Buffalo ReUse Blog » Neighborhood Beautification

This Place Matters

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

How we would spend 6K

Caesandra Seawell — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:03:42 +0000

If you’ve been following the blog and facebook, you know the reason we’re hosting tonight’s Talent & Treasure Auction is so we can raise at least $6,000 toward our stipend for our two current Americorps Members, Brad and Scott. But what you might not know is how much more that 6K gets us. For almost 2yrs now we’ve been truly blessed to work with Americorps WNY and the 6 members who have served with us, Michele Silberman, Matthew Lapennas, Ben Kaiser, Rachel Mathews, Scott Kozak and Brad Kujawski.
There is no way we could have started all we have been able to accomplish with the Tool Library, all of the community gardens, the free DIY workshops, volunteer coordination, store maintenance, neighborhood improvements, tabling events and our other events and shenanigans without them–we couldn’t have even done as fabulous a job with the Extreme Demo or the Extreme Premiere!
Although we have had hundreds of hours from volunteers, this crew has provided the necessary volunteer training and support and filled in the gaps when we were short on volunteers and staff. Their service has been crucial to this organization.

In my opinion our Americorps Members have done more to create ReUse’s positive reputation in the community than any other single person in our organization. We cannot maintain our high level of activity or grow without them.
I hope that if you do support the mission of Buffalo ReUse, you will come to tonight’s auction. It is absolutely a worthy cause. If you cannot make it to tonight’s event, but you still want to make a donation toward our Americorps stipend, please click here to go to our secure Paypal page or you can also mail a check. Please put “Americorps stipend” in the memo section. I also invite you to click on the photo which will take you to hundreds of other photos that prove just how much our Americorps Members have done for Buffalo, our neighborhood and this organization.
Thank you for your support.

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

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!

Recycle your Gadgets for CASHola

Caesandra Seawell — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:40:36 +0000

You may already know gazelle.com I promise, it’s not the guy with the orange tan and ponytail.
It’s a site that will take some specific types of electronic gear–ipods, iphones, laptops, computers, external hard drives, even movies and they give you cash. Get paid for being a responsible consumer?! That’s amazing!
You can also donate part of your refund to charity–be responsible and generous with their Gazelle for Good program! If your job or office is upgrading their company issued technology–maybe this is a way they can give back.
Search the site for charities that interest you OR allow me to suggest one! Buffalo’s Tool Library would love to benefit from your electronics cleanouts! Checkout the gadget drive that we created for funding our Community Programs http://buffaloreuse.gazelle.com

Cold Spring Tree Planting

Caesandra Seawell — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:55:04 +0000

This Saturday, May 1st, ReUse needs folks to help plant trees with Re-Tree WNY. After this planting we will have literally and officially planted 1,000 trees in the historic Cold Springs and historic Masten neighborhood. I am not sure how many more plantings Re-Tree WNY will sponsor in the future so we want to make sure this one counts! We pre-dig the holes so this volunteer opportunity is really great for people of all ages because it’s not as strenuous as some other sites.
Please eat a hearty breakfast and dress appropriately; we will plant even if it’s raining.
I guarantee it will be muddy, so wear boots or sneakers you can get dirty. We will also do a Street Blitz in conjunction with The Great American Cleanup; neighborhoods across the country are sprucing and clearing litter from sidewalks–come out and join the effort!
We’ll begin at 298 Northampton at 9am and give you a quick tree planting training and put you into teams; we intend to be done by 3pm. If you’re under 18, please bring the waiver signed by a parent.

Try to carpool. Parking is available behind the store on Eaton Street, near 158 Eaton.

As always, we will finish with a potluck and group massage (shoulders only–no feet). Caesandra is making her not-quite-famous-yet tater tot casserole, pear-n-spice bread pudding and whatever else she finds in the pantry. Feel free to bring chips, hot dog buns, cornbread muffins, cookies, salads, utensils or a crockpot of comfort food.

If you’re available this Friday, we could use a few extra hands to pickup the trees from the garage. Please meet us at 8am ReUse to carpool over call 885-4131 so we know to expect you.

UPDATE – We Won $5,000!

Rachel Mathews — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:11:35 +0000

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.

Re-Tree needs arms&legs

Caesandra Seawell — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:16:14 +0000

Everyone who hopes to plant trees with us this Spring should try and attend the training.

Tree-Care Training Workshop
Free and open to all
Saturday, April 17th From 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Parkside Lodge in Delaware Park
84 Parkside Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214
Please call 838-1249 ext. 15

Re-Tree WNY needs volunteers to help unload the truck-o-trees! April 29, 2010 @ 8:00am – Trees delivered to City Engineering Garage, 1120 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14210.

We will be planting in Masten Neighborhood–rain or shine!
Meet at ReUse at 9am, Saturday, May 1st. Bring work gloves, grubby shoes that can get muddy and your water bottle. We will work from 9-3pm and eat potluck at the end. If you can’t help with trees, you can help with potluck–make mac-n-cheese, tatertot casserole, bologna wraps, corn bread, PButter celery sticks, taco salad or just bring some chips!

Grow Buffalo, Grow!

Rachel Mathews — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:21:55 +0000

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.

Extreme Makeover to make a return to Buffalo???

Rachel Mathews — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:05:03 +0000

Turns out the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition were SO impressed with the City of Good Neighbors that they would like to make a return to Buffalo! This would be the FIRST TIME they have come to a city twice (can I get a “Let’s go Buffalo!” chant?). Says Casting Supervisor Morgan Fahey: “We are looking for the deserving people and inspiring families that America can really root for.”

To be eligible, a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives. Families can apply – or you can nominate a member of your community – by sending a short description of the family story to castingwesternnewyork {at} gmail(.)com. Each nomination must include the names and ages of every member of the household along with a description of the major challenges withing the home. All nominations must also include a contact phone number.

More info can be found at the Extreme Makeover website, which you can visit by clicking here.

The deadline for nominations is February 26th, 2010 so don’t delay!!! Let’s really show America what WNY is made of.