Douglas-Sarpy@unl.edu

(402) 444-7804

October 2025

Fall Extension Gardening Classes

Composting Basics Class



Discover a variety of composting methods, learn what to include (and what to avoid), and get tips for maintaining a healthy compost system. Whether you have a backyard or just a small space, this workshop will show you how to reduce waste while enriching your garden, naturally!

• Thursday, October 02, 6:00pm–7:30pm at Omaha Public Library - Millard Branch
• Tuesday, October 07, 6:00pm–7:30pm at Omaha Public Library - Washington Branch
• Wednesday, October 08, 6:00pm–7:30pm at Omaha Public Library - Abrahams Branch

This free workshop is open to adults ages 19 and older.



Limited seating, sign up at https://omaha.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?q=composting

From an Ordinary to Exceptional Outdoor Space 

Horticulture Assistant Julia Cambridge will guide you step by step through key design principles and thoughtful planning techniques to help you bring your vision to life. From selecting the right plants and materials to arranging elements for both beauty and functionality, you’ll learn how to create the outdoor oasis you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you’re starting from scratch or reimagining your current space, Julia’s expertise will give you the tools and confidence to design a garden that’s both inviting and sustainable.

When: Saturday, October 11, 2025

Time: 9-10 am

Where: 8015 West Center Road, Omaha

Cost: $15 pre-registration, $20 at the door

Sign up at go.unl.edu/gbr

Incidental Invaders Are on the Way

Boxelder bugs aren’t the only insects looking to move indoors when the weather turns cold. Stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, cluster flies, and western conifer seed bugs can gather in large numbers and slip inside through gaps around windows, doors, siding, or roofs.

The good news: they don’t reproduce indoors, damage your home, or affect health.

The best prevention: seal up entry points in the fall, fix screens, install weather stripping, caulk cracks, and close patio doors when not in use. Learn more about Incidental Invaders here.

Food And Nutrition Updates

SOUP Class: Worlds of Flavor

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy hearty, healthy comfort foods, and soup is one of the best! Join us for an evening of exploring soups from around the world.

During this hands-on class, Cindy will share tips and recipes to help you prepare delicious soups at home. Participants will also get to sample a variety of recipes, including a vegetarian option. Please indicate any food allergies when registering.

Details:

• Wednesday, October 22, 2025
• 6:00–7:30 p.m.
• Nebraska Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124
• Cost: $25
• Registration Deadline: October 17, 2025 (no walk-ins accepted)

How to Register:

Register online at go.unl.edu/soupclass.

After completing the form, payment may be made:

• By mailing a check (payable to University of Nebraska–Lincoln) to 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124
• Or by calling 402-444-7804 to pay via credit card

Come hungry and leave with fresh ideas and recipes to stretch your food dollars.

Quick Breakfast Idea for Busy Fall Mornings

With school back in session, harvest season approaching, and fall sports keeping schedules packed, it’s easy to overlook breakfast. A quick, nutritious option can help save money and keep your body fueled throughout the day.

Try our Peanut Butter Energy Bites a simple, protein-packed snack that’s perfect for busy mornings or after-school activities.

Recipe available here.



You can find this and more seasonal recipes and resources on our Farm in the Field Extension Resources .

Douglas-Sarpy 4-H Updates

Celebrate National 4-H Week October 5–11, 2025

Day 1 – Beyond Ready: Go Green

October 6, 2025! Wear green and join others across the country in celebrating 4-H. Share online with hashtags #4HBeyondReady #National4HWeek.

Day 2 – Beyond Ready: 4-H For Good , October 9, 2025

Celebrate the positive impact of 4-H by highlighting the stories of members, volunteers, and educators making a difference in their communities using the tags #4HBeyondReady #National4HWeek.

End of year banquet October 23, 2025

Make plans to join us for a year-end celebration starting at 6 pm! We’ll wrap up a great year together with food, fun, and fellowship. Premium checks from fair will be available for pick-up, and a light meal will be served.

Families are encouraged to share their favorite fair photos by uploading them here.

Upcoming 4-H events and deadlines are shared in our “4-H S’more” weekly e-newsletter, published every Friday!

Not getting it yet but want to stay in the loop? Sign up here.

