Build It Green!NYC has helped to donate used wood scaffolding to local community gardens in New York City.

Recently we were updated on the progress of used scaffolding being re-used as raised beds for Two Coves Community Garden in Astoria. United Hoisting and Scaffolding in Long Island City contributed the used scaffolding which had expired its use in the construction world, only to be re-purposed as new raised beds for Two Coves’ garden!

BIG!NYC has a new program, BIG!Blooms, to assist local community and school gardens find used building materials to assist with the structure of the gardens. Used wooden scaffolding may not be suitable for building projects anymore, but it’s perfect to support raised beds!

BIG!Blooms has already assisted Two Coves in Astoria and NYCHA gardens in the Bronx, thanks to the scaffolding provided by United Hoisting and Scaffolding. Check out pictures from Two Coves here!

We are looking for more community or school gardens in NYC to share these materials with. Please contact Jaclyn Jablkowski if you are interested in used scaffolding for your community garden or school garden. Email: jaclyn@bignyc.org.

If you are a scaffolding, or building material supply company, looking to make a donation, please contact Ellis Isenberg. Email: ellis@bignyc.org.

Scaffolding + Spring Planning = BIG!Blooms (February 12, 2012) Ever wonder what happens when the ugly scaffolding in front of your favorite corner store comes down? Well, after the scaffolding has been used for construction purposes, it is retired and sent to a landfill. Build It Green!NYC saw an opportunity to help divert the wood from the waste stream and provide free materials to local gardens.

BIG!Blooms began last year, and has already diverted 3,000 boards of scaffolding lumber to be used as raised garden beds, tree guards, and compost bins for local community and school gardens.

One of the early donors for this program is local LIC company, United Hoisting and Scaffolding. “I have got to say, it feels great seeing the end result with the product we donate,” said Joe Covello, Vice President at UHSC. “Seeing the joy in the people’s faces and the benefit we bring to their communities is what make us continue to donate to BIG!NYC.”

Another big scaffolding donor is NJ based, Ace Scaffolding. Last November they delivered two truck loads of used boards to GreenThumb’s yard, and will soon be used for building raised garden beds at schools in Queens.