Soil tells a story of both injury and possibility. Urban soils, particularly in frontline communities, are deeply impacted by Los Angeles’ industrial legacy, and the 2025 wildfires exacerbated this contamination crisis. Lauren Bon and Metabolic Studio, and Metabolic Studio’s Farmlab, spent the last decade examining this history and transforming a tow yard on the LA River’s industrial corridor through bioremediation. We are now investigating persistent lead contamination across Los Angeles before and after the 2025 wildfires, and how toxins spread in the fires’ aftermath. Natural disturbances, such as landslides, wildfires, and floods, can also be reframed as opportunities. Our project Moving Mountains redistributes ecological wealth—soil, water, and community—as a shared commons. Topanga Canyon landslide soil, once considered waste, is part of a holistic approach to community bioremediation. Rich in microbial and fungal life, this soil is being diverted to highly contaminated urban sites and cultivating what resilience could be. © 2026 Public Access and the authors and artists. Published by Intellect Ltd
A Wed, study studied this question.