Buffalo ReUse Blog » Dream It; Do It

Central Terminal Master Plan – Unveiled Thursday March 10 at the Terminal

Buffalo ReUse Staff — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:34:43 +0000

From our friends at the Central Terminal:

Central Terminal Restoration Corporation to Release Master Plan Outline for Preservation, Restoration and Reuse of Art Deco Landmark

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The master plan for the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of Buffalo Central Terminal will be released to the general public and primary stakeholders at 2pm, Thursday, March 10, 2011. The comprehensive plan was prepared by the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation's Architectural Advisory Committee. It will outline various infrastructure needs and development opportunities with the goal of returning Buffalo Central Terminal to its full architectural integrity and regional significance.

"The Buffalo Central Terminal stands in defiance of time to form a tangible link to our past and a gateway to our future," explains Paul Lang, Chairman of the CTRC's Architectural Advisory Committee.

At that time, a downloadable copy of the document will be available on the Terminal's website BuffaloCentralTerminal.org.The cost to complete all phases of this multi part plan is estimated at $75 million. A mix of private, public and foundation monies are being sought to complete the project. The amount of initial funding requested will be dependent upon which elements of the plan will be embarked upon within the next 14-months.

The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation was founded in 1997 to oversee the stabilization and restoration of the New York Central Terminal in Buffalo, New York. The Terminal complex includes an 18-acre site that hosts an art deco office tower, passenger concourse and four-story baggage building. The mission of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation is to ensure that the original grandeur of the Terminal is available to current and future generations.

WHAT: Release of Buffalo Central Terminal master plan

DATE: Thursday, March 10th

TIME: 2 – 3 pm

WHERE: Buffalo Central Terminal, 496 Paderewski Drive @ Memorial Drive, Polonia District

CONTACT: mediarelations {at} buffalocentralterminal(.)org or 716.435.3678

This Place Matters

Buffalo ReUse Staff — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:57:21 +0000

That’s right we compost, and so can you!

Brad Kujawski — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 04:09:54 +0000

Fall is here — leaves are flying and clear plastic bags full of them are piling up at the curbs. Some of those leaves have made their way to our compost piles, thanks to some happy volunteers raking in our neighborhood, and one of our crew members, Brandon, who filled his van full of bags and brought them for us to (re)use. Leaves are great fuel for the compost pile — they’re an excellent source of carbon (see below) to feed your compost pile, bin, or bucket. Having a compost pile reduces the amount of garbage you generate, and using the fallen leaves you rake helps take a bit of the burden off the street sweepers and garbage collectors, providing you with some “black gold” for your garden and good Karma for reusing your waste. Putting compost in your garden soil improves its structure and its ability to hold water, and also provides essential nutrients and beneficial micro-organisms to the soil and the plants you grow in it. Still not convinced that you should start your own compost pile? Wait until you see how easy it is…

Here is the new compost bin we setup at our garden to help us reuse our garden waste and the leaves we have been raking up. The container that you use for a compost setup can be just about anything, or nothing — 5 gallon buckets, straw bales, an old garbage bin with holes drilled in the sides (for air circulation), a circular frame of “chicken wire” (welded wire), or a simple, large, static pile right on the ground. In the picture, we used a forklift pallet and some reclaimed 2×4′s and slats to build a frame, and closed up the front with a bit of welded wire mesh. Every container may have a slightly different process to how you compost in it, but you’ll figure it out as you go. Compost is a great learning experience because of just that — there isn’t an absolutely “right” way to do it, but you learn ways to do it better as you go.

When choosing or building a container, important things to keep in mind are the amount of space you have to work in, the amount of materials you have to work with, air circulation, and where the container will go. If you have, for example, a small upper apartment, you might be better off going with an indoor worm bin or a Bokashi composter. Also, the 3-bucket compost system utilizes three small containers (like 5 gallon buckets) to quickly decompose small amounts of waste at a time in a small space — and it’s especially helpful in winter.

Compost is the product of nature’s decomposition process. You can make it scientific or simple. Bacteria, mold, and fungi break down waste with a little help from their friends — the worms. As they break down the materials, it consumes oxygen, carbon and nitrogen, creating heat and releasing water. Having a good balance of oxygen, moisture, carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials creates an ideal atmosphere for the beneficial bacteria and other decomposers hard at work making your compost. Learning how to get that balance is part of the experience. It’s not completely necessary (anything will break down over time), but it helps reduce odors, speeds up the process and makes a better product.

