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Peer into the living soil: join Krisi Olivero at Crabtree Farms for a two-hour, hands-on workshop that projects live microscopic views of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and more. Learn practical steps to restore soil health in urban and backyard landscapes.
Peer into the living soil: join Krisi Olivero at Crabtree Farms for a two-hour, hands-on workshop that projects live microscopic views of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and more. Learn practical steps to restore soil health in urban and backyard landscapes.
Book with Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga
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Operated by Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga · Chattanooga, Tennessee
On a brisk evening at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN 37407, you’ll step into a low-lit room where the usual subjects of outdoor education—plants, paths, and pollinators—give way to something smaller but no less vital: the soil microbiome. “2/19 - Meet the Microorganisms” is a two-hour, hands-on workshop that projects live microscopic views onto a big screen so the whole group can watch bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes in motion. It’s an intimate, scientific jam session for gardeners, land stewards, and anyone curious what makes healthy soil hum.
Instructor Krisi Olivero brings both practical experience and formal training: she is a biological soil specialist based in Chattanooga, TN, and co-owns Alter Eco Farms, the only current distributor of live native microorganism amendments in the greater Chattanooga area. She trained with Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School and guides participants through identification, function, and the role microbes play in nutrient cycling and plant resilience.
The session centers on real samples: participants compare soil from different local sites and discuss what those differences mean for plant health. Together you’ll learn to read indicators in the microscope feed—signs of active decomposition, fungal networks that shuttle nutrients, and microscopic grazers that regulate bacterial populations. If you care for a garden, community plot, or small farm, the workshop translates microscopy into tangible steps to restore soil balance: inoculation with beneficial organisms, changes to composting and mulching, and reduced disturbance to protect fragile microbial networks.
Why this matters in Chattanooga: the region’s characteristic red clay and Ultisol soils present challenges for water retention and nutrient availability; understanding microbial communities offers a leverage point for regeneration. The format—projected microscopy, group discussion, and local sample comparison—makes complex science accessible and immediately useful.
This experience is also a community moment: Crabtree Farms serves as a local gathering space, and the class size (up to 30 people) creates room for questions and hands-on learning. Expect a practical, evidence-based session rather than abstract theory, and leave with clear next steps for improving soil biology in your home landscape. Whether you garden for food, habitat, or simply curiosity, "Meet the Microorganisms" reframes the ground beneath your feet as a living system you can read and support.
The workshop runs two hours and welcomes participants age 12 and up, with groups capped at 30 to keep the microscope view communal and interactive. Refunds can be requested up to 7 days before the workshop with a 10% cancellation fee. Bring curiosity and a notebook; the class prioritizes hands-on learning and leaves you with practical actions to improve soil health at home or on community plots. Sign up through the provided booking link to reserve your spot today.
easy.
2 Hours.
Minimal physical exertion required; participants should be comfortable sitting and standing for short intervals
The workshop lasts approximately 2 hours.
Participants must be at least 12 years old to attend.
Meeting point: Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN 37407.
Groups are capped at up to 30 people to keep the session interactive and the microscope view communal.
Refunds can be requested up to 7 days before the start of a workshop with a cancellation fee of 10% of the ticket amount.
Please contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or email: [email protected] if you have any questions.
Crabtree Farms hosts community education in Chattanooga; the instructor’s training with Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School connects local practice to recognized soil ecology methods.
The workshop emphasizes regenerative practices—reducing soil disturbance, enhancing organic matter, and using native microorganism amendments to rebuild microbial communities.
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