Editorial

Saturday, March 16

Ready to Garden Workshops, Part 1

Crabtree Farms will offer two Ready to Garden workshops to teach the basics of spring vegetable gardening. Topics will range from preparing garden soil to companion planting. Beginners as well as experienced gardeners are welcome. On Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, students will leave how to prep a site to be a healthy garden. Topics will include soil testing, fertilizing, understanding soil pH, turning the ground over, and planning a garden. On Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, students will learn about the best vegetables to plant, when and how to plant, watering properly, successions, fertilizing, overview of pests and diseases, and companion planting. Each workshop will cost ten dollars for non-members. Registration is required. Call Andrea at 423-493-9155, extension 13, or email ajaeger@crabtreefarms.org to register.

Sunday, March 17

First Annual Chattanooga Coffee Throwdown

Chattanooga's coffee culture will be in full force when professional and amatuer baristas gather for the Chattanooga Coffee Throwdown. Hosted by Thrive Studio, the competition will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Spectators are encouraged to attend. Admission is free and there will be door prizes during the final round. Judges will be evaluating and scoring three categories: espresso, specialty, and brewed coffee drinks. The competition is similar to the United States Barista Championship, and while it's not a sanctioned event, the winners will receive a cash prize.  A panel of three judges will be evaluating each drink using sensory and technical scoring. Registration is ten dollars.  Each competitor will be required to attend an orientation meeting on March 3 as well as the preliminary round on March 10 prior to the championships on March 17.  All events will be held at Thrive Studio, located at 191 River Street.  To register, contact David Snyder at david@thrivestudion.net or 423.605.3125.

Friday, March 22

Cumberland Trail Suite

Cumberland Trail Suite will bring together an array of musicians to play music native to the Cumberland Plateau at 7:30 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre. Grammy winners Tim O’Brien and Rhiannon Giddens (of the Carolina Chocolate Drops) will host this benefit for Friends of the Cumberland Trail. Other performers will include Fletcher Bright, Earl T. Bridgeman, Clyde Davenport, and the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song. Purchase tickets at friendsofthecumberlandtrail.org.

Wanted: 1,000 volunteers for Clean and Green

On Saturday, April 6, individuals, company teams, and civic groups will volunteer their time to make Downtown Chattanooga a healthier and more beautiful area for residents and visitors to enjoy. Starting at 8:30 a.m. at Miller Plaza, located at 850 Market Street, volunteers will check in, enjoy a complimentary breakfast, and receive their designated area of downtown to clean up. To sign up, visit causeway.org/cleanandgreen. For additional information, contact Tiffanie Robinson at trobinson@rivercitycompany.com or 423.265.3700. Since 2011, Clean and Green volunteers have collected over 3,000 bags of trash, removed graffiti from more than 100 buildings and monuments, and cleaned 55 city block and various neighborhoods multiple times.