Greensboro Daily Photo

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.

Sustainable Living in an Urban Area

In the side yard of the Proximity United Methodist Church, near Fourth Street and Vine, is a house that appears to be participating in many sustainable practices. They have a greenhouse in the backyard, chickens, and evidence of gardening and composting and recycling, and more. If you have ever tried self-sufficient, and sustainable practices, you know that it involves a lot of hard work. If you look in front of the bright green container on the right, mid-photo, you can see one of the chickens. If you could see beyond the plastic cover, you would see plants thriving. 

We hope to drive by sometime and see someone out to talk to their ideas and goals for their fascinating, backyard efforts. It would also to be interesting to know if they attend the church next door. Actually, they have a church across from them too. Happy Wednesday! 

Blueberries. Blueberries, Blueberries!

Planting edibles gives us beauty and food and they grow well in Greensboro. As we quarantine in place, it is fun to watch the blueberries as they morph from blossoms, to green berries, to blue berries, ripe and ready to pick. Not only the berries, but the mid level height, make blueberry bushes a dream come true for birds. We've got about another month before it is blueberry season. There are a few blueberry farms in Greensboro and Guilford County.

Seeing these blueberries reminds us that Betty Cone, perhaps Greensboro's greatest civic servant, has a blueberry farm. Betty stepped down from her orchestrating of the Festival of Lights and the Fun Fourth Festival to work at Cone's Folly, the family's blueberry farm in Pender County. That was about four years ago. We need to check in with Betty to see if she's got her blueberry jelly marketed yet.*

Happy Tuesday, and remember, plant edibles!

*If you want to read about Betty Cone's journey to growing blueberries read Mary Burritt's article in the Greensboro News & Record from 2016, here.

 

Electric Car Charging Station & Sustainable Practices at Replacements, Ltd.

The above charging station for electric cars is found just off of I-40 on the west-bound side of the highway. It is set up at Replacements, Ltd. Replacements sells china and crystal. You can purchase anything from whole sets of dishes to single pieces that make your grandmother's vintage set complete. Replacements carries over 425,000 patterns. Chances are, if Replacements doesn't have, it doesn't exist.

The company makes every effort to be employee, community, and environmentally friendly. Not only do they have this car-charging station, they also have solar panels to help generate energy for their building. Their packing peanuts are not styrofoam; they are made out of compostable material. Replacements has been very proactive on sustainability. Here's to hoping that sustainable practices continue to trickle down AND trickle up! A big thank you to Mr. Bob Page, for these sustainable energy practices.

Deep Roots Co-Op Grocery Store

Deep  Roots Co-op  has been on Eugene  Street for a few years now,  having relocated from Spring Garden Street. The  downtown store is so  nice and they have a  hot  bar. If you are downtown and need  a healthy,  quick  meal or  just a snack (and nice  clean bathrooms), stop here.  You don't have to  be a member to  shop at Deep Roots, and the uncharge for non-members is only  5%.

Deep  Roots also holds many interesting community events  in their community  room in  the front of the store. Also, if you notice in the above photo, there were vendors  set up  out  front this  past Saturday.  While the  large corporate options for healthy food are nice, nothing  beats a local,  community-owned option.  Deep  Roots  feels  "old-school"  in a way that is comfortable and inviting. Shop there  a few times and it will start to feel like the Cheers-bar of  grocery stores.  Happy Tuesday!

Consider Taking the Bus

Spotted at the Friendly Center was zero-emission, battery-electric bus. It is part of the Greensboro public transportation system. The batteries for these electric motor vehicles can travel up to 200 miles before needing to be recharged. As you can see from the rear view, they don't have exhaust pipes. The switch from the diesel engines reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 687,500 pounds per year. *

These busses have been in operation for almost a year now. If one of your New Year's resolutions has to do with helping the environment, consider taking the bus- at least once in a while. The more demand there is for public transportation, the more Greensboro will be likely to spend on it. Ride, if you like clean energy. It is an easy ride from Friendly Center to downtown Greensboro. Happy Saturday! This is the last Saturday in 2019!

 

*Reference and additional information, here.

Got Creativity? Need Ideas?

We feature RG a lot on Greensboro Daily Photo because they do so much to help with sustainable living. If you crave creativity, want ideas for upcycling materials, want to purchase curious items, or donate items, Reconsidered Goods is a great place to start. They help keep items out of landfills and teach workshops to help the public learn to turn trash to treasure. Other than Wilson the cat, just about everything in the thrift shop is for sale.

The above photo is the current display when you walk in the door. The fabric strip decoration overhead was donated by someone who realized the decorative hanging could be enjoyed by everyone who walks through the door at RG. You cannot help but notice them as they almost tickle your head. Notice the round light fixture (above the rainbow). It is made from paperback books. We will feature a closeup tomorrow as it is so visually appealing and literally made from donated books that nobody wanted to read. Stop back tomorrow to see a closeup of the fixture.

