Thursday, April 30, 2009
Cultural Sharing Conversation
Monday, April 27, 2009
ReFind Furniture Wins Best Award
ReFind Furniture is honored to be the recipient of the City of Portland's BEST Award for Sustainable Products or Services. The BEST Awards seek to acknowledge the efforts of local businesses in the areas of economic growth and environmental benefit. According to their website, "The mission of the BEST Awards is to inspire the business community by showcasing innovation and commitment to sustainability." To read more about the BEST Awards and our participation, please click here.
ReFind Furniture designs and handcrafts environmentally sustainable, natural, contemporary furnishings for residential and commercial spaces. A primary goal of ReFind is to preserve the environment and benefit communities. In this regard, all ReFind materials are sourced locally, most of it coming from homes and other buildings that have been manually deconstructed by our DeConstruction Services department. This historic old-growth lumber finds new life in a distinctive line of furniture and custom designs.
In 2008, ReFind products created from salvaged material preserved the equivalent of more than 60 old-growth Douglas fir trees and avoided the production of 415 pounds of green house that would have been generated to harvest and mill new lumber — the equivalent of removing 2.5 cars from the road.
Most importantly, ReFind Furniture seeks to inspire the creative reuse of salvaged materials. ReFind also hosts classes and workshops that range from practical knowledge and skill-building to artistic expression. To learn more about classes click here, or visit the Education page of our website.
There are lots of ways to get involved with the creative reuse of salvaged materials. You can participate in the ReUse Ideas Project year-round by submitting a photo of your creative reuse project to receive a 10% discount at the warehouse. Or, you can participate in the upcoming ReFind Furniture ReUse Exhibition by showcasing your project during our 11th birthday celebration on June 11. Click here for more info.
Questions about ReFind Furniture or custom work? Visit our website , email us or call 503-445-1756.
ReFind Furniture designs and handcrafts environmentally sustainable, natural, contemporary furnishings for residential and commercial spaces. A primary goal of ReFind is to preserve the environment and benefit communities. In this regard, all ReFind materials are sourced locally, most of it coming from homes and other buildings that have been manually deconstructed by our DeConstruction Services department. This historic old-growth lumber finds new life in a distinctive line of furniture and custom designs.
In 2008, ReFind products created from salvaged material preserved the equivalent of more than 60 old-growth Douglas fir trees and avoided the production of 415 pounds of green house that would have been generated to harvest and mill new lumber — the equivalent of removing 2.5 cars from the road.
Most importantly, ReFind Furniture seeks to inspire the creative reuse of salvaged materials. ReFind also hosts classes and workshops that range from practical knowledge and skill-building to artistic expression. To learn more about classes click here, or visit the Education page of our website.
There are lots of ways to get involved with the creative reuse of salvaged materials. You can participate in the ReUse Ideas Project year-round by submitting a photo of your creative reuse project to receive a 10% discount at the warehouse. Or, you can participate in the upcoming ReFind Furniture ReUse Exhibition by showcasing your project during our 11th birthday celebration on June 11. Click here for more info.
Questions about ReFind Furniture or custom work? Visit our website , email us or call 503-445-1756.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Upcoming: Community Outreach Food Sharing Workshop
Meet at the Whole Foods Market Wellness Center (3535 NE 15th Avenue, 97212) at 9:00 am for a light breakfast and to pick your project. Lunch will also be provided. Childcare, transportation, and interpretation available upon request.
Please register by May 4th by calling 503.546.7499 or click here!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Alternative Spring Breaks at The ReBuilding Center
Remember Spring Break? Traditionally known as a time for: 1. lazy days 2. preparation for a new season 3. friends 4. family 5. California/Florida beaches 6. all around lounge time.
Well…There is now an alternative! The Rebuilding Center hosted three different alternative break groups during the month of April. The University of Illinois, Idaho State and The University of Montana all generously sent us wonderful groups of volunteers. They lent helping hands to the gradual reorganization of The ReBuilding Center's lumber yard. They helped build racks, organize tile and supported many other on going projects.
We are so grateful for their selfless act to spend their breaks working (and learning) with us. Thank you so much for your time and efforts. Your work has truly made a difference.
Well…There is now an alternative! The Rebuilding Center hosted three different alternative break groups during the month of April. The University of Illinois, Idaho State and The University of Montana all generously sent us wonderful groups of volunteers. They lent helping hands to the gradual reorganization of The ReBuilding Center's lumber yard. They helped build racks, organize tile and supported many other on going projects.
