Greensboro Daily Photo

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.

Pallet Gardening as seen at Ciener Botanical Garden

The people of Greensboro are getting increasingly conscious about sustainable living, and so are our neighbors in surrounding counties. The above photo features a planter made out of shipping pallets, those wooden structures that used to be just about impossible to get rid of. The above planter is on site at Ciener Botanical Garden in nearby Kernersville (Forsyth County). Some garden cloth is stapled to the pallets, creating a trough-like bottom that can be filled with soil and then plants. The technique makes it easy to garden vertically and would be conducive to planting climbing plants like squash, cucumbers, and beans. 

If you are doing any creative gardening, creative recycling, or a combination of the two, let us know and we'll try to get by to photograph your efforts. Pallet containers are great for community gardens where produce is grown to share with the local community. If you have time during the week, head over to Ciener Botanical Garden to see its seven lovely, well-appointed acres. To be sure, you will leave with ideas for your own yard. 

Faith Presbyterian Church

Faith Presbyterian Church on West Friendly Avenue (at King George Road) exemplifies how churches are so much more than a place to go on Sunday. Houses of worship, of all faiths, are places  to monitor your health, to enjoy fellowship with your age group, to plan for mission trips, and more! In the above photo, you see the community garden at Faith Presbyterian. They are preparing their plot to grow produce. These communal garden plots teach children the value of sourcing food locally- and how to do it.

Like many churches, Faith Presbyterian shares their sanctuary with another congregation. Every Sunday at 1pm, the El Shaddai Vision Church meets and Pastor Prince Mundane holds services in Swahili and English. Their members are mostly from the local African immigrant community. How wonderful that diverse religious groups can come together. When diverse groups interact with each other in a positive way, there is a greater appreciation of diversity in our community.

"Kick the Bag!"

Yesterday was Earth Day. Earth Day bills itself as the world's largest environmental movement. People are starting to realize that the earth's resources are limited and that garbage doesn't go away just because we can't see it. Greensboro has made great strides in the reduce, reuse, recycle movement. The city has a household hazardous waste collection center on Patterson Street. Nearby, on Patterson Street, Reconsidered Goods not only takes many household items, they teach people how to repurpose items that might otherwise end up in landfills. Greensboro also collects household items to be recycled bi-weekly. 

The above photo, taken at the Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street, shows a collection of reusable bags for shoppers to take for free, as opposed to using single-use, plastic bags. If you have any extra bags, drop them off at the market. Knowing they are there, we can all be more diligent about not using single-use packaging. No excuses! Finally, just because Earth Day has come and gone, we can still make an effort to reduce our carbon footprints for the next 364 days- and beyond. 

Poppy's Pickles

If you are looking for something to do today, head to one of Greensboro's farmer's markets. The above photo features two of the workers at the Poppy's Pickles booth at the Yanceyville Curb Market near the old War Memorial Stadium. The two are standing at "parade rest" as they wait for their next wave of customers. If you crave a great pickle and love supporting local businesses, stop by Poppy's Pickles. They have samples for you to try.

Globally, pickles have been around since 2030 B.C. Poppy's is slightly younger, but they've certainly developed a great product. Visiting a farmer's market is such a great Saturday morning tradition! Hope to see  you there.

Stay Vocal!

Alex Eaves recently visited Reconsidered Goods and had a pop up stand of his t-shirts. He makes them from used shirts. In some cases, he stamps his message, "Reuse because the planet can't be recycled" in English or Spanish, right over an existing message. He is keeping these t-shirts out of landfills and is getting his message across. 

Alex will return to Greensboro in March, around Earth Day, to do workshops and help others learn to implement  earth-friendly practices. Alex's company is called "Stay Vocal" because he wants to remind people that change comes through hard work and educating people. Stay tuned, we will let you know once plans for the March Earth Day events are solidified. In the meantime, let us know if you are doing anything in Greensboro to help us keep the Green in Greensboro!

Shipping Containers, Shopping and Stuff

These shipping containers off of Merritt Drive in Greensboro remind us that when we consume, items need to get from Point A to Point B somehow. In Greensboro, that is often by truck, plane, or rail. Since the city doesn't have a port or river, boats are not an option. However, there are plenty of shipping containers coming through the city. In September of this year (2018), Fed Ex expanded its operations in Greensboro, making PTI Airport busier.

