Herb 'n Garden

THE POLLINATORS

by Sue Baltes

As spring rolls around it finds most of us gardeners thinking of getting out and playing in the dirt. Planting vegetables, flowers and bulbs, landscaping and sowing grass seed, spreading mulch and putting out insecticides. But wait, before you start with spreading herbicides and insecticides you must know that you could be harming your beneficial little friends called pollinators.

Recently I read an article about insecticides being used on crops in Minnesota that after a couple of years had shown to be affecting wildlife in the Midwest, especially the deer population. While this gardener in North Carolina can’t

do much about what the farmers in the Midwest are doing, I can start growing more plants to attract pollinators into my gardens in downtown Asheboro by planting things that butterflies, bees, wasps, humming birds and other Beneficial’s need to survive. Planning is part of the fun this season. As I was scribbling a list of veggies and flowers I decided to include some plants for the ones that buzz and fly around my gardens to make the magic happen, called pollinators. It’s our job as gardeners to help pollinators to “get ‘er done” by planting a selection of plants to attract the different species’ unique needs. Growing a wide diversity of native plants is a sure way to attract a wide variety of pollinators. Not only does a native mix of plants bloom successfully throughout the season, they contain flowers with different shapes and sizes of blooms to suit the different pollinators. For example, bees need both pollen and nectar but not all plants provide both, and the quality of the food differs from plant to plant. Pollinators emerge at different time during the growing season, depending on their species so they depend those plants that bloom at these different times. These magical pollinators come in many shapes and sizes – right down to their tongue length

which determines which blooms they can pollinate. Just think about the sipping straw of a hummingbird moth versus the blunt nose of the honey bee. Whether you are a farmer or just a gardener on a small lot like myself you can increase the number of pollinators in your area by making a conscientious choice to include plants that provide an essential habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds or any of the other pollinators. A list of my favorites for this zone include: lavender, rosemary, salvias, sunflowers, verbena, rudbeckia (black eye Susan) oregano, and achillea (Yarrow). So think of adding some extras to encourage the pollinators when planting for this season.

Sue Baltes is the owner of Herb 'n Garden shop on the corner of Academy Street and Bicentennial Park. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 pm.

COMMUNITY NEWS

MOBILE MAKERSPACE PREPARES PUBLIC FOR HIGHPAYING MANUFACTURING JOBS Story & Photos by Greta Lint

Can someone really start a $50,000 job with a high school diploma or GED and a two-year degree from a community college? Yes, they can - and they do.

A kickoff was held in March at Bicentennial Park for a new program to show people different types of manufacturing equipment and jobs. The event, called a Technology Tailgate Party, showcased a 15-foot trailer packed with manufacturing equipment that the public could see, touch and use to make things. The trailer is called the Makesboro USA Mobile Makerspace. More such events are planned.

A makerspace is a place where people can go to make things. Perhaps they have outgrown their garage and could use someone else’s machinery to make their creations, take a class – or even teach one. Nationally, there are more than 3,000 makerspaces that are located in buildings. A mobile makerspace is on wheels.

Fifth-grader Alex Hudson, 11, who attends Lindley Park Elementary School, and sixth-grader Jose Ruiz, 12, who attends South Asheboro Middle School, asked a lot of questions. They learned that sometimes manufacturing equipment emits a very high frequency sound signaling that there is a problem. People who are trained to detect and make the repairs earn a lot of money.

Fourth-grader Marissa Ruiz, 10, who attends Loflin Elementary School, liked the pancake bot. She helped make a turkey pancake out of regular batter on a 3-D printer.

Other students learned the value of reading a blueprint. Items were placed around the park and if a child read the blueprint correctly, a taco, courtesy of Taco Loco restaurant in downtown Asheboro, was dropped to them by a drone flying overhead.

The mobile makerspace and Technology Tailgate Party were created by Asheboro resident and international

makerspace consultant Joel Leonard.

“I was sitting at The Table one morning frustrated about being quarantined and was wondering how to teach people hands-on technical skills,” Leonard explained.

He called John Martincic, owner of Forest Scientific, a manufacturer of high-end CNC machines, with plants in Arizona and Pennsylvania, and asked him if he would be willing to build a pre-packaged trailer that could be leased for a nominal fee. It would need a CNC router, 3-D printer and laser machine sturdy enoug to travel in the back of a 15-foot trailer. The answer was “Yes.”

Then Leonard sought input from Kevin Franklin, president of the Randolph Co. Economic Development Corp. He knows the needs of local employers. Franklin agreed that a mobile makerspace would be very helpful in rural and underserved counties, noting that the working relationships between local schools, manufacturing companies and RCC have become very strong.

There are more than a thousand jobs open in the Piedmont Triad – including Randolph County – with employers looking for people who know how to fix things, program CNC machines, work with laser cutters and use 3-D printers. The Randolph Co. EDC has a list of jobs and videos, on its Facebook page, explaining what employers are seeking. For instance, maintenance workers understand

Marisa Ruiz, 10, flips a turkey pancake made on a 3-D printer.

During the Technology Tailgate Party, children used a blueprint to find an item at Bicentennial Park. If they found it, a taco, courtesy Taco Loco restaurant, was dropped to them by a drone.

high-tech machinery and know how to make repairs. They are no longer janitors.

Leonard talked with John Ogburn, Asheboro city manager. Could a mobile makerspace be used with downtown events?

Ogburn said, “Joel gives people a hands-on opportunity to learn about jobs. If just one person gets a job because of what they learned from Joel, then it’s worth it…the issue is a skilled workforce. Jobs exist. Folks just don’t think about them being in manufacturing. With the mobile trailer, Joel can spark an interest in a skill set someone possesses, but didn’t think was useful for a job.”

For more information about the mobile makerspace, contact Joel Leonard at 336-338-1011.

You Want to Stay at Home We’ve Got You Covered!

In-home care isn’t just for seniors ... It’s for anyone who needs a helping hand ... or just a break. PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE INCLUDES: • Personal Care “Bathing & Dressing” • Meal Preparation/Grocery Shopping NOW • Errands/Light Housekeeping • Transportation to/from Doctor’s Appts/Pharmacy • Respite Care/Companionship just for senIors...It’s for anyone who ng hand ...or just a break. CluDes: Hiring Experienced CNAs & Dressing” shoPPing ing 336.495.0338 | Fax: 336.498.5972 www.angels336.comIn-Home Care Services for the Tel. 336.495.0338 | Fax 336.498.5972 www.angels336.com Aged and asheboromagazine.com | 29 Disabled