“Wastelands” are areas that for multiple reasons have been left behind: They are areas formerly used for the extraction of earth resources, they are abandoned zones of industries, they are empty houses or vacant lots in deserted neighbourhoods, they are the spaces beneath and next to large infrastructural networks, they are empty parking lots after dark, and they are business districts outside business hours.

From the starting point of investigating the spatial, material and structural qualities of different types of wastelands in Buffalo, we aim to expand our understanding of those places and, consequently, to see the different possibilities for re-interpretation and re-inhabitation that the sites provide.

Our investigations take form as a number of short stories told through different medias, such as photo, map, collage, and video.

Opening reception: Grant Street Gallery on Tuesday November 3rd, 6.30 — 9.00 pm.

On view: Wednesday November 4th, 9 am – 9 pm.

Yes it’s true, one of the many aspects of Buffalo ReUse is our FREE monthly workshops on gardening and home repair. Didn’t know that? Well, we would like to know that you didn’t know (and we would like to know some other things as well). We want to figure out which workshops you’d like to see in the future and when is the best time to host these workshops for you.

Please, take a few minutes  to fill out our Workshop Wonders Survey. Your input is greatly appreciated! We want to make our selection of FREE workshops as  convenient for you and as helpful as possible.

Click here to take the survey! And don’t forget to check the Buffalo ReUse website or the store for our monthly workshop calendars!

ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” is coming to the Queen City! This exciting opportunity brings with it the chance to use the momentum gained by the national spotlight to fuel the revitalization of an entire neighborhood in the matter of days. You have the opportunity to improve not only one family’s life, but the entire surrounding community. This will be a great chance to show that Buffalo really is the City of Good Neighbors.

David Homes  is designing and building an environmentally friendly home starting November 7th and lasting for one week. To sign up as a helping hand, go to http://www.davidhomesextreme.com/. They will need help with Food, Non-Skilled Construction Labor, Check-In, Media, Hospitality, Parking, Trash, Traffic, Barricades, Loading and much more. Join the Buffalo ReUse staff in this unique service experience!

I have a dream….to put together a list of places that have objects from the ReSource in them. For example, I know that Parker Hertel Sweet Shop got their front door from us, and Sweetness_7 Cafe is chock-full of cool materials from Buffalo ReUse. I would LOVE to eventually make an online map of the businesses that have used us, and maybe (no promises) give each location a Certificate of ReUse to proudly display behind their counter/over their front door/what have you.

So if you know of a commercial place that has reused building material from the ReSource in it, please let me know!! We get very excited when we see our inventory being put to good use.

AND, for anyone who has bought something from our store that is now being used in your home, please share with us as well. Take a snapshot of the handiwork you’ve done, or the creative way you’ve reused those tiles or that window, and email it to rachel {at} buffaloreuse(.)org. We would like to fill the store with pictures and stories to inspire other Western New Yorkers!

This apron tub was bought and refinished by Bill & Melanie Wolski, and look how gorgeous it turned out. They also re-used spindles, a door, a mantelpiece, and several windows in their home. Click on the tub to see our collection of pictures from their beautiful house.

Joyce Kryszak of WBFO interviewed Michael Gainer the other day. Click here to listen to the interview.

We rarely get to invite volunteers on salvage runs so don’t let this one pass you by!  IF you’re not busy Saturday and have a hunkering for some careful pillaging; join us.  Here’s the details.  We’re only entering properties that we’ve been awarded “Salvage Rights” this means someone gave us permission to access the property and reclaim useable materials.  We get in, get out and resecure the property.  We look for tubs, windows, lighting, flooring, architectural features etc and bring them back to The ReSOURCE.

It’s a very good idea to bring a headlamp or a flashlight.  If you have a Buffalo ReUse tshirt or sweatshirt, please wear it so we look like we’re on the same crew (reminder: if your BR shirt isn’t dirty–you’re not wearing it right!) Wear boots or heavy soled shoes and long sleeves or layers and maybe a hat or cap because it gets dusty in vacant houses. If you have work gloves, bring them.  You do not need to bring any tools.  You can also bring dried fish, your rum flask, and some limes to deter scurvy, but we’ll probably tease you.

Be punctual! The crew will leave from The ReSOURCE, Saturday morning at 9am so you need to be here so we can outfit you with a hardhat and gloves.

If you’re available Sunday, at 10am, we’ll be working on the rear addition–mixing & pouring lots of concrete and building the frame.  If it’s raining, we’ll do some home improvement type tasks at Eaton House.

