Soil Remediation: Working with Plants, Bacteria & Fungi to Detoxify & Regenerate Soil -Leila Darwish

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). SOIL REMEDIATION: WORKING WITH PLANTS, BACTERIA, AND FUNGI TO DETOXIFY AND REGENERATE SOIL FOR HEALTHIER URBAN GARDENS