Environmental Engineering Class Innovates with Reused Materials

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Solar Melted Crayons formed in custom 3D printed crayon molds (above)

SCRAP Humboldt invites the public on Wednesday May 15 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. to witness the unveiling of the innovative projects created by Humboldt State University’s Environmental Engineering students. SCRAP Humboldt is located at 101 H street (on the corner of South G) in Arcata.

Ten student teams designed and constructed a variety of innovative projects which all involved reused materials. One of the projects transformed an old satellite dish into a parabolic solar cooker that can melt crayons or candle wax. Once that wax is melted it is poured into custom 3D printed molds to be reused. “These student teams each dedicated between 100-400 hours developing these projects, not just for a grade, but to create something that will be shared and used by others” said Tibora Girczyc-Blum, SCRAP Humboldt Director.

Students in HSU’s Environmental Resources Engineering  Introduction to Design course, developed and built the projects in cooperation with SCRAP Humboldt. Over the course of the semester, SCRAP Humboldt provided design considerations, feedback, and materials for these innovative projects. Students worked in teams to develop their projects, going from initial problem statement to final solution and execution. Instructor Lonny Grafman provided design framework, feedback and expertise to guide students in their goals. All of the projects and building instructions can be found on http://www.appropedia.org/SCRAP_Humboldt.

SCRAP Humboldt is a project of SCRAP, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.  In April, SCRAP Humboldt opened Humboldt County’s first creative reuse center on the corner of South G street and H street in Arcata. For more information please visitwww.scraphumboldt.org.

HSU + SCRAP Humboldt = Innovation

This semester we have been working closely with the ENGR 215: Introduction to Design course in Humboldt State University’s Environmental Resources Engineering department. The class works closely with a client (us) to develop specific projects. Reused materials have been at the heart of each team’s design. On April 25, the projects will be unveiled. We are honored to have worked with such talented and creative students and we can’t wait to see their final innovations! Join us April 25 3:30 & 5:30pm at HSU Science D room 17!

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Facebook Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/197719587018839/

Humboldt County’s First Creative Reuse Center Opens April 3!

Artists, Teachers, Students, Makers rev up your creativity!

Arcata, CA – The first creative reuse center in Humboldt County, SCRAP Humboldt, will celebrate their Opening during Arts! Arcata on Friday April 12. From 6 to 8 pm, the public is invited to explore the exciting treasure trove of creative materials and super reuse inspiration. SCRAP is chock full of fabric, notions, yarn, paints, architectural samples and a huge variety of creative supplies – all at about one quarter of retail prices.

The School Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP) Director Tibora Girczyc-Blum reported, “We make unique materials available to teachers, artists, parents, crafters and everyone who loves creative projects. And the prices are so low, a family of four can get enough art supplies for an afternoon of crafting for less than $5.”

SCRAP diverts usable materials from the waste stream, educates people about creative reuse and provides inexpensive art, craft and office supplies to the community. The new space on South H Street in Arcata is large enough to accept donations, offer retail of those materials, and host creative reuse focused classes and workshops. SCRAP will bring back the fabulous Re:Boutique – a unique collection of jewelry and gift items created from a minimum of 75% reused material. The Grand Opening will feature the repurposed artwork of Karen Kintz, a Humboldt State University alumnus.

SCRAP is located at 101 south H street, Suite D in Arcata. Regular hours begin Wednesday, April 3.  Open Hours will be Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SCRAP Humboldt is a project of SCRAP, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that inspires creative, environmentally sustainable reuse by providing affordable arts and crafts materials to the community. At SCRAP, being creative means being kind to the environment – every year, this “scrappy” organization diverts more than 129 tons of materials from the waste stream. SCRAP Humboldt also can be found online at http://scraphumboldt.org  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SCRAPHumboldt

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Spring Inspired Workshops

Upcycled Flower Power
Origin Design Lab hosts SCRAP Humboldt for a spring inspired workshop. Participants will transform sewing patterns and t-shirts into bouquets, hair clips or pins. All materials provided. Ages 10 to Adult are invited on Friday, March 15, 6 to 8 p.m., $8 per person.  Origin Design Lab is located at 621 3rd St in Eureka.  For more information visit wwww.scraphumboldt.org

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Wrapped Bottle Vases & Transformed Blossoms
Turn old bottles into pretty flower vases and make ever lasting flowers out of old sewing patterns with SCRAP Humboldt. This easy project is perfect for giving or keeping. Adults are welcome Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., $8 per person, all materials provided. The workshop takes place at Blondies Food and Drink located at 420 E California Ave in Arcata. For more information visit wwww.scraphumboldt.org.
 
NEWS!!!!
Humboldt County’s First Creative Reuse Center Coming in April 2013! 
We have a space, signed a lease and will be opening SCRAP Humboldt very soon!
We are very excited and grateful for all the support.
We will be posting about our progress here and on our Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Stay tuned for our opening party!

11 Ways to Bring Creative Reuse to the Garden!

Make a windsock from plastic feed bagsImageImageImage

Don’t have a garden space? Make your own gardening containers! Image

Bicycle wheels make great fences or trellises
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Make a scoop for your chicken feed out of an old laundry detergent bottle
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Make your own farmer’s market bag
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Use an old car wheel to organize your hose
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Make your own garden art like this sculpture by Linda Wise
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Plastic bottles make great frost protectors for fragile starts
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Reuse those old shoes for fun/funky outdoor planters
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Yes, even urinals can be beautiful
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Pallets can be remade into handsome planters
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January Creative Reuse Workshops!

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As we search for a larger and permanent location, we will be teaching some creative reuse workshops around Humboldt County. Our first two creative reuse workshops. will be held in our former pop-up shop space at the Jacoby’s Storehouse. The first is a Origami Box making workshop using old calendars and the second is learning to make “plarn” aka plastic bag yarn.
On Sunday, January 27 from 1 to 2 p.m. ages 10 to adult are invited to learn how to make beautiful and useful origami boxes using old wall calendars. The workshop takes place at SCRAP Humboldt’s former pop-up shop location in Jacoby’s Storehouse, Suite 11, 780 7th Street in Arcata. Participants can make up to 3 boxes to take home.  The workshop costs $5 and all materials are provided.  
Facebook Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/471962879533140/
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The second workshop also takes place on January 27 and begins at 3 p.m.  Repurpose single use plastic bags into a re-usable tote bag!  In this workshop make “plarn”  (plastic + yarn = plarn) out of plastic bags, and learn how to crochet a simple tote using plarn.
Both plarn making and crocheting are time-consuming projects, participants will start this project and receive a pattern to finish it on their own.  Crochet experience is helpful. Participants need to bring plastic bags, scissors, and a crochet hook size J10 (6mm) or larger.  The workshop is also $5 each and both workshops are first-come-first-served.