DIY Soil Remediation for Native Gardens with Lynn Fang

With ongoing recovery efforts from the devastating Eaton and Palisades Fires from earlier this year, many are looking for ways to detoxify their native gardens. Various research studies have shown that different types of organic and mineral substrates in a mesh sock can help remediate post-fire soils.

Join community soil scientists Lynn Fang, MS and Maggie Smart-McCabe in this hands-on workshop as we fill a customized blend of compost, microbes, or fungal mycelium into different types of mesh traps. When placed around your site, these ecological socks will help degrade and minimize contaminants from runoff water that has seeped into the ground.

We’ll learn about the history of these filtration methods, provide examples of substrates, and look at them under the microscope to compare the different microbial communities in each one. Time permitting, we'll walk around the Theodore Payne Foundation's demonstration gardens to collect native soil inoculants. Each student will get to make and take home their own ecological socks. All materials are provided.

We recommend wearing clothes that can get dirty. A portion of this class may be held outdoors. We ask guests to bring closed-toe shoes, water, and sun protection.

Lynn Fang, MS (she/her), co-founder of SoilWise, has over 10 years of experience in ecological landscape design, soil science, community composting, and regenerative farming. She centers soil health as the foundation of thriving and abundant gardens. Her teaching and community work include partnerships with LA Compost, Integrative Development Initiative, Arlington Garden, Altadena Community Garden, Cal Poly Pomona, and Pitzer College. Since the fires, Lynn has offered her expertise and experience towards post-fire soil contaminant testing and bioremediation, guided by scientific research, local case studies, experienced practitioners, and scientists in the field. She brings a thoughtful, ecological, and community oriented approach to soil bioremediation.

Maggie Smart-McCabe (they/she) is a community composter who loves bringing together the worlds of soil health and native plants. They have years of experience working in regenerative gardening, leading community composting hubs in local green spaces, and teaching about community soil health. Maggie is currently the Compost Hubs Program Manager at LA Compost, and they also support SoilWise through facilitating workshops about soil health and bioremediation. Maggie also co-founded Club Gay Gardens- a collective of local LGBTQIA+ volunteers who build and maintain a native habitat parkway garden at the Glendale arts nonprofit, Junior High LA.

Refund Policy:

If you are feeling sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, we urge you to stay home. Please note credit/refunds are not available within 7 days of the event.