The Jungle Farm in Red Deer County is gearing up for a busy season with the opening of its greenhouse on May 1, alongside a new lineup of community programs and garden resources for local families.
Co-owned by Leona and Blaine Staples, the fifth-generation family farm at 28120 Township Rd 362 will operate its greenhouse Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. This year, the farm is introducing Garden Plant Packages, which provide home gardeners with pre-selected vegetable transplants ready for planting. Further details regarding these packages can be found in the farm’s 2026 catalogue available through The Jungle Farm website.
The farm is also expanding its educational offerings for the summer. A new Nature School Forest Walk for ages 11 to 16 will run on Thursdays from July 9 through August 27. Other children’s summer programming includes the 1000 Outside Hour Challenge for ages 6 to 12 and the ABC Preschool program. Additionally, the popular Field to Jar jam-making session returns on July 25 at a reduced cost of $30 per person, offering participants the chance to pick berries in the field and create their own jar of jam.
For those interested in local produce, the 14-week vegetable box program, managed through the Innisfail Growers cooperative, is open for sign-ups. The program runs from July 2 through October 1 at a cost of $560 and includes flexible payment options and a weekly recipe newsletter. The Jungle Farm is part of this cooperative of five Central Alberta family farms, which provides produce to the public year-round at the Gasoline Alley Farmers Market and other locations.
These initiatives come as the province continues to support the growth of the local visitor economy. The Agritourism Alberta association recently received a $300,000 grant from the provincial government to assist small family farms in expanding their tourism offerings, reflecting a broader trend of residents seeking more hands-on agricultural experiences.
