Master Gardeners of Hamilton County helped design, build, and operate a demonstration garden behind the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. They constructed a covered pavilion that seats 50, a 15x30 foot greenhouse, and 25 raised garden beds. Over 60 Master Gardeners volunteered to build the greenhouse and beds. The garden hosts classes on composting, seed starting, and fall vegetables. In 2011, it produced over 2,000 pounds of vegetables for over 2,500 families through the food bank. 26 workshops were also held with 361 participants.

1. Tom Stebbins, Extension Agent, University of Tennessee, Hamilton County, Chattanooga, TN 37416, tstebbins@utk.edu
Abstract
Master Gardeners of Hamilton County helped design, build and operate a demonstration garden behind the
Chattanooga Area Food Bank in Chattanooga, TN. The facility consists of a covered pavilion which can seat
approximately fifty people for lectures or demonstrations. A 15 foot by 30 foot long greenhouse is attached.
The greenhouse serves as a place for demonstrations and production. Seedlings are produced for the twenty
five nearby raised bed garden boxes. Over 60 Master Gardeners worked to build the greenhouse and the raised
bed boxes. This facility will now serve as a central location for teaching many classes. Composting, seed
starting, and fall vegetable classes were the first of many programs held. Fresh vegetables were added to the
Food Box Program resulting in more than 2500 families receiving fresh produce. In 2011, the garden produced Features
2,013 pounds of fresh vegetables. 26 workshops were presented to a total of 361 participants. In addition,
raised bed boxes, seedlings and plants were donated to other community gardens throughout the Teaching Pavilion
Chattanooga area.
Greenhouse
25 Raised Beds
Rain Garden
Impact
Water Cistern
Compost Area
• 3500 hours work from Master
Gardeners to offset costs.
Construction • 2,013 pounds of produce
harvested in 2011 for food
boxes.
• 2,500 families received fresh
produce. UT Extension partners
Numerous work days for many with the Chattanooga
• 26 workshops held with 361
garden projects Area Food Bank
participants.
• Thousands of seeds and
plants plus building expertise
are given to new community
garden groups.
Classes
Harvest • Total dollar impact of Master
Gardeners has been
$76,265… so far
Veggies, herbs, flowers for food bank Seed starting, wreath making,
and plant sales. cooking, canning and more