Soil 101: This Is Why You Can’t Grow A Tomato

Schedule

Sat Mar 21 2026 at 12:30 pm to 02:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

The Chattery | Chattanooga, TN

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Dive into the dirt with us and uncover the secrets of soil!
About this Event

Ever wonder why your garden struggles no matter how much fertilizer, effort, hope or prayer you throw at it? Spoiler alert. It’s probably your soil.

Join Krisi Olivero of Alter Eco Farms for an eye-opening class on the magic of soil health, all about why unlocking your soil is the key to success in the garden. We will literally put our soils under the microscope, revealing organisms you’ve likely never seen that are absolutely essential to a self-sustaining garden.

You will learn how these microorganisms drive nutrient cycling, influence compaction and water retention, help manage pests and disease, and even play a role in carbon sequestration. We will also dig into why most gardens no longer have these creatures and what we can do to bring them back and let them do the work they are meant to do.

This class will focus on practical, realistic ways to improve your soil at home, without spending a ton of money or needing a chemistry degree.

Fair warning. Once you see what’s living in your soil, you may never look at your garden the same way again. There is also is a very real chance you will get to see a tardigrade live.

About the teacher:

Krisi Olivero is a soil food web certified lab tech, microorganism enthusiast and absolute nerd for all things soil. Having trained with the Soil Food Web School, established by the incomparable Dr. Elaine Ingham, she is both passionate and well-versed in biological soil science. She truly believes soil biology is absolute magic. Nothing brings her more joy than helping others regenerate soil through the power of biology.

Krisi is co-owner of Alter Eco Farms, a small, women-owned soil lab and craft compost facility in Hixson, TN. They specialize in biological soil analysis and living compost amendments. They host educational workshops and help farms regenerate their soil through the restoration of native soil microorganisms. Their goal is to increase soil vitality and reduce dependence on additive agricultural amendments for farmers and gardeners across their region.

For details about our refund and class cancellation policy, visit .

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Where is it happening?

The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Avenue, Chattanooga, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 39.19

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