Dragonfruit Caroline Cheng

Michelle Barton is an environmental specialist with LA Sanitation and Environment; she runs both their biodiversity and healthy soils programs. In this episode we discuss their current and upcoming projects, community science, what being an environmental specialist actually means, and so much more. I encourage anyone in LA to get involved with the summer Bioblitz challenge to help track local biodiversity. Thank you so much for listening and I hope you enjoy!

Learn more:

Michelle Barton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-barton-8a405892/

LA Sanitation and Environment: https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home

Biodiversity: https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-es/s-lsh-es-si/s-lsh-es-si-bd?_adf.ctrl-state=1cuhmpip86_5&_afrLoop=14568175592775941

Healthy Soils: https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-es/s-lsh-es-si/s-lsh-es-si-hs?_adf.ctrl-state=1cuhmpip86_5&_afrLoop=14568204219968232#!

BioBlitz Challenge (with the LA Public Library): https://lapl.org/steam/bioblitz

Florence Williams is a journalist and author who is a contributing editor to Outside Magazine and freelance writer for various publications including the New York Times and National Geographic. In this episode, we discuss one of my favorite books, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, which discusses the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits we all gain from exposure to natural spaces. She also gives us a glimpse into her writing process and shares some wonderful stories about her time in the field. Enjoy!

Learn more at: http://www.florencewilliams.com/

Evan Meyer is the Executive Director of the Theodore Payne Foundation, an organization in Los Angeles focused on California native plants. This episode gets into the current biodiversity crisis and how planting natives can help combat environmental harm and connect wild spaces. We also discuss topics like making the field of ecology more inclusive, the need for interdisciplinary teams, ideas for popularizing native plants, and finding mentors. I learned so much talking to Evan and I hope you enjoy this episode!


Learn more:

Evan Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-meyer-976775100/

Theodore Payne Foundation: https://theodorepayne.org/

Interviews and Panels About Native Plants, Landscape Design, and More: https://www.nativeplantgardentour.org/

Find Native Plant Nurseries in California: https://calscape.org/

Georgia Tunioli is the Community Engagement Program Manager with The Bay Foundation. While I have previously spoken with Karina Johnston, who is also with The Bay Foundation, our conversation today takes on a different focus. In this episode we discuss their Table 2 Farm and Clean Boating programs, both of which get into the amazing ways that they are educating and engaging the public in environmental work. Georgia was such a pleasure to speak with and I am so happy to be sharing this episode with you. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!

Learn more at: https://www.santamonicabay.org/

Tobias Tubbs is the co-founder of Angel City Urban Farms, a resiliency garden program that helps guide previously incarcerated individuals through healing and re-entry. Tobias has been through the prison system himself, and turned his experiences into opportunities to create community and hope. This episode goes from his first gardens while still in prison to his work now as a re-entry specialist. The conversation was incredibly impactful for me and I hope you come to feel the same.

Learn more at: https://www.instagram.com/angelcityurbanfarms8/

Email Tobias: tobiasinservice@gmail.com

Katie Freeze-Becker is a chair for the US Green Building Council - Los Angeles Legacy Project and an environmental consultant with Leading Edge Consulting Services. We took this episode to focus on the Legacy Project and equity, with some bonus questions about Katie's experiences in consulting. This is a great conversation to hear if you are interested in getting your organization, or yourself, more involved in supporting community-led projects that make a difference in the lives of real people. Episode 14 is part two of a two-part series featuring USGBC-LA; our last episode featured Ben Stapleton, their executive director, and discussed USGBC-LA as a whole, the Healthy Building Alliance, and the Net Zero Accelerator. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy!

Learn more:

USGBC-LA: https://usgbc-la.org/

Legacy Project: https://usgbc-la.org/committees/legacy-project/

Dragonfruit: linktr.ee/dragonfruitthepodcast