Environmental Impact & Remediation - Soil health is crucial for food production, water filtration, carbon capture, and ecosystem support; damaged soil puts communities at risk [1][2] - A fire in Altadena destroyed homes and the Altadena Community Garden, releasing toxins into the soil and devastating the community [3][4] - Micromediation, using mushrooms to clean the earth, is being employed to restore the soil by breaking down toxins into less harmful organic material [6][8][9] - Mycelium, the root network of mushrooms, transforms toxins into food for the soil, acting as a natural cleaning system [7][8][9] - Micromediation has been used to clean up oil spills, heavy metals, and microplastics, and is being experimented with in fire remediations [9] Community & Restoration Efforts - The Altadena Community Garden is being restored through community involvement, including gardeners, volunteers, and partners [10][11] - The community is working to restore the health of the soil, hoping that mycelium will remove contaminants and allow new plants to grow [11] - The Altadena Community Garden was originally established 50 years ago on barren land through community cooperation and a belief in the power of growing food together [13][14][15] - The community is experimenting with micromediation and plans to share their findings to help restore soil health in Altadena [16][17] - The goal is to create a healthier and more resilient future for Altadena through community, cooperation, and creative experimentation [16][18]