This year's Spring Plant Sale & Festival at Crabtree farms will celebrate not only the return of warm weather, but the 15th anniversary of Chattanooga's Urban Farm.
Free and open to the public, the 13th annual Spring Plant Sale & Festival will be held on April 12, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., and April 13, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Crabtree Farms will once again offer vegetable, fruit, and herb gardeners a chance to purchase local, sustainably-grown plants for their home gardens, while attending free gardening workshops and enjoying live music and food and crafts from local vendors and artisans.
In addition to perennial favorites like Cherokee Purple tomatoes and Chocolate Mint, unusual varieties such as thornless blackberries and the infamous, hottest-in-the-world Ghost Pepper will be available. “All the plants are carefully chosen, hand-grown transplants that are used to the Chattanooga climate. That means that they grow really well in our region, and will grow really well in your garden” says Clark Williams, a volunteer for the farm.
Saturday, April 13 Schedule of Events:
10-11 a.m.: Composting with Master Gardener, Bud Hines
12-12:30 p.m.: Tour of Crabtree Farms
1-2 p.m.: Identifying Wild Edible Mushrooms with local mushroom hunter, Matt Shigekawa
Sunday, April 14 Schedule of Events:
10-10:30 a.m.: Creating a Backyard Wildlife Garden with Master Gardener, Dee Clark
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Growing Grapes with Jon Geerlings, of Home Flavors
12-12:30 p.m.: Tour of Crabtree Farms
1-2 p.m.: Growing an Herb Garden with Holli Richie, Herbal Wellness Consultant for the Center for Integrated Medicine
Vegetables for sale include: ‘Cherokee Purple’ and ‘Sungold Cherry’ Tomatoes, ‘Carmen’ Sweet Peppers, ‘Zephyr’ Squash and ‘Green Thai’ Eggplant
Herbs for sale include: ‘Chocolate’ Mint, ‘Spanish Eyes’ Lavender, Lemongrass, and Oregano
Flower varieties for sale include: ‘Empress of India’ Nasturtium, and ‘Durango Outback’ Marigold
Organic fertilizer, potting soil, worm castings, and cover crop seeds will be available for purchase as well.
Crabtree Farms will also release the Spring 2013 edition of the TasteBuds Local Food Guide during the plant sale. Free copies will be available.
Crabtree Farms’ Annual Spring Plant Sale and Festival encourages Chattanoogans to support and grow their own food, while increasing their self-sufficiency and access to fresh produce. Established in 1998, Crabtree Farms is a non-profit organization promoting the local food economy by producing vegetables and educating the public at its working urban farm.
For a complete list of plants available and directions to Crabtree, please visit http://crabtreefarms.org/events/spring-plant-sale.