When you begin your pile, and while you build it, try to balance the kinds of ingredients you put into it by adding a layer of one when you add the other. If you put a layer of kitchen scraps in your bin (primarily “greens”), put a layer of leaves or shredded paper or wood chips (“browns”) to even it out. You can get very technical, but you don’t have to — it’s your compost pile. Compost 101 has a good article to reference for carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials. They have a very rigid, technical approach to balancing the carbon to nitrogen ratio (25:1 C:N) — which is a bit over-complicated for the beginner — but is helpful to think about. They also have some great tips to consider as well.

There are two types of ingredients for your compost: browns and greens (or carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich). Browns include: paper, ashes, cardboard, cornstalks, leaves, and wood chips. Greens include: grass clippings, garden waste, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps, and weeds. See the link above or google for a more complete list. AVOID Adding: meat scraps or bones, sawdust from treated woods, grease or fatty foods, domesticated animal feces, clippings from chemically treated lawns, etc. Think about what you add to your pile before you add it.

Aeration and moisture are the only other elements that you may have to provide, depending on how you establish your compost system and how you maintain it. If you purchase a bin composter, or build one from a old garbage can, you may need to turn it every now and then to give it some air. If you build a large static pile, you may only turn it over once or twice. If you add too much nitrogen-rich materials, you might end up with a wet, stinky mess — and too much carbon leaves your pile dry and cold. My suggestion is to keep it simple: start small and add a little bit of brown every time you add a little green, and experiment with different kinds of compost techniques to learn how the materials work. As your experience grows, so will your pile (and vise versa).

Salute to Women Veterans

Kevin Hayes — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:23:48 +0000

A neighborhood ensemble invites you to attend a performance honoring women veterans. Marisa Robinson, of Riley Street, and the SIBYLS THEATRICAL ENSEMBLE are devoted to the representation of women in a positive light. This year we would like to invite you, your family and friends to our production of WHITE, PINK AND BLUE: A HISTORICAL LOOK AT WOMEN’S ROLES IN AMERICA’S MILITARY. This production will be honoring women’s roles by using historical documents and personal experiences. The production is a form of vignettes demonstrating the allegiance; personal determination and expressing the courage and forthrightness demonstrated by these individuals. This production gives an overview of women’s place in the fight for freedom, equality and justice to be called true American Heroes.

NOVEMBER 7, 13, and 14, 2010
3:00PM to 5:00PM
TICKETS
ADULTS $15.00
SENIORS AND STUDENTS $12.00
CHILDREN 4 – 12 $10.00
(VETERANS ARE FREE)

1412 MAIN STREET
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14208
For ticket information contact Marisa 935-7859 or Sandra 882-3715

Landlord Coaching

Caesandra Seawell — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:23:46 +0000

Just passing this along from Linda at the Board of Block Clubs. It’s important to be a GOOD LANDLORD.

CITY OF BUFFALO
LANDLORD TRAINING
Friday, November 5
8:30am – 4:30pm
At Belmont Shelter Corporation
1195 Main Street
At the corner of Dodge

If you are a landlord or considering property management, don’t miss the opportunity to learn valuable information such as

eviction proceedings
mold prevention
lead poisoning prevention
funding sources
housing court procedure
the role of the police
inspection procedures
detecting drug activity on your property
crime prevention techniques
fair housing
rental assistance corporation, belmont resources
social service information
leases and the best tenant selection processes

To register, please visit the City of Buffalo’s website.

EATS: World On Your Plate

Caesandra Seawell — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 12:50:30 +0000

ReUse is participating in World on Your Plate this year! Brad and I will be teaching a workshop on Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening Method on Saturday 4pm, but there are lots of other great workshops and speakers too!

Message from Jordana Geist:

The 7^th Annual World on Your Plate Food ForumFriday, October 8, 6 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 9, 9 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Daemen College,
Charles J. Wick Campus Center,
4380 Main Street,
Amherst, NY 14226.

Friday night includes:

• Vegan dinner reception and the screening of the documentary Living Downstream, a trailblazing and inspiring scientific exposé, based on the book by Dr. Sandra Steingraber

Saturday’s program includes:

• Morning keynote address from bestselling author of Diet for a Hot Planet, Anna Lappé

• Afternoon address from Dr. Sandra Steingraber, internationally recognized expert on the environmental links to cancer and reproductive health.

