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Roll up your sleeves and learn sourdough basics at Crabtree Farms in Chattanooga. In two hours you will mix, shape, and take home a living starter while learning fermentation technique and local herbal pairings.
Roll up your sleeves and learn sourdough basics at Crabtree Farms in Chattanooga. In two hours you will mix, shape, and take home a living starter while learning fermentation technique and local herbal pairings.
Book with Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga
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Operated by Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga · Chattanooga, Tennessee
Crabtree Farms sits on the east side of Chattanooga at 1000 E 30th Street, a working educational farm where community gardening, native plants, and hands-on food skills meet. On November 14, the Simple Art of Sourdough workshop offers a compact, two-hour introduction to wild-yeast baking led by Sarah, a facilitator whose practice links fermentation, herbalism, and slow living.
The class begins at the Crabtree Farms meeting point, inside the farm greenhouse and teaching kitchen. Participants mix fresh sourdough starter and flour, learn feeding and maintenance rhythms, and shape loaves in banneton baskets supplied by the facilitator. The session covers fermentation fundamentals, hydration and feel, bulk fermentation cues, and basic scoring before baking together and tasting a range of sourdough styles. A $10 materials fee is collected directly by the instructor to cover starter and baking supplies; bring a jar to carry home your starter and a large mixing bowl if you can.
What makes this workshop special is the setting and the instructor. Crabtree Farms is a community hub focused on native plants and sustainable food education, and Sarah brings that ethic into the dough. Lessons weave practical baking technique with stories about fermentation, local herbs, and the patient pace of tending starter over time. You leave not just with a shaped loaf, but with a living culture and the confidence to bake at home.
This experience suits beginners and curious bakers age 12 and up. Expect hands-on work, tactile instruction, and a small-group pace that rewards questions. The class runs about two hours, making it an accessible add-on to a weekend in Chattanooga, or a focused afternoon activity for locals wanting deeper connection to their food.
Logistics are simple: check in at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, 1000 E 30th Street, and note the mandatory waiver listed by the farm. Cancellation requests are accepted up to seven days before the workshop with a modest fee. For questions or to confirm details contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or [email protected].
Sarah ties lessons to her herbal practice and home fermentations, including meads and herbal starters, so expect tips on pairing herbs with bread flavors. The class provides fresh starter, flour, and a banneton basket, while you should plan to bring any preferred utensils. This workshop reflects Crabtree Farms' mission to educate and connect people to local food systems and native plant stewardship, making it an ideal experience for visitors and residents who want hands-on, environmentally minded learning.
easy.
2 Hours.
Minimal physical fitness required; participants should be able to stand for portions of the class and lift a mixing bowl.
This workshop is open to participants age 12 and up.
Yes, there is a $10 materials fee paid directly to the facilitator to cover starter, flour, and other supplies.
Meet at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, 1000 E 30th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37407; check in at the designated meeting point.
Bring a large mixing bowl, a jar to take home your starter, and any preferred utensils; an apron and closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Refunds can be requested up to 7 days before the start of the workshop with a cancellation fee of 10% of the ticket amount.
Contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or [email protected] for questions or details.
Crabtree Farms operates as a community educational farm in Chattanooga and offers programming that integrates native plant stewardship with food skills. Liz Simmons is listed in farm program materials as Executive Director in the waiver documents.
Classes emphasize low-waste techniques, use locally sourced ingredients when possible, and teach starter maintenance to reduce food waste over time.
Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga operates a 22-acre urban farm and community center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The farm cultivates seasonal produce, sustainable flower crops, beekeeping projects, and educational programming that connects urban residents to local food systems. Crabtree Farms offers guided group tours, volunteer opportunities, and hands-on workshops covering topics such as sourdough breadmaking, kombucha brewing, herbal remedies, fire cider making, cool-season cut flowers, and introductory beekeeping. Workshops are led by local instructors and visiting experts and often include a take-home project, such as a sourdough starter, a bottle of kombucha, or a jar of herbal preparation. The Evelyn Center is an on-site rustic-modern event venue with high beam ceilings, an open layout, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The venue hosts small and large private events, and rental fees support Crabtree Farms’ mission. Volunteer groups and community participants engage in stewardship projects that support farm operations while learning about composting, organic growing practices, and seasonal planting. Group tours can be tailored by age and interest and focus on gardening, local eating, and environmental stewardship. Crabtree Farms partners with educators and community organizations to expand accessibility and learning opportunities across Chattanooga. Visitors can reserve public workshops, schedule private tours, or book the Evelyn Center online or by contacting the farm directly to confirm availability and pricing.
Book with Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga