from local farmers, bakers, and crafters; including everything from eggs to goat cheese, to bread, and even bison meat. They have product menus at the gate and work very hard to keep you COVID safe. The farm has been in the Cobb family for over 200 years, but this is the first year Darryl and Joy have undertaken selling products to the public. Joy recently retired from teaching in the public schools and is able to dedicate more time to tending to all of the critters. They have horses, sheep, chickens, pigs, turkeys, and working dogs. Some of the animals, like the donkeys, are rescues; some have a home there until they can find homes (the potbellied pigs); some, like Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turkey have become pets and come running as the owners approach. 

If you have a chance, drive to McLeansville today and support this local business. Likely, Darryl will greet at the gate playing banjo music. If you love history, this website will tell you the history of Providence Farm, dating back to the  1700s, way before Greensboro became a town! The above photo features the gambrel roof barn, not the corner of the property where the food is sold. However, we just couldn't resist photographing the playful chickens. If you are asked to wait a few minutes to shop, ask Darryl to pick you a tune; the keys of A and D are especially popular with old-time musicians! Happy Saturday!

 

See, here for more information.

Edible Radish Pods and the Joys of Gardening

Summer has been heating up in Greensboro and we're experiencing temperatures in the 90s for consecutive days, with no rain in sight. Under these conditions, plants are trying to go to seed. Our basil, mint, and radishes are all flowering and trying to make seed pods. The above photo features radish seed pods. See the long pointy green pods and the purple flowers? Those are growing from the radishes that, underground, are long and lean and practically nonexistent. (Many are lamenting this hasn't been the best year for radishes).  Well, this summer for us, those pods have been nature's gift. We've discovered they are crunchy, spicy, and radish flavored. All radish pods are edible and some varieties arevgrown specifically for their pods.

For anyone who is looking for something to do in these lazy days of summer, don a mask and head to the farmers market and ask lots of questions. If you have a neighbor who is gardening, spend time with them learning about gardening. Perhaps there is a community garden in your neighborhood. North Carolina A&T University has several programs and initiatives related to sustainable agriculture. There is a little farmer in all of our family histories. Now is a good time to learn about these old-time ways. Happy Thursday! See you in the garden!

Peaches and Cream at Greensboro Farmers Curb Market

Phillips Farm Peaches and Cream, based out of Wadesboro, North Carolina, had a lovely stand at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Saturday. This five-generation farm has all kinds of produce, but is especially known for their "Peaches and Cream" stand with peaches and ice cream- especially peach ice cream. July is the key month that North Carolinians seek out peaches and peach ice cream, and we are in the heart of the season.

The above farmers market, Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, is located on Yanceyville Street, across from War Memorial Stadium, now sets up outside. This is an effort to keep shoppers and vendors safe. The hours are from 7-11 am on Saturday and from 8-10 am on Wednesday. It is so nice to get to know the vendors and to get fresh produce. Did you know that freshly picked lettuce can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator? Peaches are usually meant to eat within the week. When you eat local food, you help these small farms and help reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, you get a little taste of summer. 

ERIC at NCAT

Today's post features the State of the Art Engineering, Research, and Innovation Complex (ERIC) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T). The four-story building is being constructed at the corner of North Dudley and East Market streets. You may recall that the Hayes-Taylor YMCA was located on this site. The 130,000 sq. ft., 90-million dollar facility will have a positive impact not only on Greensboro, but also on the entire state and region. Imagine the impact on the economy with not only the new jobs, but also with the dotting-edge discoveries and all of the innovation that will take place in this interdisciplinary center.*

The building is nearing completion and should be ready for occupancy by 2021. As we drove by yesterday, we couldn't help but notice just how beautiful the structure looked just after the rain shower. If you want a sneak peek, this Yes! Weekly article shows the finished building (see here). This facility and all that it will contain is a fine example of how different a college education is today that it was even ten years ago.

As we learn more about the building, we'll be sure to feature it again. 

* reference and more information, here.

Allen Tomlinson and His Very Beautiful Garden

Meeting up with people to interview during the time of COVID is not easy. However, yesterday, we had a chance to visit Allen Tomlinson who was busy tending his garden. In the above photo, Allen is next to his bee balm. Allen lives in the north end of Kirkwood on Lafayette Street- in a house he purchased about three years ago. Allen has always loved gardening and finds a way to bring plants into his life whether in an apartment or house. His dream is to someday have a lot of land so that he can do even more gardening. In his current residence, Allen has a little bit of everything: Edibles, perennials, annuals, cacti, and tropical plants. It is hard to believe there are grapefruit and lemons growing in his yard in Greensboro. He also has figs, berries, and vegetables. There is a water feature, pea-gravel paths, birdbaths, a birdhouse, bird nests, climbing roses, a trellis, and the list goes on. As seen in the above photo, the back yard is full sun, making it easy to grow plants.

