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.

So far this week the weather has not been very conducive for biking to work, but we can hope that next week will be nicer – just in time for National Bike to Work Week (May 16th-22nd).

Some advantages of biking to work:
-It is energy efficient
-It’s a good source of healthy exercise (trust me, you don’t even think about it as “exercising” when you’re using it to get to work)
-You save travel money by biking (gas, parking, car maintenance)
-Great way to reduce stress
-Helps you to wake up and in turn, increases your productivity at work
-Makes for a predictable commute time
-Reduces air, water, and noise pollution

If you need more convincing, click here for 60 benefits of Bike Commuting.

Additionally, next Thursday May 20th from 8-10pm cyclists will “Merge into the Bike Lane” to celebrate Bike to Work Week at Merge Restaurant. Half off admission for those who ride their bicycle; a free bicycle valet will be available to park the bikes.

Food and Beer provided by Merge
Funky Grooves by DJ Cutler
50/50 and Bicycle Raffle

$20 admission but can be $10 if you ride a bike….

So get on your bike and ride!!!

It has been announced that President Barack Obama will be visiting Buffalo next Thursday as part of his “Main Street Tour.” Of course, we at Buffalo ReUse are more than eager to host the President for a short visit. We have sent out letters to everyone and anyone we can think of, but if you have some kind of insider connection or pull, or you’re actually Obama’s third cousin twice removed, please consider helping us make this dream a reality!!

Buffalo ReUse is eager to share vision and accomplishments for green job creation, social entrepreneurship, and community regeneration with the President.  Since our inception in 2007, we have worked tirelessly to create Buffalo ReUse because of our unyielding desire to improve the City of Buffalo, our passion and hope for livable communities, and our belief in the unique capacity of young adults in forging solutions to rebuild our communities for the future. We have leveraged the unique assets of our region to address the most pressing needs of our neighborhoods, and while our region is unique, we believe that our ideas can be implemented in many communities all throughout the country.

If you have friends in high places, please help us use this unprecedented opportunity to share our entrepreneurial ideas that can play a critical role in regenerating neighborhoods and creating more green and local jobs in the years to come.

Thanks to all our friends and supporters who diligently voted every day! We didn’t win first prize, but being a runner-up is nothing to sneeze at – a $5,000 grant for our community programs.

With nearly 200 members & 7 vehicles, Buffalo CarShare is ready to expand once again! As the ground warms, the non-profit organization is announcing a new vehicle hub located at the corner of West Utica and Elmwood. CarShare hopes to add 3 new vehicles this spring – including a truck – with the help of partners in the region.

The new hub on West Utica, the second on the Elmwood Strip, was made possible through a parking space donated by Horizon Realty, a property management company well known to the Elmwood area. The other BCS hub on Elmwood is two blocks south at Brent Manor Apartments.

As CarShare grows, it has cultivated partnerships with other non-profits such as Grassroots Gardens and the Massachusetts Avenue Project, which will help make possible the addition of a truck for use by these organizations as well as CarShare members. In addition, Buffalo CarShare looks forward to partnerships with area institutions such as the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and the area’s colleges and universities. In that spirit, the non-profit recently responded to a Request for Proposals for car sharing services from the University at Buffalo.

Join Buffalo CarShare tomorrow, April 1st, at 10am as they launch their new hub at Elmwood & Utica!

On February 27, 2010 there was a devastating earthquake in Chile’s central region, affecting an area stretching over 900 miles. The 8.8 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis destroyed many cities and towns, killing more than 400 people.

The Latin American Cultural Association (LACA) and El Buen Amigo are hosting a fundraising musical event and pot luck on SUNDAY APRIL 25th at the University Presbyterian Church (corner of Main St. & Niagara Falls Blvd. ) to raise money to send to the victims. All the funds will go to Techo Para Chile, a Chilean organization constructing temporary homes for those whose homes were destroyed during the earthquake/tsunamis.

They are asking the good people of WNY to help out with this event, which includes musicians, dancing, a 50/50 raffle, and a Chinese Auction.  LACA/El Buen Amigo are looking for: local businesses to donate  goods or services for the Chinese Auction, and musicians, singers, and dancers to perform. You can also take an ad out in the program (full page: $50, half: $30, 1/4 page: $20, a line: $10).

If interested, please contact Santiago Masfarrer at 913-2881 or email lacanewyork {at} yahoo(.)com. Muchas gracias!!

Buffalo Growing is a collaboration that brings together a diverse group of organizations and community members around a common commitment to urban greening, access to healthy food and fostering sustainable communities. The group is focused on both short term and long term solutions to issues such as leasing city-owned land, zoning for urban farms, access to resources and training/education.

One of the group’s main focuses is urban farming and community & backyard gardening. This year is a pilot year for a seed and transplant program to help support gardens in Buffalo. Community gardens will receive seed packets and transplants throughout the growing season and have the opportunity to participate in resource pooling and bulk purchasing.

Volunteers are needed on Friday, April 16th from 11am – 1pm to help package seeds and prepare transplants for distribution. This will take place at MAP on 271 Grant St.

Join in on this opportunity to support gardens and farms in the city, and check out the Buffalo Growing Calendar for other upcoming events.

Watercolor Artist Jody Ziehm has transformed the children’s room in the Lewiston Library with images of vibrant, whimsical creatures, all reading books. What’s more, she’s painted these pictures on doors, and included vintage doorknobs from Buffalo ReUse! “I’ve always felt the library opens doors for people of all ages,” said Zeihm, explaining her inspiration.

View a slideshow of the series of art from the Lewiston Library here!!

AIAS Freedom By Design utilizes the talents of architecture and design students to radically impact the lives of people in their community through design and construction solutions. Vital modifications are made to enhance the homes of low-income elderly and disabled individuals by addressing their struggles with everyday tasks such as getting in and out of the shower, ascending stairs, accessing cabinets, and  opening doors.

The UB Chapter just finished this project for Gracie, a disabled woman in Niagara Falls. The group of students installed two grab/safety bars in her bathroom and replaced her original basement stairs which were far too steep. In its place, they built a winding staircase that leads to a new landing with better hand rails on either side of the stairs. Next stage: to replace the existing handicap ramp that is too steep.

These students are awesome, and they got all of their building materials from Buffalo ReUse