Meetings may also include Plant Sales, a Raffle and expert discussion of plants brought in to the Plant Forum. Do you have an interesting plant to share? If you can't bring one in person, send in a photo and requested information on our Plant Forum Page.

For more information about the Society, please see our About SCHS page.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Click here - free ZOOM registration

Leila Darwish

Photo credit to EarthRepair.ca

Soil Remediation:
Working with Plants, Bacteria, and Fungi to Detoxify and Regenerate Soil for Healthier Urban Gardens

*ZOOM registration required*

Are you concerned that the soils in your garden or community may be polluted, and curious about nature-based strategies for soil remediation? For over a decade, Leila Darwish has taught bioremediation courses and consulted on community-led remediation projects across North America and internationally. 

Bioremediation is the practice of working with living organisms and systems to detoxify, heal, and regenerate contaminated soils. This presentation provides an introduction to different bioremediation tools and regenerative remedies for residential and community-based applications.

We’ll explore how plants, bacteria and fungi can help bind, extract, and break down common pollutants in soils to create healthier and more resilient gardens, greenspaces, and ecologies. 

Leila Darwish is a bioremediation specialist, educator, and author dedicated to providing accessible and regenerative tools for communities whose lands and waters are affected by toxic contamination. She also works in emergency management and disaster recovery. Her work spans diverse contexts, including heavy metal contamination in gardens, community oil spill response, post-wildfire soil remediation, and post-war agroecological recovery.

Leila is the author of Earth Repair: A Grassroots Guide to Healing Toxic and Damaged Landscapes (New Society Publishers). Join us online through Zoom, Thursday May 14th, for this FREE informative presentation and a book giveaway of Leila’s book! 

EVENT DETAILS: 

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm (PDT)
Online; register for ZOOM

Meeting opens 7:00 / Plant Forum at 7:15 / Lecture starts 7:30

ZOOM is FREE for SCHS members and non-members

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM PDT

Online Zoom
Leila Darwish will speak on Soil Remediation

Saturday, May 30

Bus tour of Rancho Los Alamitos, Ricardo's Nursery and a private garden in Downey.
Details will be announced soon!

Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM PDT
Online Zoom
Panayoti Kelaidis will speak on Penstemons

Thursday, July 9, 7:00 PM PDT
In Person
Travis Longcore will speak on Zone 0.

Visit our Past Meetings page to re-watch previously recorded in-person meetings and webinars, download each meeting write-up, and reference any materials provided by our speakers.

SCHS Statement of Solidarity

As a horticultural nonprofit, we stand in solidarity with the agricultural and horticultural workers whose skill and daily labor sustain our gardens, green spaces, and food systems. We honor their expertise and recognize that these workers, like all people in the United States, are protected by constitutional rights that uphold equal protection under the law, freedom of speech and association, and the right to fair and lawful treatment in their workplaces and communities.

We are committed to respecting their contributions to the land and supporting safe, fair, and dignified working conditions. Our work is possible because of theirs.

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