Nationally, this year's November-December online sales have increased by 16%, up from 106 billion to 123 billion in 2018.* That statistic relates to Greensboro in two ways. First, if you are looking for a job, the local shipping industry is robust. Second, if you want to directly help the local economy, remember to also shop local. Finally, remember that overconsumption leads to environmental degradation. Consider shopping at resale shops or from people who use recycled materials. While it is important to keep the economy robust, there are ways to consume that are less impactful to natural resources.

* Reference and more information, here.https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/holiday-shopping-online#1

Tiny House Living

Elizabeth and Adam Paashaus can barely contain their excitement. This past weekend, they had a giant yard sale to minimize their possessions. They are selling their Lindley Park home, leaving brick and mortar jobs, and traveling the United States in their tiny home. They will home-school their two children and work remotely through the Internet. Here you see them in the kitchen area of their 40' long Thomas school bus that has been redesigned as a 270 square ft. home. The transformation took over two years with the couple doing the work. The beautiful wood countertops and walls are covered in wood harvested from a farm on North Church Street.

Elizabeth loves to cook and bake, so the couple dedicated ample room to the kitchen space. The bathroom and sleeping areas are behind the white door. Forward, there is a seating area, and just out of sight is a wood burning stove, an especially cozy feature that Elizabeth loves.

Elizabeth, a lifelong Greensboro resident and Grimsley grad, and Adam, first New York and then High Point, will be launching this new lifestyle by mid-October.   They love adventure, outdoor sports and living life to the fullest.Hats off to them for living their dream.  If you want to follow their adventures of living the good life on the road, follow them on Instagram at Deliberatelifebus and read Elizabeth's blog.

PART- A Great Transportation Option!

Have you been out  West Market Street to see the transportation hub? The above photo features a PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation) bus leaving the main terminal on its route. This regional transportation system connects Winston Salem, Greensboro, and High Point. Created in 1997, it has 13 routes. PART has a great website where you can learn everything from the history to learning ticket purchasing options (here).

It would be so nice if every public school student learned how to use Greensboro's public bus system. If more people used the system, route options would expand even more. Treat a friend to a ticket and ride!

Lindley Elementary Garden

Lindley Elementary School, in the heart of Lindley Park has a garden. Parents and community members help this neighborhood school grow vegetables, a life-skill that the students are likely to remember and carry into the next generation. The parents of Lindley Elementary have a stand at the Corner Market-  at the the corner of Walker and Elam. If your school wants to know more about this homegrown initiative, stop by the Lindley Elementary table on Saturday mornings to get some good ideas and great produce.

Greensboro is getting more and more "keep it local" pop ups. Often they are art related, but as in the case above, they include other purposes, like procuring locally sourced food. Often, the pop ups become well-established and regularly scheduled. To enjoy the Greensboro community this weekend, visit one of our farmers' markets. Even the local, side-of-the-road produce stands are usually staffed by people who love to talk, especially if you like to hear stores about how their gardens are growing! Here's to good eating and building community.

Iris Season in Greensboro

Just when it seems like winter is finally behind us, iris season is almost over in Greensboro. The irises have been blooming beautifully over the last couple of weeks, and now, the are ready to let go of their glorious blooms. Actually Schreiner's Iris Farm in Oregon has mapped out the bloom season, explaining that some varieties bloom early and some late, with a total blooming time at about six weeks. They can start as early as mid-march and last into June. Worldwide, there about 200 species of bearded irises. The are perennials and easy to grow. Iris was the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and the name fits as there are iris blooms of about every color- and size. If you are looking to decrease the amount of grass in your yard, as well as the need to water, yet you want some color, iris plants are a good choice. 

The above photo features one variety of bearded iris in a Greensbor yard. If you know of any iris gardens in Greensboro, let us know so we can get out to photograph them. They are very photogenic. Last week, we shared a photo of chard, spinach, and cabbage (it is still growing strong and producing servings of green, leafy vegetables). Perhaps, subconsciously, Wednesday is nature day on Greensboro Daily Photo.

 

Greensboro's New Hybrid and Electric Busses

The Greensboro Transportation has as its goal to transition from a fleet of 47 diesel busses to all electric busses. Electric busses are quieter, have no exhaust emission and have lower operating and maintenance costs than diesel busses. Currently, the City has 11 hybrid busses, one of which is featured in the above photo. However, all electric busses are even more efficient than hybrid and the technology continues to improve. Duke Energy has been helping fund the charging stations for the electric busses.*

It will be interesting to monitor the use of busses as people consider foregoing owning a vehicle and relying on alternatives like Uber, Lift, and public transportation. Here is the route information for the above bus line #27 that goes from Battleground to Friendly Center to the downtown depot. We do need to warn you that it makes 41 stops, so allow extra time for getting from Point A to Point B. 

