Habitat for All Garden in Bethel

The garden is a haven of discovery for children and adults.

BETHEL, Maine — Nestled in the hills of Bethel, the Habitat For All Garden at Valentine Farm is a place where people, birds, bees, and butterflies all flourish together.

The 150-acre property is owned by the Mahoosuc Land Trust, whose mission is to inspire action through conservation. Here you’ll find the land trust’s offices, a 1.2-mile accessible trail welcoming to all ages and abilities, and the centerpiece—the Habitat For All Garden. Valentine Farm is also a hub for learning and community, hosting educational programs as well as three annual festivals: Winterfest, the Habitat For All Monarch Festival, and the Homegrown Food Festival.

“This garden is here to inspire visitors to see that their backyard can become a sanctuary for themselves, for birds, for butterflies, for food production, for discovery for their kids. It is all about bringing nature close to home,” Barbara Murphy with the Mahoosuc Land Trust explained.

The garden is divided into sections, each designed around a different theme. Some highlight the life of butterfly caterpillars, useful plants, or encourage hands-on learning and play.

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One favorite spot is the A&O Base Camp, an activity area named after two imaginary 13-year-old world explorers. Built with a fort-like design to spark curiosity, it offers a place where kids can draw, observe nature, or use their imaginations on a small stage.

“Kids are here reading poetry, using our props, having plays, setting up teas with each other,” Murphy said with excitement.

Beyond play and imagination, the garden also invites visitors to engage their senses. In the useful plant area, people are encouraged to touch, smell, and even taste a variety of herbs and medicinal plants like Ashwagandha and Calendula. Murphy had “Gardening with Gutner” host Todd Gutner try the toothache plant, which numbed his gums after he chewed it.

“Whoa! That’s a serious tingle,” Todd exclaimed. “My lips are tingling right now. It’s going into my cheeks. I actually like the flavor. It’s citrusy. A little lemony. But the sensation. The tingle is bizarre!”

Murphy explained that the plant was used in early dentistry.

Having a water feature in a garden is a game-changer, Murphy emphasized.

“With this pond, we see hummingbirds, sparrows, wrens, frogs, toads. All kinds of things use it.” the garden caretaker revealed.

While the garden is full of activity, it also offers quiet spaces for reflection. One inviting chair sits tucked among tall, colorful flowers, providing a peaceful place to pause and breathe.

Many gardeners enjoy growing flowers, while others feel gardening is only worthwhile if it produces something to eat. The food garden was created with those people in mind, offering inspiration for growing vegetables and fruit.

The Habitat for All Garden serves many purposes, but monarch butterflies play a big role in its mission. The garden grows so many butterfly-friendly plants for monarchs to feed on and lay their eggs.

“It is called the super generation. That butterfly that hatches will go all the way to Mexico,” Murphy disclosed. “They’ve been tagged here and found in Mexico. Yes, two of them.”