The day also offers participants their choice of two workshop sessions, from choices including Community Gardens, Organic Apiculture, Living Roofs, Holistic Health, Raising Organic Beef, Raw Foods and more!

Also presenting in the afternoon are featured speakers:

• Margaret Mitchell, MD, Functional Medicine Specialist

• Caesandra Seawell, Dir. of Community Programs at Buffalo ReUse

• Michael Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator, Center for Health, Environment and Justice will be bringing Betty, the Be Safe Ducky, an inflatable 25-foot rubber ducky that’s been making headlines coast to coast, in support of a PVC-free and toxic-free future.

Cost is $25 with pre-registration and $30 at the door.

Students with ID are admitted free but must pre-register.

Registration includes both Friday and Saturday programs, as well as a Friday night light vegan dinner, Saturday organic lunch, and ongoing access to local vendors and information tables.

For more info. or to register, visit www.worldonyourplate.org

Sponsor our HYDRO Buffalo prototype?

Caesandra Seawell — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:01:36 +0000

For two years now, I’ve been sharing a little kooky idea to create a fleet of trikes that have the capability to water the newly planted trees, flower beds and planters throughout our neighborhood–using rain water! (see kooky napkin sketch at left).
The necessity of this hit home yesterday as I was driving up Dodge and noticed too many of the new trees look dry and knowing I don’t have an easy way to fix the problem.
We haven’t had much luck getting the Hydro Buffalo idea funded. I thought maybe “if I could just get it started” with a prototype–at least ONE trike, then riding that suped-up trike around could prove to everyone that it’s not just a kooky idea–it’s a GREAT kooky idea! and eventually we’d be able to expand the fleet.

Before you ask–YES, Blue Bike and Riverkeeper are aware of this idea, and we hope our collective audience is excited to help–we’re all in the same boat though. We need one adult trike to get us started! If anyone out there can donate a solid adult trike we can then weld a cart and get this thing rolling. If you think you can help–please get in touch with Caesandra at volunteer {at} buffaloreuse(.)org or call 716-885-4131

Here’s the other part of the proposal if you are “People who know People”

HYDRO BUFFALOs
The HYDRO BUFFALOs are a fleet of bicycles equipped with 55gallon Rain Barrel Tanks. The team of bicyclists will ride out each week and water our newly planted urban trees and greenspaces throughout Buffalo. We envision trikes, tandems, and carts affixed with rain barrels and powered by leg-power. This effort is a collaboration between several local non-profits: Buffalo ReUse, Re-Tree WNY, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and Buffalo Blue Bicycle, as well as many engineering students from the University of Buffalo–everyone contributes in varied and valuable ways.
The HYDRO BUFFALOs address important environmental and social issues such as storm-water diversion, neighborhood beautification, cleaner urban air, and reducing our carbon footprint. All the water for the HYDRO BUFFALOs is harvested in our 1,600 gallon water storage tank; the rain water collects from the roof of our building, The ReSource, and prevents it from entering our City’s sewer system and Lake Erie.

In our Masten/Cold Springs neighborhood alone, Buffalo ReUse has planted over 1,000 curbside trees. Re-Tree WNY has planted over 13,000 trees since its inception in 2006. It is crucial to supply these trees, as well as, the surrounding community gardens on Buffalo’s east side, with adequate water. Our network of volunteers will ride the HYDRO BUFFALOs around town watering and demonstrating how easy and plentiful rainwater is to use.
Naturally, we plan on outfitting the water tanks, trikes and bike helmets with horns and fur and, maybe hooves. We believe this will also stimulate interest and encourage discussion about the greater issues effecting our community while demonstrating a viable solution many cities can replicate.

