UCLA researchers and community partners will host a free soil testing and clean soil demonstration Saturday at MudTown Farms in Watts, offering residents strategies to address contamination from legacy industrial land use.
The event, co-sponsored by the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at MudTown Farms urban farm park, 2001 E. 103rd St.
"Soil testing is a necessary first step, but it's not a solution," said Dr. Kirsten Schwarz, associate professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and leader of the LA Urban Soil Social Impact Collaborative. "Things like adding clean soil, compost, mulch, keeping your yard planted; all of these techniques can reduce potential risk."
MudTown Farms staff have collected soil samples from 58 Watts homes to monitor contamination impacts. Soil will be screened for heavy metals, and participants will receive consultations on minimizing exposure to contaminants.
The Collaborative will pilot a soil banking concept, mixing clean excavated sediment with locally sourced compost. Research from partner organization TreePeople found Los Angeles County produces over 160,000 tons of clean, native sediment annually from construction projects. Attendees can participate in the soil mixing process and take clean soil home.
The Collaborative previously conducted three similar events in the Altadena-Pasadena area following the 2025 wildfires, testing nearly 600 samples for approximately 250 residents. Saturday marks the team's first event in the Los Angeles Basin, with additional events planned across the region. To learn more about The Collaborative, visit https://www.la-soil.org/
Edited by SMDP Staff