Pick up some plants during this weekend's Crabtree Farms sale.WORKSHOP SCHEDULESaturday, April 13• 10-11 a.m. Backyard Composting• Noon-12:30 p.m. Lotion-Making• 1-2 p.m. Identifying Edible MushroomsSunday, April 14• 11 a.m. Growing Grapes Sustainably• Noon-1 p.m. Gardening 101• 1-2 p.m. Growing a Medicinal Herb Garden• 2-2:30 p.m. Creating a Backyard Wildlife Garden
The 13th annual Spring Plant Sale at Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., is this weekend. Hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 14. Admission is free.
In addition to finding sustainably grown fruit, vegetable, flower and herb plant starts for their spring and summer gardens, visitors can attend free gardening workshops, see the farm on a hayride tour and enjoy live music, food and crafts from local vendors and artisans.
The event also marks the 15th anniversary of the nonprofit urban farm.
In an effort to ensure that every plant that comes from the sale will thrive in a backyard garden, Crabtree growers carefully select varieties that are well-suited for Chattanooga's climate, including drought-tolerant and disease-resistant varieties.
Among the 200-plus varieties of plants that will be available are Brandywine tomatoes (a favorite heirloom variety among many gardeners and chefs), Carmen sweet peppers, pawpaw and chestnut trees and thornless blackberries. Herbs offered for sale include four varieties of basil, chocolate mint, sweetgrass and Asian ginger. The perennial and annual flowers available include the white butterfly bush, lamb's ear, Cramer's Amazon celosia and Empress of India nasturtium.
Among the attending vendors are Fair Share Urban Growers, Silvers-Elbert Nursery, Down to Earth Farm, the Sequatchie Valley Institute, 423 Soaps and Rising Dawn Boutique.
Those who come hungry can dine on breakfast and lunch pies from Sugar Pie, sandwiches from Famous Nater's World Famous, hot boiled and fresh roasted peanuts from Rusty's Nutz and falafel from the Missing Link.
Also available will be the new edition of TasteBuds, a free guide for finding local foods grown and crafted within 100 miles of Chattanooga. This issue features an article on the plight of honeybees and includes easy recipes that incorporate local ingredients.
To reach Crabtree Farms, take I-24 to the Rossville Boulevard South exit. Go less than 1 mile south on Rossville Boulevard and turn right on East 30th Street. Stay on the center road as you wind through a residential neighborhood. East 30th dead-ends at the farm.
For a complete list of available plants, visit http://crabtreefarms.org/events/spring-plant-sale.