Mike Barron, greenhouse manager for Crabtree Farms, left, and volunteer Cindy Gregg prepare to work at the urban farm in South Chattanooga. Crabtree Farms is a local nonprofit where volunteers harvest produce daily during the peak summer months tapering off as the fall approaches.There are farms all around Chattanooga that provide goods for local groceries and restaurants. A new event Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22, will introduce some of these meat, bread, cheese and produce providers.
The inaugural TasteBuds Farm Tour is a self-paced adventure that includes 30-minute to one-hour guided tours by the host farmer at each stop. Participants will learn what happens on each farm and even see a few farm animals. Farm stands will be open, so participants can expect to stock up on products that don't get any fresher.
A $20 car pass, good for both days of the tour, grants admission to as many farms as you care to visit between noon and 5 p.m. each day. Sales cover the cost of printing the free TasteBuds local food guide. Car passes are available online at www.growchattanooga.org.
Seventeen farms have signed on for the tour, including three with limited hours. Georgia Winery will be open Saturday only, with tours starting at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. (ask for Jesse when you arrive). DeBarge Winery and Red Clay Farm will be open Sunday only.
Open both days are Cloudcrest Farm, CoLyCo Farm, Crabtree Farms, Erma's Bees, Gifford Farms, Haney Dairy, Lamon Farm, Lavender 'N' Rust Herb Farm, Lookout Mountain Sustainable Homestead, Morris Vineyard & Winery, Mountain Valley Farms, The Organic Man, Pickett's Trout Ranch and River Ridge Farm. Others may be announced by this weekend.
You can plan your route with the Google map at www.bit.ly/CHAfarmtour.
For more information, call 423-593-9155.