What is the minimum age to attend?

Minimum age is 12; younger children may attend at the discretion of organizers if supervised by an adult.

Do I take home a plant?

Yes — each participant leaves with a jar-grown milkweed starter created during the Magical Sprouts Potion activity.

Where and when do we meet?

Meet at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN 37407 at the listed start time of 9:30 a.m.

What is the cancellation policy?

Refunds can be requested up to seven days before the workshop with a 10% cancellation fee.

Is the site accessible for participants with mobility limitations?

Accessibility information is not provided in the listing; please contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or cwatts@crabtreefarms.org to discuss accommodations.

Who can I contact with questions before the class?

Contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or cwatts@crabtreefarms.org for questions or registration assistance.

Monarch Magic: Milkweed Workshop at Crabtree Farms in Chattanooga | Eco Tour | Workshop

On April 25, Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN 37407 hosts a hands-on workshop that turns backyard plots into lifelines for migrating Monarchs. 4/25 - Monarch Magic runs from 9:30–11:30 a.m. and pairs local conservation knowledge with a simple, high-impact planting method anyone can replicate. The class focuses on Monarch biology, native host and nectar plants, and a playful seed-starting exercise called the Magical Sprouts Potion that sends each participant home with a jar-grown milkweed starter.

The scene is an urban farm classroom framed by raised beds and pollinator plantings. Key features include the jar-planting station, demonstration beds of native milkweed species, and interpretive signs explaining caterpillar host plants and nectar sources. The natural focus here is milkweed — the essential host plant for Danaus plexippus — and the workshop highlights how soil, sunlight, and pesticide-free care influence larval survival. You’ll also hear local context: instructor Kym Martin, a certified Master Gardener, brings field experience from leading a two-acre Monarch Waystation restoration at Reflection Riding Nature Center, so the practical tips come from places where conservation meets community outreach.

This is not a lecture-only event. Expect hands-on planting, step-by-step seed-starting, and troubleshooting for common urban garden challenges like limited sun or competing vegetation. The activity is friendly for gardeners, teens (minimum age 12), and anyone curious about pollinator-friendly landscaping. The class size is capped at 30 to keep demonstrations intimate and questions frequent.

Crabtree Farms has become a community access point for urban ecology programming in Chattanooga, offering a field-proven venue where residents can test native-plant strategies on a small scale before expanding them to yards, school gardens, or community plots. What makes this workshop a stand-out is the blend of accessible biology, a take-home project, and local stewardship — participants leave with living plants and achievable steps to support migration corridors.

Logistics are simple: plan for light, outdoor work; wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection; and arrive on time for the 9:30 check-in. If plans change, refunds are available up to seven days before the workshop with a 10% cancellation fee. Questions can be directed to Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or [email protected]. Whether you’re testing a first pollinator patch or expanding an established garden, this two-hour primer translates butterfly science into practical habitat-building that local habitats — and migrating wings — will notice.

Participants are encouraged to join community science efforts — simple monarch counts, tagging programs, and Waystation monitoring — to track population trends and connect backyard actions to regional migration routes. Even small patches of milkweed add up when neighbors plant together; this workshop is as much about neighborhood impact as individual stewardship, making it a practical next step for local residents.