Crabtree Farms at Chef Night
Chef Nights are back and in full swing at Chattanooga area elementary schools. During these events, school children and their families sample simple, healthy meals prepared by local chefs, in an effort to show how easy it can be to cook good-tasting, nutritious foods on a budget. Various community groups also attend Chef Nights to help introduce kids and their families to different ways of finding and using fresh fruits and veggies in their meal planning.
Crabtree’s Melanie Mayo was invited to the Chef Night at East Lake Academy to help the students connect with their food. She taught students about potatoes, including how they grow, how to cook them, and even how to make them into stamps!
Chef Night is organized by the Hamilton Country Department of Education, Coordinated School Health, Chef Charlie Loomis of Greenlife, and is supported by Gaining Ground.
UTC sponsors campus sustainability garden program
Posted on December 2nd, 2011
The UTC Environmental Task Force recently approved funding for a Sustainability Garden Program. Beginning in spring 2012, twelve multidisciplinary students will be selected to sustain two 4-foot by 24-foot raised bed vegetable gardens as well as attend workshops offered by local organic farmers and local food leaders.
“The Sustainability Gardens will teach students how to grow, cultivate, and take ownership of their food as well as provide a space for students to meet, exchange ideas, and work together,” Monika Groppe, UTC alumna, program director, and plot coordinator for the project, said.
“Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, UTC has the potential to be a community leader amidst the arising food revolution. Several efforts are being made to make fresh, healthy food available to Chattanooga residents such as Gaining Ground, Slow Foods, and emerging Scenic City Co-Op. By installing a vegetable garden for students to learn how to grow their own produce, the University would show support for these efforts by increasing local, food-based sustainability options,” Groppe continued.
Currently, a “living advertisement” of organic vegetables donated by Crabtree Farms is on display on the library portico until mid December. The structure is made from 100% recycled materials and promotes UTC’s newest effort to become a more sustainable campus.
Winter Farmers’ Markets
It’s wintertime, but there are a still a few Farmers’ Markets in the area that are up and running!
Stop by to find unique Holiday gifts, and fresh foods for special dinners!
Main Street Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 4-5pm
197 W. Main Street, Chattanooga TN
Mentone Farmers’ Market: Wednesdays, 2-5pm CST
6139 Alabama Hwy 117, Mentone AL
The 10 most impressive farm-to-school programs
While fresh, local food is growing in popularity among consumers, it’s also growing in school systems. Learn about these 10 successful farm-to-school programs. Click here to read the article.
Get your copy of the 2011-2012 TasteBuds Local Food Guide!
To get your free copy of TasteBuds, stop by one of our many Chattanooga partner locations, including: Neidlov’s, the Main Street Farmers’ Market, the Chattanooga Market, Good Dog, Taco Mamacita, Greenlife, Ruby Falls, and Terminal Brewhouse!
What is the Tastebuds Local Food Guide? TasteBuds is the guide to locally grown and crafted foods within 100 miles of Chattanooga. It offers food-related articles, recipes, and information about farms, farmers’ markets, community gardens, restaurants, food artisans, and grocers who source from local growers. For more information visit TasteBuds Online.
Savor Local Flavor!