Allen is a Page High School graduate who has been teaching Spanish for about the last 18 years. Currently, he teaches high school Spanish in Alamance County and loves it. The past couple of years have been difficult for Allen as he lost both parents within a span of about 18 months. He says his garden is his happy space, and a hobby that provides great solace. Now that the plantings are well established, he only needs to spend about 30 minutes a day working in the yard. Of course, there are always options to add more plants, to divide ones that have outgrown their space, or to start preparing space for the next season. 

Allen is so diligent about caring for his plants and it is very likely they will be around for a long, long time! A big thank you goes out to our mutual friend Alice Hill who suggested we feature Allen and his garden!

Thornless Blackberries @ Butler Lighting

This beautiful thornless blackberry bush is located in front of Butler Lighting on North Church Street in Greensboro. This is such a fine example of planting edibles. The bushes line the sidewalk as you approach the main entrance to the lighting store. The bushes have examples of blackberries at every stage of development from blossoms to ripe blackberries. The more edibles we plant, the happier the birds and other wildlife will be, and, humans can also share the bounty. On the overcast rainy day, the bushes were such a bright welcome

We should also add, that when we went inside the store, we were greeted by lighting professionals who helped talk us through all of the lighting variables from type of bulb to the way a certain fixture emits light in a room or on an exterior wall. In this era when it is so popular to order everything online, sometimes you just can't beat working, in person, with professionals. Butler Lighting has the Church Street showroom and also one on Highway 68, near I-40. We're wondering if the larger showroom on 68 also has thornless blackberry bushes growing! Have you ever considered planting them?

Happy Wednesday! If you are out exploring Greensboro, let us know what you discover!

Urban Gardening on Oak St in Glenwood

Here is an example of urban gardening at its finest. This home is located on Oak Street in the Glenwood neighborhood and just south of Gate City Boulevard. While many people have their gardens in the backyard, this one is in the front for maximum sun exposure. The terraced plots get a lot of sun during the day and are reaping crops and flowers for the owners. Imagine the conversations that happen as people walk by and get updates while the owners are gardening. We'll have to stop back by and see what is growing along the half-oval trellises.

Also notice the tin roof, on a rainy night it must be super cozy to hear the sounds of the raindrops. You can tell that a lot of love has gone into making this house a home. Happy Saturday! For those who are grading, including the above family, may your crops be bountiful!

Gibsonville, City of Roses, City of Maple View Creamery

Gibsonville, known as the City of Roses, is a community just east of Greensboro on the border of Alamance County. The above photo shows people this past weekend, trying to social distance while enjoying an ice cream from Maple View's County Line Creamery Company. You can see the ice cream shop, in the background, to the left of the tree. This Main Street favorite has a very interesting history leading back to Maine.*

The Maple View Farm is firmly committed to dairy farming and land conservation. One hundred eighty seven of the 400 acres of the farm have been granted to the Triangle Land Conservancy. This designation means that the property will remain for agricultural and open purposes. Everyone involved in the farm, from the land and dairy cows to the end products, is firmly committed to making practices as sustainable and good for the animals as possible. Read the link about the farm, and purchase an ice cream next time you are in the Gibsonville area. Current flavors include, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, honey toasted almond, double chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, cookie dough, banana, Carolina crunch, and mint chocolate chip. What is your favorite?

 

* read more here.

Rainy Day On Tuesday

Yesterday was an extremely rainy one in Greensboro. The above photo is of a rain barrel, purchased from A&B Seed Farmers Market Garden Center. Unfortunately, it was not installed to get filled with yesterday's rain. Rain barrels are a great way to harvest water to use for watering gardens and other outdoor greenery. 

Yesterday, in Greensboro, it rained 2.31 inches, although it seemed like 10 inches- the way it filled wheel barrows and outdoor containers! Here is a weather tracking website that lets you see weather by day, week, month and location. As an example, yesterday, in Greensboro, the bulk of yesterday's downpour came between 3-6am. The rest of the day was just damp and drizzly. The temperature dropped about 10 degrees yesterday from the low 60s to the low 50s. The rest of the week will be pretty rainy. So, you still have time to purchase a rain barrel.... AND install it. There are several options, from terra cotta, to the flat-back barrel model, to the plainer, more-standard models like the one above. Rain barrels help reduce the fast and furious runoff that comes from large, hard man-made surfaces, like roofs.