We are so grateful for their selfless act to spend their breaks working (and learning) with us. Thank you so much for your time and efforts. Your work has truly made a difference.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The ReBuilding Center "Tweets"!
For quite some time now people have been asking if we can post inventory updates more regularly on our website. Due to the volume of materials we move daily (about 8 tons!) and the frequency of changing inventory (every 15 minutes!) we have been unable to make it a reality. Until now--thanks to a site called Twitter.
Twitter is the latest buzz in social media technologies. Twitter is a social network similar to myspace, facebook and many blogging platforms (such as blogger) that allows individuals to post quick updates (called "tweets") for friends and followers to read.
We are experimenting with Twitter as a means to let you know what's going on in the warehouse. We will post a sampling of new inventory as it comes through the doors as well as reduced prices on materials. As of now, these "tweets" will not include photographs, but you can always get your graphic fill from "Today's Finds"--our twice monthly newsletter.
To receive The ReBuilding Center's "tweets" you will first have to join the Twitter community by visiting their website and creating an account. After that you can search for "The ReBuilding Center" with Twitter's "Find People" tool. Then, all you have to do is click "Follow" to receive a happy stream of updates fresh from the warehouse.
We appreciate your feedback on how best we can utilize this new tool and thank you for your patience as we try the course. Questions? Email or call us at 503-542-5051!
Twitter is the latest buzz in social media technologies. Twitter is a social network similar to myspace, facebook and many blogging platforms (such as blogger) that allows individuals to post quick updates (called "tweets") for friends and followers to read.
We are experimenting with Twitter as a means to let you know what's going on in the warehouse. We will post a sampling of new inventory as it comes through the doors as well as reduced prices on materials. As of now, these "tweets" will not include photographs, but you can always get your graphic fill from "Today's Finds"--our twice monthly newsletter.
To receive The ReBuilding Center's "tweets" you will first have to join the Twitter community by visiting their website and creating an account. After that you can search for "The ReBuilding Center" with Twitter's "Find People" tool. Then, all you have to do is click "Follow" to receive a happy stream of updates fresh from the warehouse.
We appreciate your feedback on how best we can utilize this new tool and thank you for your patience as we try the course. Questions? Email or call us at 503-542-5051!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
US Senator Jeff Merkely visits DeConstruction Services
March ushered in the partnership of Specialized Housing and DeConstruction Services. Like Our United Villages, Specialized Housing Incorporated is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation. SHI was formed in 1981 in collaboration with United Cerebral Palsy, The Epilepsy Association of Oregon and The Association for Retarded Citizens for the specific purpose of improving housing options for people with disabilities. SHI has developed over 100 projects throughout Oregon and has 28 years of experience in housing design, property management, new construction and substantial rehabilitation. Like The ReBuilding Center, Specialized Housing, Inc. has received many awards for outstanding service to the community.
SHI hired DeConstruction Services to dismantle five houses totaling 5,500 square feet--all of which the deconstruction crews have accomplished in record time. The freshly deconstructed site will be the future home for Eastgate Station, which will be high density housing with 61 units for special needs individuals and families. Eastgate Station will serve low and very low income individuals and families, people with disabilities, and hard to serve homeless families with disabilities. Services for homeless residents will be coordinated by Multnomah County and will be provided by Impact Northwest under Multnomah County's Bridges to Housing (B2H) Initiative and 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Senator Merkeley with DeConstruction Crew & Shane Endicott on SHI Site
The DeConstruction Services and Specialized Housing, Inc. project created the perfect storm to model the highest potential meaning of “Green Jobs.” Job creation, material reuse, community development, and partnering organizations presented a great reason to contact Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. The SHI project also happens to be in Senator Merkley’s own neighborhood. While making time in his very busy schedule on Friday, Senator Merkley learned on site how DeConstruction Services and The ReBuilding Center are viable, working examples of Green Jobs. The brief visit included a tour of the remaining house, and a short press interview. The Senator and his aids were very pleased to learn first hand the opportunities reuse develops in the community. The Senator’s closing remarks expressed his excitement about the possibilities this project represented, as well as his support of these kinds of jobs.
Senator Merkeley and Shane Endicott
Senator Merkeley with Executive Director of SHI
Deconstruction of the SHI site saved: 27,500 cubic feet of reusable materials out of the landfill
6,600 gallons of clean water, or daily water intake of 13,200 people
91 mature trees left in the forest, or 28 acres of newly planted pine
1,815 square feet of affordable housing from the reused building materials
2,495 additional hours of work at a living wage, supporting our local economy
7.9 cars removed from the road in the reduction in greenhouse gases
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