Van Nuys

A suburb of Tovangaar (also known as Los Angeles) serves as the setting, where a typical suburban yard with grass initially dominated the landscape. Through the SSC, lessons unfold on transforming this water-hogging, degraded monoculture into a diverse, sponge-like, water-resilient, and pollinator-supporting native plant garden. At the start, the land felt dry and hot, with mostly grass covering it. At the same time, particulate matter in the air and pollutants from congested streets and a nearby airport presented additional challenges. With the introduction of sponging practices, more life has returned to the land, including added moisture, birds, and rabbits. The journey to restore the land continues, aiming to create a microclimate within an urban “desert.”