Friends of J.N. Adam is compiling a list of ways to reuse the historic former J.N. Adam Hospital facility and handing out prizes for the best ideas!
(Check out pictures and info at www.jnadam.org and on facebook under J.N Adam Historic Landmark and Forest)

~ What would you like to see there?
~ What do you think would work?
~ Do you think the public should be able to access and recreate on the 500+ of acres of open space — forest, meadows, ponds, streams, even the sports fields and picnic area that the state abandoned?

We want to hear from you! Prizes for:
(1) Most Creative
(2) Most Comprehensive Multi-Reuse (there are 650 acres total and well over 200,000 square feet of historic building space)
(3) Best reuse of the spectacular dome room/dining hall rotunda

The three prizes you ask? Your choice – either one copy of
~ Mason Winfield’s book “Haunted Places of Western New York” (because we well know the J.N. Adam hospital is haunted, after all !),
~ or one copy of Margaret Wooster’s book “Living Waters: Reading the Rivers of the Lower Great Lakes” (because the J.N. Adam facility does sit atop Perrysburg’s sole source drinking water aquifer!),
~ or one copy of Peak Experiences: Hiking the Highest Summits in New York, County by County” by Gary Fallesen (because this facility, at 1,322 feet, has one-of-a-kind panoramic views to Lake Erie, Buffalo, Canada, Erie and Cattaraugus Counties, and on a clear day the mists of Niagara Falls!)

Let your ideas flow forth (by 6-30-10) and prizes flow back to you!!

Submit entries by return email to friendsofjnadam {at} yahoo(.)com or on our facebook site under J.N Adam Historic Landmark and Forest. Winners announced July 1st.

Thank you!
~ Friends of J.N. Adam
www.jnadam.org
facebook (J.N Adam Historic Landmark and Forest)

So our adventures in the world of compost are continuing, and we have begun experimenting with “Active Compost.” Previously, we explained the process and benefits of making and using passive tea–and have since been diluting it and using it in our garden beds.

To take our operation to the next level, we purchased a few supplies (and salvaged a few others) to begin the active tea brewing process. Here is our supply checklist:

1. A vessel to hold the tea (we used an old garbage can)
2. Garden compost
3. Aquarium air pump (ours is rated for 60 gallons)
4. Air tube for pump (10 – 15 feet is the absolute most you’ll need)
5. Air stones (to diffuse oxygen, placed at end of air tubes)
6. T shaped line splitter
7. Sugary food scraps (think rotten banana, apple core)

The supplies we needed cost about $30 new at a local pet store, but you could also find them at a garage sale, thrift store, or in your basement/attic . . . just gotta look for them.

Once you have your materials together, find yourself a good spot to brew the tea. It won’t take too long

(3-5 days), but your pump will need to be running consistently throughout the brew process, so make sure you have a safe location to plug it in if you’re doing it outdoors. We have ours working in the basement, and there is little if any odor at all.

The active compost tea is similar to passive tea in that it is a method of pulling beneficial minerals, fungi, microorganisms, etc. from compost and into water so that it can be quickly applied to and absorbed into the soil and thus, the plants in our gardens. Active tea differs in the way the beneficial microbes grow, but it’s essentially the same science project (just done a bit faster, and with slightly better results, we’re hoping). How? Why? We’re using the aquarium pump and stones to aerate the water, and some sugar from food scraps to feed the microorganisms, so that they can grow and multiply quickly (via more oxygen and food).

The only setup is the air pump system, which is very simple. This includes the pump, tubes, and air stones. Carefully cut your tube so there is 3 feet or so running from your pump out to your tea vessel. Our pump has two connections, so we cut two 3 foot pieces to reach the can.

At the end of the tubes we attached a line splitter and cut two short pieces of tube to connect the diffusers (Air Stones). Upon completing our pump system, we have a pump, two tubes running out, a splitter on each tube, and an air stone after each split. The only thing left to do is add the water and compost, and the brewing can commence. Don’t forget some food for your microbes–if you have some partially decomposed food scraps in your pile that should

work, but if you want to be safe, add an apple core or two, or perhaps a rotten banana and its peel.

We used 3 parts water to 1 part compost. First we put in the water, then we added the compost, stirred with a shovel, and finally dropped the airstones into the bucket. Every day, pull out the tubes and give the bucket a good stir.

Give your active tea about 3 days to brew, and it should be ready. Unlike the passive tea, this method doesn’t use a bag to filter the compost, so it’ll need to be screened / decanted to separate the liquid from solid. And when applying to your garden, make sure to dilute to avoid potential burning on your plants. You won’t need much more than a few tablespoons per gallon of water (preferably rain water, as chlorine, etc. in municipal water will kill your precious little microbes).

In Pittsburgh, over 30% of the real estate is vacant or underutilized. Can deconstruction and entrepreneurs save the day? Learn about the growing deconstruction industry and explore various business models and market niches for re-purposed materials.

