DIY Soil Remediation Workshop with SoilWise — September 2026

This is a hands-on workshop creating ecological filter socks to help clear contaminants from the soil in your home garden; materials included.

Join community soil scientists Lynn Fang, MS, and Maggie Smart-McCabe from SoilWise for a hands-on exploration of creating an ecological filter sock with a customized blend of compost, minerals, and beneficial microbes. When placed strategically around your property, these permeable barriers will help degrade and trap contaminants carried by runoff water before they seep into the soil.

Along the way, we'll explore principles of soil bioremediation, case studies from the Eaton Fire, community-led bioremediation with DENA Soil Project, as well as the history of using ecological filter socks. We will use our microscope to examine different substrate materials, and compare the microbial communities supporting bioremediation. 

Time permitting, we'll walk through the Theodore Payne Foundation's demonstration gardens to collect native soil inoculants. Each participant will make and take home their own ecological filter sock, and all materials are provided.

This class will take place primarily within Theodore Payne Foundation's air conditioned classroom.

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.

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📅 Refund Policy: Refunds are available up to seven days before the event. Within seven days, refunds and credits are no longer available, as this helps us plan responsibly and support our instructors. Thank you for your understanding.

🎟️ Enrollment Threshold for Classes: We require a minimum of five participants for a class to run; when enrollment falls below that number, we may need to cancel in order to responsibly cover program costs and maintain an engaging experience for those attending.