4-H in the Classroom

This fall, our 4-H program has been busy bringing hands-on, science-based learning opportunities to youth across the community.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

Outdoor Education – Papillion-LaVista 6th grade students explored topics like water preservation, conservation, and nature education through engaging outdoor activities through their XY2 program at Carol Joy Holling Camp. These lessons help youth connect with the natural world while learning how to be good stewards of the environment.

Afterschool Science at Boys & Girls Clubs – Science education isn’t confined to the classroom. Through afterschool programming, 4-H staff are bringing hands-on experiments and interactive demonstrations at seven Boys and Girls Clubs across the metro that show how science can be fun, creative, and meaningful.

Agricultural Literacy Festivals – Our annual Ag Literacy Festivals at Cooper Farms and Omaha Home for Boy's reached local youth with important lessons about where their food comes from, the role of agriculture in their daily lives, and the importance of farmers and ranchers in our community.

School Mentorship Programs – Ralston High school students are gaining valuable leadership, teamwork and communication skills through 4-H mentoring programs. They will put these skills to work by mentoring Ralston elementary students.

Horticulture Resources for October

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

As the growing season winds down, it's the perfect time to start thinking about overwintering your garden. In this 35-minute video, Nebraska Extension experts share essential tasks to help you get your garden ready for winter, and set it up for success next spring.

You'll also learn about the role your landscape plays in supporting (or unintentionally harming) overwintering insects, and how small changes in your cleanup routine can benefit pollinators and other beneficial species.

Watch the video here.

Take the guesswork out of fall garden prep and head into winter with confidence!

Control Spring Weeds Now

Get a head start on spring planting by controlling weeds and preparing your soil this fall. Fall is also a great time to loosen the soil, as it’s often at the right texture for weeding and digging, moist, but not soggy.

Use a four-pronged pitchfork to loosen the soil. Leaving some clods intact is beneficial, as the natural freeze-thaw cycles of winter will help break them down. This practice sets you up for healthier, more workable soil in the spring.

See more tip here.

Searching Extension's Vast Resources

At the University of Nebraska Extension, we believe engagement is at the heart of our land-grant mission. It’s more than outreach, it’s the co-creation, co-discovery, and co-development of solutions that strengthen communities, industries, and families.

Through meaningful relationships and mutual respect, we are building a stronger Nebraska, together.

Search our database to see what specifically fits your needs at https://engage.unl.edu/community-resources/community-resources-database/

Discover Opportunities with UNL, Our Land-Grant University

Discover Collaboration Opportunities at UNL’s Virtual Open House

The Community-UNL Virtual Open House is your chance to connect with University of Nebraska–Lincoln programs seeking community partners. Join us on October 22 at 9:00 a.m. CT (8:00 a.m. MT) or October 23 at 2:00 p.m. CT (1:00 p.m. MT) to explore collaboration opportunities for Spring and Summer 2026.

During this online event, campus units will share ways to partner on student projects, research, and community initiatives. Opportunities range from marketing strategy development and community planning projects to STEM outreach in schools, legal education, and senior design projects in computing.

Register today to learn how you can collaborate: engage.unl.edu/community-unl-virtual-open-house

High School Seniors: Apply to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for Free

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is waiving its application fee for high school seniors who apply by November 1, 2025.

Apply here: https://go.unl.edu/apply

Fee waiver code: HUSKER

Students who apply by November 1 will also be considered for scholarships, with award notifications sent on February 11.

Need help or have questions?

Website: admissions.unl.edu

Phone: 402-472-2023

Grant Proposal - Due October 31, 2023

Learn more about horticulture and the 4-H program by signing up for our Newsletters:

• Monthly Horticulture Newsletter by emailing Rachel here.



• Weekly 4-H Newsletter by emailing 4-H here.

Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties

8015 West Center Road, Omaha

402-444-7804

go.unl.edu/douglassarpyext 

Email us at douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

See our annual report here.

Our south office is located at 1102 E. 1st St., Papillion, NE 68046.

Call 402-444-7804 to schedule an appointment at our Papillion Office.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Douglas-Sarpy County Extension at 402-444-7804 or douglas-sarpy@unl.edu