Budget: (multiply x5)
Tricycles – $250-$400
Tandems – $265, $290
Bike Hitch – $35
Cargo Trailer – $100
Rain Barrels – $90
16K gallon tank- free
TOTAL: $4575

Tour Gardens East of Elmwood

Caesandra Seawell — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:56:05 +0000

Please don’t get me wrong, we love the Garden Walk–I love anything that gets people out into the sidewalks and talking to one another about color and veggies and sunshine. And I realize that with 355 gardens on the Walk–it makes it difficult to map a larger area; however, there are many gardens east of Main Street that I think are worth visiting–namely those in our neighborhood:

Our Rain Garden at the corner of Northampton & Michigan is very new! It was installed by National Grid employees as a corporate service project this past Earth Day 2010. The garden was designed by Matthew Dore of Buffalo Horticulture. Matt regraded the vacant double lot to guide rain water into the middle (like a shower drain) where a pergola was built surrounded by blueberry bushes. The lot also features a privacy fence using reclaimed flooring. The perennial flower beds have a backdrop of foundation stone. Planters built from reclaimed hemlock floor joists double as seating along the sidewalk.
Keep traveling down Northampton and
You’ll discover a Bee Sanctuary which was once a vacant lot, but is now a warm blanket of yellow, amber, and bronze with summer wild flowers. (In the spring the lot was dotted with blues, pinks and purples). The wild flowers are native to the North East and are helping to fortify a sagging urban bee population.
Our Children’s Vinery is truly unique! It has an apple tree and six arbors supporting a variety of pole beans, melon, squash, tomatoes, eggplant and chard. We have Mobile Victory Gardens donated by artist, Stella Maars which are growing herbs and pumpkins. We’re just adding a teepee of morning glories. We have experimental containers for growing potatoes and a strawberry patch which has delighted people of all ages!
The Patchwork Garden is also a sight–50 different beds which neighbors, volunteers and groups have adopted! Folks plant whatever they want in this community garden and they enjoy having a place to grow their own food and relax. We host events like movie nights, cooking demos, art, performances and free gardening workshops in the garden.
Just around the corner there is another style of community garden, The Cold Spring Community Garden on Southampton and Masten, managed by Dan Ash and Jessica Lang. Their garden is a site where five houses once stood, but now there is an 8foot wall of tomatoes, several rows of vegetables and raspberry vines. There are also fruit trees which will mature into a mixed bowl of cherries, plums, peaches, pears and apples! Volunteers and neighbors work in the garden and are able to eat what they harvest.

Thousands of volunteer hours have gone into building these gardens and the whole reason is so people can come and enjoy them. We hope you’ll visit them soon. Over the next 2years we hope that Northampton will showcase greenspace development and neighborhood stabilization. It will be like a red carpet–only greener! If you have questions or would like to get involved, please stop by our table at the Garden Walk/Talk this weekend!

Making Lemonade

Caesandra Seawell — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:06:33 +0000

We hope you’ll join Michael Gainer and others as we share really inspiring examples of community building and neighborhood improvement efforts from around the country–even some from other countries!

This is an opportunity to throw off the cynicism and see how regular people lead the way in creating thriving neighborhoods. You are the best person to start making a difference because you know your neighborhood and the kind of neighborhood where you want to live.

Gracious Hostess, Prish Moran, is allowing us to meet with you at her cafe, Sweet_ness7 –from 6-8pm Tuesday, July 20th. We really hope you can make some time to be inspired–bring a friend or a new face!

Megan Hits the Road

Kevin Hayes — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:56:28 +0000

From our friend Megan McNally:

Hello!

As many of you know, I will be heading out of Buffalo mid July on a journey around the US. My first obligation is to be out in Taos, New Mexico in August to learn about building earthships, totally sustainable structures that are off the grid and built from used materials (tires, glass bottles, etc)! Eventually I will find myself in Vermont in October interning for Yestermorrow Design and Build School for 6 months, a school that teaches anything from drafting to timberframing to welding to straw bale building. Along the way I am stopping in targeted cities to interview awesome people, businesses and organizations, learning about cool ideas being implemented in this giant country (can you imagine my future gas bills??? Eek!).

In any event, I am writing to invite you to my blog that I am starting. It is titled “Stops Along the Way: Buffalo and Back Again.” Realistically, I don’t know how long it will take me to get back to Buffalo…maybe years, or maybe only 8 months, but I thought it fairly apt. I want to share with you the people I meet who GET IT and offer up some cool ideas that I think are worthwhile to mention. Don’t worry, for those of you not interested in this type of stuff, I’m sure there will be plenty of silly anecdotes about me getting lost or doing something totally crazy that will really make you laugh.

The address for the blog is followingthetide.blogspot.com…because that’s what I’m gonna try to do. I have generic plans because I want to have the ability to change plans at the last minute. To stay an extra day somewhere, to leave early, to get SO lost that I discover something insanely amazing.

Hope you’ll follow me on my journey! If you’d like a postcard at some point, please forward your address.

Love,

Megan