Bemidji GreenUp is a volunteer group that has roots in Bemidji Rotary and Bemidji Leads!  Planting 10,000 trees for 10 years is one of the destiny drivers for Bemidji Leads!

Bemidji GreenUp is made up of people who volunteer their time because they care about the future of Bemidji. 

The group has representation from a wide variety of interests in the Bemidji community, including the following:

• Beltrami County
• Bemidji State University
• Business Representatives
• Caring Citizen Volunteers
• City of Bemidji
• Headwaters Regional Development Commission
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Department of Transportation
• High School and College Students

We want to see the forest through the trees.

To plant trees of varying sizes and types, focusing on the highly visible areas in which trees are noticeably absent, in order to create a more forested, park-like atmosphere in the Bemidji Community

• GREEN UP BEMIDJI!!
• Create a culture in Bemidji where planting trees becomes a contagious effort
• Establish an identity for Bemidji that you would expect for a Northwoods community

Bemidji GreenUp started with efforts to literally get outside and plant 10,000 trees per year for 10 years.  Large scale volunteer plantings of several thousand trees at the major entrances in Bemidji were planned and executed successfully. Most of the trees were small seedlings or transplanted specimens from state or commercial nurseries.  An initial goal of 10% survivability was expected. The target location for the first few years was the public right of way along Trunk Highway 197, the community entrances along US 2 or US 71, or along the Bemidji bypass. 

2007

• 20 trees planted around the perimeter of Nymore Park
• 6 trees and 3 shrubs planted on the Erberts and Gerberts block, a few blocks south of BSU
• 8 trees planted at St. Marks Church, located near the airport

2006

• Norway pines planted in the boulevard east of Lueken’s truck ramp (west side of Ridgeway Drive)
• Added three jack pine transplants along the exit ramp west of Home Depot (two had been mowed off)

2005

• 50 coniferous trees planted along the trail east of the Bemidji Wastewater Treatment Facility
• Seedlings planted on east trail crossing along Highway 2 Bypass on the east side of Bemidji
• Jack pine seedlings planted in area along exit ramp west of Home Depot
• Spruce and white pines planted in “forest” area southeast of the mall
• Ash and maples planted in boulevard east of Lueken’s parking lot (west side of Ridgeway Drive)

2004

• Three maples and three norway pines planted in the Central School playground
• Deciduous trees planted along the south shore of Lake Bemidji
• Norway pines planted at Dairy Queen (south)

In addition to the mass plantings around the perimeter of the City, Bemidji GreenUp feels it can make a difference throughout the entire Bemidji community.  The goal of planting 10,000 trees, while still very important, has become more of a community-wide goal.  Bemidji GreenUp members decided that more of an impact could be felt in the community if we focused on several highly visible, signature areas in Bemidji.

What does success look like for Bemidji GreenUp?

One of the more important concepts for GreenUp has been to define what we would like to accomplish.  We realize it is not possible to come up with an urban forest in Bemidji overnight.  Bemidji GreenUp identified three areas that will define success for this community over time (which also mirror the goals noted above):

1) GREEN UP BEMIDJI!
2) Create a culture in Bemidji where planting trees becomes a contagious effort
3) Establish an identity for Bemidji that you would expect for a Northwoods community

Spring Planting – 2008

This coming spring planting season is going to be one of the most important in the history of Bemidji GreenUp!  The goal is to make a huge impression on the local community and build momentum for future years.  The following is a list of projects in which planning is currently underway:

• “Sesquicentennial” – Celebrating 150 years of Statehood in Minnesota
  • To celebrate Sesquicentennial, Bemidji GreenUp is organizing a community event to plant 150 trees.  Detailed plans for this event are currently being discussed by GreenUp members. 
• “Tree Giveaway”
  • Bemidji GreenUp is engaged in planning efforts to sponsor a tree giveaway on Arbor Day.  Check back for more details as Arbor Day, April 25, 2008, draws near.
•  “Business in Green”
  • Business in Green is going to be an exciting program for businesses in Bemidji.  The focus area will be along highway 197, plus a few blocks either way.  The goal of this initiative will be to find two to three businesses that would like to work with Bemidji GreenUp to Green Up their business.  This will most definitely include trees, but could also include other landscaping efforts as well.
• Mass Planting(s)
  • Hands on opportunity to get a little dirty.
  • Utilize volunteers to make a real difference in the community.

It’s Winter!  Check back later :)

We are currently planning projects to kick off the spring planting season.