Deconstruction to Jobs Workshop: Featuring David Bennink of ReUse Consulting
June 17-18, 2010
Hosted by Kingsley Association
6435 Frankstown Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

David Bennink, owner of ReUse Consulting, has deconstructed over 500 buildings across the country and provides consulting services to deconstruction enterprises. His deconstruction techniques were recently featured in ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover. Come and learn what it takes to develop a successful deconstruction enterprise!

June 17: Deconstruction Industry Analysis
Learn what market segments are profitable, what is working and what is not, and how to develop your own opportunity.

June 18: Deconstruction Entrepreneur Meet-Up Group
Interested in forming a deconstruction company? Join our Entrepreneur Meet-up group to receive technical assistance and complete your business plan.

Register by calling Teresa at 412-661-8751 at the Kingsley Association.

A new thing I would like to continually do is write about ReSourceful Projects that we all have come up with.  By doing this I can share the creative work of individuals who have purchased ReUsed products from Buffalo ReUse and made something new out of the old.  I cannot maintain this without the help of you out there.  If you are someone who likes to do this, please send me information on your project.   I would love to share it with the rest of our community.

It would be really cool if we all can keep track of the items that come in and out of store and help keep the uniqueness of Buffalo alive by ReUsing them for their intended purpose or some other creative purpose.   That being said please keep me updated on your journeys in and outside of our ReSource.  You can contact me at Scott {at} buffaloreuse(.)org.

A while back I endeavored my own creativity my making a table out of a door and two spindles.  You can read about this here.

With that being said, Christine Frank, a supporter and customer of Buffalo ReUse purchased an antique knob from the ReSource and used her creativity to come up with a tea box out of her newly acquired knob and old book.  Very clever.  She has created several other cool projects like this and you can read all about them as well as other topics on her website, the Eve of Reduction. I have included more photos of Chrstine’s project on our flickr set of ReSourceful projects that is linked above.

The website is called ToolGirl….more like Cool Girl (ba dum psh). I came across it while searching for ways to reuse wine corks, and was very impressed with the nifty projects Mag Ruffman features on her site.

One awesome idea is the counter made of books. It would be especially cool for a bookstore, though it would work anywhere. Let’s face it, everyone has a collection of hard cover books that they’re likely to never read again (especially with all this new e-book technology) so why not reuse them in a productive way?

Or, if you have kids who have outgrown their lego phase, how about this idea? Very unique and it would make a great conversation piece when you have guests over! It just takes a lot of patience…and about 20,000 lego pieces. But I would LOVE it if someone gave one of these ideas a try!!

This Saturday we will be working in the community gardens AND reaping the benefits!

LET US CELEBRATE LETTUCE and all the other foods that grow in the soil!

Join us for a Garden Workday with a salad potluck buffet–bring your work gloves, a sunhat and a bowl of salad! Lettuce Optional.

At noon, we’ll wash our hands, sit down to a buffet and bury our face in a bowl.

You can also just come for lunch as long as you bring a bowl to share.
(potato salad, macaroni salad, 3bean salad, beet salad, chard salad, egg salad, taco salad, corn salad, tomato salad, waldorf–the possibilities are endless.)

THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE A SEEDLING SWAP TOO–for the warm weather crops like tomatoes and peppers and others.

Info here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Join Us for Food Matters: A Four Film Series

Film has become a powerful medium when exploring controversial topics or when making a point about a particular subject. For the last several years those concerned with the state of our food supply in this country have done well in exploring, exposing, and initiating dialogue on this critical subject. The Lexington Cooperative Market and Edible Buffalo have joined together to present Food Matters: A Four Film Series. The films selected for the series are some of the most critically acclaimed on the topic of food production, food supply and the overall state of our food economy. The series includes the following films; King Corn, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, Dirt! The Movie, and FRESH. Each screening will take place at Hallwalls ContemporaryArt Center in Buffalo.

