Pollinators are disappearing - the City of Bellevue w/Green Bellevue’s guidance & support became a Bee City USA in 2021 to protect them. In fact, many insects are in trouble and excessive use of pesticides that kill insects and the lack of habitat from urbanization are some of the reasons for their disappearance. You can help protect our pollinators by planting plants they need in your garden or containers. Come on down to the Bellevue Farmers Market Saturday mornings from 8:30-12:30 for native plants (free-will offering requested) and education from Green Bellevue & our partners. We also have a Bee City USA Pollinator garden sign available!

Come and work in our public gardens with gardening and native plant expert, Nancy Scott on Thursday evenings throughout the spring, summer and fall. Make sure you are on the weekly text group for updates and to ask questions by texting 402-578-1504. Come any time.

You can also ask questions to nancys@greenbellevue.org and check our FaceBook page each week for location and details.

Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation- link will open in a new window that allows us to work towards our vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011, the award-winning Plastic Free July campaign is the result of 15 years of hard work. Green Bellevue started to participate in 2024 - this year we will be hosting a shopping bag give away at local grocery stores, encouraging reusable over single-use plastic bags.

Pollinators are disappearing - the City of Bellevue w/Green Bellevue’s guidance & support became a Bee City USA in 2021 to protect them. In fact, many insects are in trouble and excessive use of pesticides that kill insects and the lack of habitat from urbanization are some of the reasons for their disappearance. You can help protect our pollinators by planting plants they need in your garden or containers. Come on down to the Bellevue Farmers Market Saturday mornings from 8:30-12:30 for free native plants and education from Green Bellevue & our partners. We also have a Bee City USA Pollinator garden sign available!

Come and work in our public gardens with gardening and native plant expert, Nancy Scott on Thursday evenings throughout the spring, summer and fall. Make sure you are on the weekly text group for updates and to ask questions by texting 402-578-1504. Come any time.

You can also ask questions to nancys@greenbellevue.org and check our FaceBook page each week for location and details.

Pollinators are disappearing - the City of Bellevue w/Green Bellevue’s guidance & support became a Bee City USA in 2021 to protect them. In fact, many insects are in trouble and excessive use of pesticides that kill insects and the lack of habitat from urbanization are some of the reasons for their disappearance. You can help protect our pollinators by planting plants they need in your garden or containers. Come on down to the Bellevue Farmers Market Saturday mornings from 8:30-12:30 for free native plants and education from Green Bellevue & our partners. We also have a Bee City USA Pollinator garden sign available!

Pollinators are disappearing - the City of Bellevue w/Green Bellevue’s guidance & support became a Bee City USA in 2021 to protect them. In fact, many insects are in trouble and excessive use of pesticides that kill insects and the lack of habitat from urbanization are some of the reasons for their disappearance. You can help protect our pollinators by planting plants they need in your garden or containers. Come on down to the Bellevue Farmers Market Saturday mornings from 8:30-12:30 for free native plants and education from Green Bellevue & our partners. We also have a Bee City USA Pollinator garden sign available!

Join us at the Bellevue Farmers Market for our annual Zero Waste Environment Champion Award Luncheon. Please RSVP to admin@greenbellevue.org by June 2nd. We’ll present Environment Champion Awards and recognize our sponsors, committee leaders and more! The event is expected to be over by approx 2:30pm.

On June 6th we are celebrating PlantNebraska’s Wildflower Week and kicking off Pollinator Month with our own Pollinator Party!

Did you know that many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we enjoy every day depend on pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and even hummingbirds? Pollinators play a vital role in our food supply and healthy ecosystems — and this special event at Bellevue's Farmers Market is all about recognizing their importance, celebrating and supporting them!

Join the Green Bellevue Bee City USA team along with our wonderful community partners, Milkweed Matters and Greater Omaha Native Plant Society for a fun, family-friendly Pollinator Party at the Farmers Market! (✅NOTE: If you plan to stay for the luncheon, please RSVP TO admin@greenbellevue.org by June 2nd)

🌼 Event Highlights:

Pollinator Passport Activity — receive a passport from the Green Bellevue table, visit participating vendors whose products depend on pollinators and enter the completed passport for a set of adorable wool dryer balls featuring bee and monarch designs! Prize drawings are every 15 minutes starting at 9am until 11:45am.

Seedlings for your pollinator gardens

Pollinator garden signs available for purchase

Free face painting

Educational displays and gardening tips

Learn how to support monarchs, native bees, and other pollinators at home

Join us at the Bellevue Farmers Market for the Grand Opening! You can shop between 8:30am - 12:30pm and stop by our table for free native plants (donations accepted) and while supplies last, a free roll of bamboo (tree free) SaveTrees.co toilet paper!

Nebraska Monarchs will be hosting a Native Plant Giveaway and Environmental Expo includes free plants and a long list (including Green Bellevue) of Omaha-metro area environment organizations, businesses and clubs. Do not miss this great event!

