How do we care for the land. Really care for the land [snorts] as a way to prepare for the extremes such as fires, droughts, and more. In 2018, my family and I moved to Altadena into a home nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.After learning what it meant to live in a high fire risk zone, I began to imagine what would it look like if fire were to come towards us from those mountains. What kind of landscape might prevent the loss of our home. So, we began to landscape by harvesting water.We built ...

Core Argument - The document advocates for a shift from defending against nature to embracing living systems to build resilience against disasters like fires [9] - It emphasizes the importance of restoring connections between soil, water, and plants to create conditions that resist disaster and nurture life [9] - The document promotes "whole system design," permaculture, and regenerative practices as ways to work with the land rather than against it [15] Practical Application & Design Principles - The document highlights the effectiveness of landscaping in relationship with the land, including water harvesting, composting, and planting native and fire-adapted species [2] - It contrasts this approach with "zone zero defensible space policies" that advocate for stripping vegetation, arguing that healthy plants can protect homes [10] - The document suggests that everyday landscapes like parkways, medians, and front yards can become living classrooms to reconnect people with nature [17] Resilience & Community Impact - The document presents a personal story of a home lost to fire, but a garden that persisted, as evidence that resilience is possible and born from relationship [8] - It envisions reimagining vulnerable communities with interconnected healthy living soil that harvests water to support life [14] - The document frames resilience not as fireproofing, but as remembering how to live with the land, fostering a sense of belonging and community [12][18]