Meet Our Founders
OUR STORY
The Bellevue Urban Garden (tBUG) is the beautiful unfolding of a shared dream for founders Maybin Chisebuka and Nancy Gellos. Though they began on different continents and in very different cultures, we like to believe that their shared vision assisted in their meeting due to its universal importance.
Growing up in Zambia, Africa, Maybin experienced firsthand the devastating reality of food insecurity and starvation. This experience sparked within him a desire to teach others how to grow their own food and ultimately propelled him to the US in search of answers, fueling his vision: to build a vibrant community centered around food and abundance.
Meanwhile, right here in our own lush Pacific Northwest, Nancy grew up gardening and eating the colors of the rainbow to maintain her family’s ‘we don’t get sick’ belief. She explored her creativity as an illustrator and designer, with a career in fashion illustration, cookbook design and creating artistic projects with children. With wellness as a continued practice, her vision became clear: to create a vibrant community focused on growing healthy food in beauty.
At tBUG we believe the food we eat is inseparable from the land and conditions in which it is grown. Healthy food is literally the root of healthy kids, families, community, wellness, and connection. We invite you to join our tBUG family!