Last night, October 19, Buffalo ReUse Board President Vince Kuntz talked to Michael Gainer about taking the position of Program Director for Buffalo ReUse. He accepted the position and we look forward to future.

The responsibilities of the position of Program Director were agreed by the Board and are as follows:

Program Director, Buffalo ReUse:

• Provides monthly deconstruction and salvage report, and program status. This is to include what jobs have been completed, in-progress, signed and prospects. All jobs discussed are to include estimated costs and revenue expected.
• Directs field operations for deconstruction and salvage activities.
• Coordinates subcontracted services such as utility cuts, asbestos surveys, abatements, excavators and other as needed.
• Follows up on job leads, responsible for job estimates and providing estimates for financial review prior to contract execution.
• Directs staff training of deconstruction and salvage activities.
• Coordinate safety and environmental compliance training for staff members.
• Pursue funding opportunities.
• Instrumental in strategic development and implementation of existing and future community programs. Member of the Strategic Community Development Committee.

Michael’s effective hire date is 10/19/09.

As the weather turns colder, we will be working in the gardens less and less. Buffalo ReUse is switching our focus to the house we are rehabbing. The upstairs currently holds our offices, and the downstairs – eventually – will be our Community Space. The vision is for the first floor to be a space where church groups, women’s groups, boy scouts, etc can gather and hold meetings. There will be a computer with internet access, a copy machine, and a DIY book lending library, to mention a few things. HOWEVER, this house still needs LOTS of work, and that is why we need YOU.

As part of our community programming, we hold free workshops on gardening and home repair every week.  The home repair workshops are usually modeled around what needs to be done in the house at the time. Past workshops include: DryLoking the Basement Walls, Installing Insulation, Tiling the Bathroom Floor, and ReFinishing Stairs. We are asking for volunteers to :

1.) Lead workshops. If you are a handyman and can help us repair holes in our drywall or reglaze our windows or any other home repairs, please let us know. We will arrange a day and time for your workshop which will be advertised on our monthly calendar.

2.) Attend workshops! If you are not so handy but are willing to help us out, please come to one or two of our workshops. We learn as we go along, so most of the time we may be pretty clueless too. But the more the merrier, and then you can bring your new-found skills back to your own home.

Contact volunteer {at} buffaloreuse(.)org if you would like to host a workshop or participate in one. Our monthly calendar of free workshops can always be found on our website.

There’s a buzz in Buffalo–snickering and whispering and “What Iffing” because of the Swinger’s Convention up in the Falls–4 days of hanky panky.  I sure hope they stay hydrated!  I’ve actually wanted to write about swinging for a long time and now that the events at the Holiday Inn are smoldering in people’s minds–I couldn’t hold back.  Can I tell you a secret?  I actually know some folks in Buffalo who started a very special key party of their own!  This group of couples have an assortment of skills and they share them with each other different nights and weekends as their schedules allow.  When I first heard about it I wanted to blab to everyone, but then they cautioned me to be discrete because they want to keep it somewhat exclusive.

It’s not scandalous or anything, but Peter & Tamara swap… houses!  Yep, they do–with 2 other couples on Manchester Place.  They created a small network of neighbors who’ve learned some home improvement skills and they go over to each others’ houses as a group and tackle those respective Honey-Do lists like painting the kitchen, tiling the bathroom or installing cabinets or ripping out carpet.  Of course, they open a bottle of wine and they order chinese or a pizza and make an evening of it.  It’s not controversial, it’s not even risque’ (drat.)  I am sure it happens in kitchens and baths all over America–or at least I hope it does! Peter says he loves it–”doing chores with friends makes for light work.”  They rotate the houses and tasks–one weeknight a month.

It’s just an idea–go ahead and start fantasizing about what you can get done in your house with intimate friends–why else are you staying up in middle of the night watching all those DIY videos and that HGTV on cable?  If you don’t have any skills in that department we can certainly help you, since we have those types of free workshops all the time.
As you’re writing your holiday cards and thinking about gifts for your friends and neighbors who you’ll stand next to at the eggnog bowl this season . . . Why don’t you take a risk?  Raise a few eyebrows by suggesting a key party–ReUse style!
I bet you’ll get some takers.

Peter Riphahn took the ReUse chopper up for a spin the other day. Here’s his flyover pic of our “field of tubs”.

Tubs, toilets and sinks are all 25% off this week, until Friday. Come on down!

Then, Friday, Saturday and Sunday ALL LIGHTING will be 25% off.

Marble is 25% off during October!  Click on the photos to see more of the inventory.