SPROUTS Has Sprouted in Greensboro

SPROUTS Farmers Market has opened in Greensboro this week. Based out of Arizona, the company opened its first store in 2002. They have more than 300 stores and the above in their fifth in North Carolina. The store is located on Battleground Avenue at Westridge, in the same plaza with Kohl's and Planet Fitness. Yesterday, Sprouts was packed and the parking lot was more crowded than it has been in recent history. Sprouts specializes in fresh produce and organic foods. They are making a commitment to be "Zero Waste" by 2020. A noticeable difference inside the store is the open floor plan. For much of the floor space, you can see across aisles, until you get to the taller isles at the side of the store, back by the frozen foods, which, by the way, are all 20% off at the moment.

The grocery store options in Greensboro will have just about doubled once Trader Joe's and Publix move into the market here. How do you decide where to shop for groceries? Do you use a dedicated grocery store or a big box store? What draws you in? Weekly sales? Earning points for discounts on gas? Organic? Are you loyal to one or do you store hop? Regardless, if you get a chance, stop by SPROUTS this week. The  energy there this week is so positive and the sales are great. Employees have been well trained and they are plentiful. They have brought employees from other states to ensure the opening is smooth. Everything is picture perfect and even shoppers seem happy. Let's hope they can sustain all of this great energy. 

Recycling Glass

Sadly, as of July 1st, the City of Greensboro no longer accepts glass in the residential recycling containers. However, they have established drop off sites for bottles and jars at various points throughout Greensboro. The above photo features the bins in at the edge of the parking lot at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library. As long as you have a vehicle, the process is super simple. You just drive up and place your bottles in the bin. The biggest challenge is dropping the glass in the bottom of an empty bin without breaking it!

By far, the bins are filled with wine bottles and beer bottles, mixed in with a few jelly jars. Let's just say, Greensboro residents consume a lot of wine and beer. Of course it wouldn't be cost effective for wineries in France or California to refill wine bottles, but surely, breweries in Greensboro could have a deposit/recycling system that would keep beer bottles out of the rubbish bins. Growlers could have paper labels and uniform sizes so they could be returned anywhere. Come on Greensboro, we can figure this out. In the meantime, if you have a neighbor who has transportation issues, please offer to take their bottles and jars to a designated recycling spot.

Mr. Rogers would approve of this idea!

The Beautiful Westerwood Neighborhood

Today's photo features the westernmost entrance to the Westerwood neighborhood. The charming brick bungalow-style home with the generous front porch is perched at the corner of Westover Terrace and Fairmont Street, just up from Lake Daniel Park. Of course it is the people who make Greensboro beautiful, but it is also the people who make the urban landscapes and their homes beautiful.

The photo shows how green and healthy the plants in this yard are. What is a little harder to see from this distance is the fact that there is a hummingbird feeder that gets plenty of visits from the tiny birds. Also, to the right of the sidewalk is an urban garden full of edibles and wildflowers. This yard is beautiful and all of the plantings, trees, hedges, etc. help keep the need for manicured grass to a minimum. To be sure, this yard and home make a very inviting introduction to the Westerwood neighborhood.

Watching Bumble Bees in Greensboro Gardens

We're pretty sure this is a bumblebee. There are almost two dozen species of bumblebees in the eastern United States and it was if half of them were in our Greensboro yard this week. The one in this photo was extremely large and spent several minutes feasting on the flower of a hosta plant. Its bottom half was so large is hard to believe that it was able to fly. The bumblebee is often referred to as the apex pollinator. If you move slowly they let you get close to them and pay very little attention to you.

There were several other species of bees buzzing nearby, enjoying the flowers on the mint plants. The hot days this past week have caused the mint to start to seed; not the best for the taste of the mint leaves, but fabulous for the needs of pollinators. Our yard is pesticide free and we plant lots of edibles which attract pollinators.  Interacting with nature is so much fun in the backyards of Greensboro.  What have you seen in your yard this summer?

Proximity Hotel, So Green in So Many Ways!

Last night, the Proximity Hotel on Green Valley Road looked so beautiful as the sun was setting and clouds hovered behind it. Between Benjamin Parkway and the hotel is a large lot. The grass is mowed, trees surround it, and there is a small stand of trees in the middle of the lot. Groundhogs frolicked, running around the trees before darting off to the perimeter of the property.

The 147-room hotel opened in 2007 and the U.S. Green Building Council awarded it platinum certification. If you notice, the top of the Proximity you can see nine solar panels. Actually, the hotel has 100! There are so many green and sustainable practices that the hotel has been billed as the greenest hotel in the United States, without sacrificing comfort. If you are interested, read the Wiki article to learn more about the hotel's great features (here). 

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this lot to the west of the hotel. It would make a fabulous park! And, the groundhogs endorse that suggestion.