Hands-On Sourdough Workshop at Crabtree Farms in Chattanooga

On a sunlit afternoon at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga (1000 E 30th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37407), a small group gathers around long wooden tables to learn the gentle alchemy of sourdough. The Simple Art of Sourdough is a two-hour, hands-on workshop led by Sarah, a sourdough enthusiast and Greenhouse Assistant at Crabtree Farms, who moves between seedlings and starters with equal care. You'll mix, shape, and prepare your own loaf, take home a fed starter in a jar, and leave with practical fermentation skills you can use in your own kitchen.

The workshop's setting—Crabtree Farms' education space—brings a practical connection to plant- and food-based craft: expect tactile mornings surrounded by shelves of young plants, locally grown herbs, and the warm scent of flour. Key features of the session include an introduction to wild fermentation and starter maintenance, shaping techniques using a banneton basket, and an on-site tasting of sourdough varieties. Sarah also weaves in her herbal practice and mead-making curiosity, connecting bread baking to seasonal ingredients and local plant knowledge.

This class stands out in Chattanooga because it pairs traditional breadmaking with an educational farm environment and an emphasis on slow food techniques. The workshop is ideal for beginners twelve and up, and the facilitator's background—her experience with native plants and herbal medicine—gives the class both culinary and ecological context. Bring a large mixing bowl and a jar to take your starter home; supplies such as flour, starter, and a banneton basket are provided, and there is a $10 materials fee paid directly to the facilitator.

Practical notes: the session lasts roughly two hours and focuses on hands-on learning rather than long lectures; you'll leave with a shaped loaf ready for fermentation and baking at home. The farm's teaching space is accessible from city lodging in Chattanooga, making this a convenient half-day experience for travelers exploring the Tennessee River valley and the city's food scene.

Why book it? It's an entry point into fermentation techniques that connect the pantry to local agriculture, taught by an instructor comfortable in both the greenhouse and the kitchen. Whether you want to master feeding a starter, learn scoring and shaping, or simply spend a thoughtful afternoon with dough and good company, The Simple Art of Sourdough at Crabtree Farms turns ordinary ingredients into a memorable skill. Booking is handled through the event link; refunds can be requested up to seven days before the class with a 10% cancellation fee. For accessibility or tasting questions, contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or [email protected]. This small-group session welcomes travelers and locals alike, offering hands-on coaching so you return home confident to feed a starter, shape loaves, and bake reliably and to experiment with seasonal herbs at home.