Located at Arts of the Inland Gallery
Created by the LaBelle Garden Club
Our mission is to cultivate a thriving educational garden in LaBelle that serves as a living classroom, a source of community engagement, and a model for environmental responsibility and agricultural literacy.
WHAT'S COMING UP?
The LaBelle Educational Garden is a community project being created right here in LaBelle to give local families and children a place to learn hands-on about plants, pollinators, and the beauty of growing food together.
Moon Gate
The garden entrance is across from Barron's Park, next to the gallery. A hay bale feeder from LaBelle Ranch Supply creates a moon gate style arbor to welcome visitors.
Installed November 2025
The gate honors our LaBelle ranching history and beacons visitors to explore further into the garden.
Dutchman Pine vines are growing up the sides of the garden gate, the host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail. On February 14, 2026, we spotted the first Pipevive Swallowtail checking out the garden!
Zebra Nook
In a quiet corner of the garden, look for a shady nook where native Corkystem Passionflower vine grows to attract Zebra Longwings, the Florida State Butterfly. Install started: November 2025 with planting prep, hedge trimming, old old grass removal. In December we added a chicken wire semi-circle, and Corkystem Passionflower starts. In January we added a bench proudly build by the LaBelle Middle FFA Chapter and while planting additional Corkystem Passionflowers, we discovered freshly laid Zebra Longwing eggs!
Food Forest
Permaculture grows here! A diamond-shaped food forest is a learning space for anyone wanting to create their own edible garden based on permaculture principles. Install started: February 2026 with two trailer loads of freeze-damaged sugar cane and banana stalks. This forms an initial layer of the Hügelkultur base. Over March, April and May we hope to add Oak logs, Sabal Palm logs, biochar, worm frass, compost, wood chips, grass clippings and soil to form a neat hill ready to begin planting edible perennials in conjunction with the rainy season!
Food Forest Challenge
How many food forests can we help create and inspire in Greater LaBelle? A food forest is a layered edible landscaping area, that mimics a forest - it is not tilled and does not require outside irrigation or fertilization once it is established - just like a forest! Leaves are mulch, fallen logs create homes for biodiversity and fertilize as they breakdown, the canopy of taller trees drips onto the smaller edibles for hours after the rain comes. You do not to spend years of research to start your food forest - whether it is a tiny guild in the corner of your yard, a space your neighbor, friend or family lets you develop, a manicured "hidden edible" area in an HOA, or a whole acre of wild and fruitful plants - follow the LaBelle Educational Garden's food forest build, step by step, and replicate it for yourself! Weekly community "plant and learn" events start with our first install on November 22. Build your food forest area for a couple years, and it will feed you for a couple decades! We're glad you're here to be a part of our story. For details on food forest classes, email Ginny at thegenesisforest@gmail.com.
Community Classes Schedule
Wednesdays 5-6pm: "Eat and Heal from Your Edible Yard". Please RSVP to 239-849-5707 to be ready to welcome you! Home schoolers welcome.
Fridays 4pm: Free Art in the Park. Tables with art materials welcome youth of all ages to freely create garden-themed art.
5-Minute Food Forest: Watch for online episodes of step-by-step instructions to create a food forest (in five-minute segments) and install event announcements pending at the LaBelle Educational Garden. "Plant & Learn" with us! For notifications, follow us on Facebook!