What is the minimum age to attend?

Participants must be at least 12 years old; younger children can accompany adults but may not participate fully.

What is the cancellation policy?

Refunds can be requested up to 7 days before the workshop; a 10% cancellation fee applies.

Do I need prior gardening experience?

No experience required—this beginner class covers fundamentals and is designed for first-time gardeners.

Is parking available at the meeting point?

Yes, Crabtree Farms at 1000 E 30th Street has on-site parking near the entrance; check arrival instructions on confirmation.

Are materials included with the workshop?

Basic demonstrations and guidance are included; bring a notebook and gloves—specific materials or kits are not provided unless stated.

Who can I contact with questions before the class?

Please contact Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or cwatts@crabtreefarms.org for questions or registration support.

Urban Vegetable Garden: Two-Hour Beginner Workshop at Crabtree Farms, Chattanooga | Workshop | Farm

At Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga — 1000 E 30th Street, Chattanooga, TN — a two‑hour workshop titled 'Beginner’s Guide to Growing Your Own Vegetable Garden' strips backyard gardening down to practical moves. This class, offered February 21 from 10–12 p.m., is aimed at people with limited time or space who want measurable results: healthier soil, reliably producing beds, and a rotation of seasonal vegetables.

Facilitated by Karen Creel of Gardenchick, a certified Garden Coach and member of the Garden Coach Society, the session focuses on hands‑on fundamentals. Expect demonstrations of square‑foot techniques in raised beds, soil building with simple amendments, and companion plantings using herbs and flowers for organic pest control. Karen’s approach is DIY-forward—repurpose materials, maximize a small footprint, and plan for low‑maintenance yields.

Crabtree Farms operates as a community education farm and features demonstration plots that make it easy to translate classroom tips to a real yard or balcony. The experience centers on visible, repeatable actions: testing and amending soil, siting beds for sunlight, selecting season‑appropriate crops, and setting up a simple rotation schedule. The class size (up to 30 participants) keeps instruction personable while allowing for individual questions.

What makes this offering uncommon in an urban setting is its focus on scale and systems. Instead of prescriptive lists, you’ll learn how to read your soil and tailor plant choices to micro‑conditions. The workshop underscores ecological practices—using pollinator‑friendly flowers and kitchen‑scrap composting—so your garden supports local insects as well as your dinner plate.

Practical details are straightforward: meet at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga’s address above; the class runs two hours and is suitable for ages 12 and up. The program includes a mandatory client waiver and a refund policy that allows cancellations up to seven days before the workshop (10% fee applies). If you want to continue learning, Karen’s projects and tips are cataloged at www.Gardenchick.com, and Crabtree Farms’ staff, including Executive Director Liz Simmons, keep community programming active year‑round.

For visitors staying in Chattanooga, this workshop is an efficient way to bring the season home—whether you have a city porch, a small yard, or a single raised bed. Walk away with a simple planting plan, a soil checklist, and the confidence to start your own productive, pollinator‑friendly vegetable patch. Karen Creel brings practical charisma and backyard experience to the table—she lives on four acres in Chickamauga where she gardens, creates DIY projects with her 'junk' finds, and raises a few hens—details she uses to illustrate real‑world solutions for pest control, succession planting, and seasonal harvesting. Reach out to Crabtree Farms staff lead Chloe Watts at 423-493-9155 or [email protected] with questions or to confirm registration. Small investments of time and soil preparation deliver returns over a growing season.