*references and more more information, here.

 

Cold Gardening in Greensboro

As the world becomes more aware of sustainable practices, small-plot, home gardening is gaining more traction. The above photo features part of a cold-weather garden planted in a yard in northwest Greensboro in late March. The beauty of cold-gardening is that the plants are cold resistant, and the growing season happens before bugs overrun the garden and start eating the plants. After a month, the small garden has already produced several servings of spinach and chard. The cabbage looks healthy, indicating that it will soon produce heads. There are no signs of insects.

With winter finally behind us in Greensboro, it is not time to plant summer gardens. Please consider filling your property with as much produce as possible. Vegetables and greens look lovely planted among the flower beds. Working the dirt is good for the soul. Plus, gardening can help you get to know your neighbors. Perhaps you want to offer them a little gardening space. Perhaps you can garden and they know how to can; you both get vegetables for the winter. Perhaps you can give them some garden space in exchange for house sitting on your beach weekends. Best of all, perhaps you can share the produce when 100 tomatoes are ripe at once. Happy Wednesday! It is a good day to plan your garden.

Tesla, the Electric Car Revolution is Upon Us

At the earth day event at Price Park a couple of weeks ago, one of the displays was of electric cars. In the above photo, the silver car is a first generation Tesla car. The blue car beside it is a 2018 Tesla car. Greensboro does not yet have a Tesla dealer. We would have to go to Raleigh or Matthews to purchase one. However, for educational purposes and to generate interest, they brought these cars to show at the earth day event.

Founded in 2003, Tesla specializes in electric cars and the company is committed to helping the world transition to smarter, more sustainable energy sources. The Tesla car is one such solution. However, their highway-capable, electric car, the Roadster (the blue car above,  starts at about $100,000. Even if it is not yet in our budgets, it is important to know about them. Soon, we'll be seeing them on the streets of Greensboro, honking at us as we pull in to gas stations.

 

Bryant Holsenbeck, Environmental Artist

Bryant Holsenbeck majored in sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, she has dedicated her career to making art out of trash and discarded items. She also works to help others learn how to be mindful of the waste we are generating and she provides strategies to help reduce waste and to make art from it. In her left hand (on the right side of the photo), she has an example of her upcycled art. It is a chicken made entirely of garbage she found at the beach-- jokingly called her chicken of the sea. In her other hand, she is holding a plastic container that is being used by 25 Durham restaurants for "to go" orders. Your order is placed in one of these containers and you bring it back next time to be swapped out for a clean one for your order. 

Bryant was one of the founders of the Scrap Exchange in Durham, the store that trained the founders of Greensboro's recycling/upcycling store, Reconsidered Goods. Bryant has a bubbly, upbeat, optimistic attitude that makes her fun to be around and she has a way of bringing out the inner artist in everyone. She is a participating artist who will be at the Opening Exhibition of the Beauty and the Beast Exhibit at the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art. The opening will be held on May the 4th (First Friday), from 7-9 pm. It is free and open to the public and one that you won't want to miss.

The above photo was taken at the FedEx Global Education Center on Saturday, where Bryant was one of the featured presenters at a workshop for North Carolina educators entitled, Environmental Issues in Latin America & the Middle East. If there were a prize for North Carolinians making a positive difference regarding the environment, she would certainly be a great contender. Happy Earth Day Week, Greensboro! Happy Earth Day, Bryant!

ELF Urban Kayak

The above vehicle, the ELF Urban Kayak was on display at the Earth Day event at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Library and Price Park this past Saturday. ELF stands for electric, light, and fun. The first generation model was launched from a Kickstarter campaign, by designer and developer Rob Cotter, out of Durham in 2013. The ELF is a human and solar powered vehicle meant for commuters. The design makes it eco friendly in that it cuts CO2 emissions. The urban kayak part of the name alludes to the green material of the 8'shell.

Cotter got his start working for Porsche and BMS in California. Now, he is in North Carolina, enjoying his role as a working inventor. The ELF is one of many examples of the fabulous items on display at Saturday's Earth Day event. Perhaps one of the curious young ladies inspecting the vehicle in the above photo will be one of Greensboro's future STEM scientists.

Learn more about the ELF here. Let us know if you see one of these 21st century cycles in use in Greensboro! Remember, this upcoming Saturday is the family-friendly science event on UNCG's campus. If you want more hands-on opportunities to engage with science, everything from learning about rockets to trying your hand at computer programming, head to UNCG to the Science Everywhere event. More information, here.