Details are coming soon to https://www.nemonarchs.com/freeplants!

The 36th Earth Day Omaha is scheduled for April 25th at Elmwood Park! Save the day for education, music, food and all the environmentalism and sustainability one could hope for! Go to www.earthdayomaha.org for details.

Join our special Earth Day program at Bellevue University to learn about environmental projects and efforts that are taking place in the local area. The EarthDay.org theme is “Our People, Our Power” highlighting the benefits of clean energy but also that each of us can make a difference with the actions we take.

If you are interested in coordinating the 2026 Earth Day in Bellevue, please contact us!

Earth Day in Bellevue Participant Interest Form

Attend the April 7th Bellevue City Council meeting where Green Bellevue was born!  Please plan to attend the historic Earth Day & Arbor Day proclamation readings to show your support.  Students from local High Schools will share about their school’s projects after the reading. There is a photo opportunity with the Mayor - wear green if you can and bring the family!

The Bee City USA committee is on a course to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting to learn more and participate in our efforts! Email admin@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!

This year’s observance of International Day of Zero Waste focuses on food waste, a critical yet preventable driver of environmental harm. The world is wasting food at an alarming scale, undermining food security and slowing progress toward a zero-waste, circular future. In 2022 alone, approximately 1 billion tonnes of food, nearly one-fifth of all food available to consumers, was wasted.

Earth Hour is calling on individuals, communities, and businesses across the world to switch off their lights and Give an hour for Earth, spending 60 minutes doing something - anything - positive for our planet.  

Anyone, anywhere is invited to give an hour for Earth doing something they love. Whether it’s giving an hour through the realm of food, fitness and wellness, nature, creativity, entertainment, or sustainability - we want people to have fun on Earth Hour, and help the planet while they’re at it!  

Attendees will learn about a variety of shrubs that are native to Nebraska and how to use them in your landscape. Native shrubs are very important in the natural environment—providing shelter and food for a variety of animals and birds. As a design element, shrubs provide medium height in a garden and help blend the differences between shade trees, herbaceous plants and grass lawns. Shrubs can be used to define boundaries, create paths and provide seclusion without the stark presence of a fence or wall.

About Bob Henrickson:
Bob attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology in the School of Natural Resources. Currently, Bob is the Horticulture Program Coordinator with the PlantNebraska (formerly Nebraska Statewide Arboretum) a private, non-profit organization and program of the Nebraska Forest Service. Read more about Bob's background here.

The Native Plant Series is brought to the community by Victoria Bogatz, Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate and Bellevue East High School Senior. The Nebraska Writers Collective provided her the resources and support to create a civic engagement project. Per Bogatz, "Using my passion for environmental education, I decided to create a workshop series on native plants." Green Bellevue is thrilled with the initiative and subject matter chosen, given our community has hundreds of native plant gardeners, many have just begun in the past year. The 4 session series will begin on February 15th and all the details will be announced soon. For now, please save the dates!

February 15th at 1 pm: Hear from Nancy Crews, Executive Director of Milkweed Matters

February 22nd at 1 pm: Hear from Nancy Scott, Nebraska Certified Nurseryman

March 8th at 1 pm: Hear from Amanda Stastny, Owner of Bumbling Bee Native Wildflowers

March 14th at 11 am: Hear from Bob Hendrickson, Horticulture Program Coordinator at PlantNebraska

The Native Plant Series is brought to the community by Victoria Bogatz, Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate and Bellevue East High School Senior. The Nebraska Writers Collective provided her the resources and support to create a civic engagement project. Per Bogatz, "Using my passion for environmental education, I decided to create a workshop series on native plants." Green Bellevue is thrilled with the initiative and subject matter chosen, given our community has hundreds of native plant gardeners, many have just begun in the past year. The 4 session series will begin on February 15th and all the details will be announced soon. For now, please save the dates!

February 15th at 1 pm: Hear from Nancy Crews, Executive Director of Milkweed Matters

February 22nd at 1 pm: Hear from Nancy Scott, Nebraska Certified Nurseryman

March 8th at 1 pm: Hear from Amanda Stastny, Owner of Bumbling Bee Native Wildflowers

March 14th at 11 am: Hear from Bob Hendrickson, Horticulture Program Coordinator at PlantNebraska

This night is hosted by Green Bellevue partner, Hillside Solutions and it’s to “celebrate local climate wins while funding projects that will grow Omaha's circular food system.” See details on the Hillside FaceBook event.

--- What to Expect ---

6:00 PM — Networking & Happy Hour
Mix and mingle with sustainability leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and neighbors doing the work. Enjoy drinks, light bites, and a guided tour of No More Empty Pots’ greenhouse.

7:00 PM — Dinner & Awards Ceremony
A locally sourced dinner followed by the Hillside Impact Awards — honoring individuals and organizations making real, measurable change across Omaha’s circular economy.