King Corn was first released in 2007 and explores the tenuous topic of corn production in the United States. As America’s most subsidized crop, this film follows to young gentleman as they try to follow their corn crop as it enters our food system. What they learn is both troubling and eye-opening as it raises many questions about how we eat and how we farm. As more and more industrial food companies are coming under fire for their prevalent use of high fructose corn syrup in their products, this film continues to be timely and relevant. The screening date for this film is May 27, 2010 at HallwallsContemporaryArtCenter at 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Doors open at 6:30pm with the film beginning promptly at 7pm.
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the true story of third-generation Illinois farmer John Peterson and how he struggles to stay afloat as family farms decline. His story is one that parallels the history of American farming. His family farm eventually hits rock bottom but Peterson is able to turn things around and become one of the leaders in the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) movement as head of Angelic Organics. The screening date for this film is June 30, 2010 at HallwallsContemporaryArtCenter at 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Doors open at 6:30pm with the film beginning promptly at 7pm.
Dirt! The Movie takes on the unlikely subject of soil. This film tells the story of Earth’s most valuable and underappreciated resource. Through modern industrial pursuits and the clamoring for both profit and natural resources, our human connection to dirt has been disrupted. The film makes the case that drought, climate change, even war all directly related to how we are treating our soils. The only remedy is to reconnect with this precious natural resource. The screening date for this film is July 28, 2010 at HallwallsContemporaryArtCenter at 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Doors open at 6:30pm with the film beginning promptly at 7pm.
The Food Matters film series concludes with an encore screening of FRESH. As films like Food Inc. and Super Size Me expose the pitfalls and wrong doings of our industrial food system, FRESH goes in the direction of looking at solutions to our ailing food supply by celebrating the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, a 2008 MacArthur’s “Genius Award” fellow; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, the Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, who is creating a new market model for our family farmers. FRESH’s focus on these inspiring individuals and their initiatives around the US provides the audience with actionable solutions. The screening date for this film is September 30, 2010 at HallwallsContemporaryArtCenter at 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Doors open at 6:30pm with the film beginning promptly at 7pm.

Each film is approximately 85 minutes in length and will be followed by an audience discussion. Tickets for each film are $8.00 for general admission and $6.00 for Lexington Cooperative Market members, Edible Buffalo subscribers, seniors and students. There is also a series pass available for $20.00 which provides you admission to all four films. Tickets are available at the Lexington Cooperative Market at 807 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo or online at www.ediblebuffalo.com. The net proceeds from the film series will benefit Field & Fork Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting local consumers and food industry professionals with area farmers and artisan food producers.

The toilet can be one of the major users of water in your home.  Malfunctioning fill valves and leaky flappers are the two most common sources of water waste.

Be alert for corroded parts.  A corroded tank lever or flapper chain can get tangled and prevent the flapper from closing completely, allowing water to escape down the drain.

Today at 4pm, at the ReSource at 298 Northampton St I will be hosting a workshop on techniques to saving money and water inside your toilet.  I will talk about and illustrate a couple different ways that anyone can save water which in return will save you money!

There is no need to go out to home depot and spend an arm and a leg on the newest state of the art,  high efficiency low flow toilet.

I’m finally free of classes for the semester and am able to write again. I felt that I also had to write something about the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill because it demonstrates exactly why we need to live more sustainably; use less, recycle more, and live in sustainable communities.

First, I recently heard an old song that reminded me that the first and ultimate tragedy is the loss of life of the workers, and energy miners everywhere. This accident is a poignant reminder that every electron that charges our cell phone, every old carpet we throw away, etc… contains energy and there are people at the bottom of this chain.

The midnight, the morning, or the middle of day,
Is the same to the miner who labors away.
Where the demons of death often come by surprise,
One fall of the slate and you’re buried alive.

It’s dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.

“Dark as  Dungeon”

Merle Travis, 1946

Concerning the environment, It’s been 22 days (April 20) since the rig “Deepwater Horizon” burned and sunk. The leak is estimated spout about 200,000 gallons a day, but that number seems to be a guestimate at best. Using that number I calculate that 4,400,000 (four and a half million) gallons have been spilled so far. For perspective, the Exxon Valdez was estimated to have spilled 10,000,000 (ten million) gallons. Despite the best efforts the Gulf leak shows no sign of being stopped soon.

The leak… well maybe leak is too light a word, since oil is blowing out at about 180 gallons per minute. Fire hoses put out about 200 gallons per minute. In the two minutes of writing here that was 400 gallons of oil.

The leak is 5000 feet below the sea. This is an alien environment where the water pressure is a  crushing 2200 psi (pounds per square inch). If an average human male has about 2900 square inches of skin, he would experience a total of 6,500,000 pounds (about 7 elephants) pushing on him.

The temperature is just above freezing. The cold and extreme pressure causes methane gas in the oil to freeze as it emerges. It is like a tar slushy and it won’t flow through pipes. This is why the recent attempt to cap it with a giant container to funnel the oil to ships failed.

Crude oil itself has many consistencies, often likened to chocolate chocolate mousse. It is composed of a soup of millions of chemicals , it is full of gases, mud and other debris. In the cold many globs solidify and sink to the bottom. Larger globs coalesce from the slick and sink back down to the bottom.

The lighter hydrocarbons (eg gasoline [properly: hexanes, octanes, heptanes] ) and fluffy stuff float on the top where they drift to shore. Sunlight, oxygen, combined with waves “weather” the oil, emulsifying it and making it more soluble – much like a well-shaken Italian salad-dressing. This complicates oil removal as this oil cannot be easily skimmed. Some of the lighter hydrocarbons (e.g. propane or butane) evaporate into the atmosphere. Read the rest of this entry »