Julika Pear Earrings and More by Elizabeth Leggett

 

The above photo features Elizabeth Leggett, selling at the Corner Market at Elam and Walker Avenue on Saturday. Elizabeth, a Lindley Park local, sets up most weeks selling her handmade, birchwood earrings.  The colors are lovely and some styles are actually quite large, but they are so lightweight, it is as if you are not even wearing earrings.* Her company is called Julika Pear, inspired by Bart Simpson's prank calls ("Julika" as in "would you like a..."). Recently, Elizabeth has added bees-waxed cloth wraps to her booth. They are a sustainable alternative to plastic bags for packing lunches and storing food.

When she isn't parenting and being artistic and creative, Elizabeth is busy teaching English to English language learners at Durham Tech. Somehow, we're betting she incorporates a lot of creativity into her English lessons. Elizabeth has a degree from UNCG, where she studied English and Russian.

While Greensboro Daily Photo doesn't quite have the readership of Humans of New York, which exceeds four million fans, Greensboro does have some pretty fabulous humans and Elizabeth is one of them!

* Elizabeth's earrings are also available at Design Archives downtown on Elm Street and, for our out of town readers, on Etsy.

Guilford Park Presbyterian

Yesterday was a big day for Greensboro churches with regard to outreach and visibility in the community. The First Baptist Church and the First Lutheran Church both held yard sales which had people filtering in and out of their buildings all day long.  

The above photo features Guilford Park Presbyterian Church at the Earth Day celebration at Kathleen Clay Edwards Library off of Hobbs and Guilford College Road, behind Jefferson Elementary School. Guilford Park Presbyterian had a recycling game at the event and participants could win prizes. People had an opportunity to learn about recycling and get to know church members without feeling the pressure of becoming involved with the church, unless, of course, that's what they wanted to do.

Guilford Park Presbyterian is located on Fernwood Drive in Kirkwood, near the Target on Lawndale. However, yesterday, they were also located in the 98-acre Price Park that was teeming with children and adults alike, who were learning how to care for and celebrate the planet earth. Regardless of one's religious beliefs, stewardship of the earth is something that can unite humans worldwide.

Closet at Backpack Beginnings

Backpack Beginnings serves so many students in the Guilford County Schools. In addition to programs for providing food, school supplies, and hygiene products, Backpack Beginnings also maintains a clothing pantry. The clothing pantry, photographed above, provides clothing for all age groups from infants to high school. In anticipation of spring, as you are going through closets, if you have any gently used clothing that your children have outgrown, especially tennis shoes and light jackets, consider donating them to the Clothing Pantry for this very worthy cause.

If you have questions, you can email [email protected]. It is also quite possible that the social worker at the public school near you can help with donations. Often, school social workers are the contact person to help school children in need. The above photo was taken on a quiet Saturday. Weekdays are a different story when volunteers are sorting and hanging donations at their warehouse off Wendover Avenue.

 

Food Pantry at Backpack Beginnings

The "Impact Wall" of Backpack Beginnings was recently featured on Greensboro Daily Photo (here). Today's feature in the sorting table for the food pantry portion of the facility. Office Manager Michele Alvarino is explaining how a person stands in the foreground, selects donated food from a central palate, determines the expiration date on each can of food and slides them down on a given color strip. The color indicates type of food (vegetable, starch, protein, etc.) and remaining shelf life. The person in the background position, where Michele is standing, then puts the item on the appropriate shelf. Yet another person will pack a box of about 35 pounds of food, from a variety of categories, to send to schools with food pantries. About 200 volunteers regularly drive food to and from schools.

In 2014, the Food Research and Action Center, ranked Greensboro and High Point as Number 1 for people who had difficulties in securing food.* Hopefully, with programs like Backpack Beginnings, the situation is improving. 

As many people have a day off today, celebrating the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, let us all remember that the day is intended to be one of community service. If you are looking for a way to help, consider holding a food drive, through any of your networks of friends and associates, and donate what you get to Backpack Beginnings. Access their website, here, or call 336-709- 9649 to arrange to drop off food. Finally, remember the words of Booker T. Washington, "The happiest people are those who do the most for others."  While Booker T. Washington died 14 years before Dr. King was born, they shared the common goal of uplifting and empowering African Americans and they would have loved each other. May we do our part to continue the work of these great humanitarians.

* reference.