We’re honored to feature Nancy Williams, Omaha food systems leader and co-founder of No More Empty Pots, sharing her story and vision for a thriving, equitable food future.

--- Paddle Raise for Impact
We’ll host a live paddle raise to directly fund School Composting Services, helping Omaha schools reduce waste, enrich soil, and teach the next generation how to steward the planet.

9:00 PM — Dance & Celebration
Because joy is part of the movement, too. Celebrate the wins, the people, and what’s ahead.

--- 2025 Award Categories ---

* Retail Award
* Reuse Award
* Compost Clubber Award
* Compost Club Gives & Circular Food System Award
* Eco-Friendly Schools Award
* Biggest Impact Award
* Implementation Award
* Innovation Award
* Resilience Award
* Zero Waste Event Award

---
Attire: Cocktail
Audience: Adults, kids, families — all welcome
Bar: Cash bar with beer, wine & non-alcoholic options

The Bee City USA committee is on a course to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting to learn more and participate in our efforts! Email admin@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!

This Sunday, Nancy Scott—Certified Nurseryman, Master Gardener, and longtime leader of Green Bellevue’s Bee City USA efforts—will lead a session at Bellevue University covering the fundamentals of native gardening and how to design a pollinator-friendly landscape.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to strengthen an existing garden, participants can expect an accessible introduction designed to build confidence and clarity around native plant gardening. With information about where to purchase native plants and implement them into your yard, this session will provide practical guidance and a strong foundation for making choices that support pollinators and contribute to a healthier local ecosystem.

The Native Plant Series is brought to the community by Victoria Bogatz, Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate and Bellevue East High School Senior. The Nebraska Writers Collective provided her the resources and support to create a civic engagement project. Per Bogatz, "Using my passion for environmental education, I decided to create a workshop series on native plants." Green Bellevue is thrilled with the initiative and subject matter chosen, given our community has hundreds of native plant gardeners, many have just begun in the past year. Please save the March dates!

March 8th at 1 pm: Hear from Amanda Stastny, Owner of Bumbling Bee Native Wildflowers

March 14th at 11 am: Hear from Bob Hendrickson, Horticulture Program Coordinator at PlantNebraska

The Native Plant Series is brought to the community by Victoria Bogatz, Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate and Bellevue East High School Senior. The Nebraska Writers Collective provided her the resources and support to create a civic engagement project. Per Bogatz, "Using my passion for environmental education, I decided to create a workshop series on native plants." Green Bellevue is thrilled with the initiative and subject matter chosen, given our community has hundreds of native plant gardeners, many have just begun in the past year. The 4 session series will begin on February 15th and all the details will be announced soon. For now, please save the dates!

February 15th at 1 pm: Hear from Nancy Crews, Executive Director of Milkweed Matters

February 22nd at 1 pm: Hear from Nancy Scott, Nebraska Certified Nurseryman

March 8th at 1 pm: Hear from Amanda Stastny, Owner of Bumbling Bee Native Wildflowers

March 14th at 11 am: Hear from Bob Hendrickson, Horticulture Program Coordinator at PlantNebraska

The Bee City USA committee is on a course to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting to learn more and participate in our efforts! Email admin@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!

Bring seeds to share and pick up new varieties for your garden! Chat with fellow gardeners, exchange tips, and get advice from Nebraska Extension experts. All are welcome—whether you have seeds to trade or just want to learn more. See Bellevue Library website for information.

No registration is required.

Kick off the new year by growing native plants from seed! Join us at Bellevue University for a free, hands-on Winter Seed Sowing Workshop where you’ll learn simple, effective methods for starting native perennials, grasses, and wildflowers using winter sowing techniques. (*Note! Change of location for our workshop. We are now in the Muller Administrative Building, Symposium room on floor B!)

We’ll walk through everything you need to know — choosing the right seeds, prepping containers, understanding cold stratification, and setting up secure seed sowing location, moisture management, Potting up your seedlings for successfully establishing seedlings ready to plant in the garden.

We have door prizes including a free membership to the Hillside compost club and Garden Journals. Please register but not required! 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this workshop will empower you to grow more natives, support wildlife, and help spread the word about resilient, eco-friendly landscaping.

The Bee City USA committee is on a course to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting to learn more and participate in our efforts! Email ruth@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!

The 17th Green Bellevue Board of Directors will be holding our 2026 planning meeting on December 13th. This has been a long tradition to integrate the new directors, review project and financial status and develop the go forward strategy for the coming year.

The Bee City USA committee is on a course to increase the abundance of native plants, provide nest sites and reduce the use of pesticides through partnering with residents, businesses, schools, utilities and government to educate our community about the why, what and how to protect Bees and insects. Join us for our next monthly zoom meeting to learn more and participate in our efforts! Email admin@greenbellevue.org if you’d like to join us!