Q: My architect, GC, and project manager all agree the soil needs to return to a healthy state, but they don’t think now is the right time. Their priority is the rebuild budget, not the soil. Is it really necessary to treat the soil before construction? It’s completely understandable that your rebuild team is focused on the house itself. With inflated material costs, labor shortages, and insurance and mortgage representatives emphasizing that funds must stretch to cover the s

A Tribute to Dr. Elaine Ingham There are people whose presence alters the course of a life so profoundly that the world looks different afterward—clearer, more connected, more alive. For me, Dr. Elaine Ingham was one of those rare and irreplaceable guides. She opened a doorway into the living world beneath our feet, and in doing so, she opened a doorway inside me as well. Elaine was a pioneer long before the world was ready to understand what she saw. She was a trailblazer wh

Arsenic in Soil After a Wildfire Wildfires can leave behind ash and debris that temporarily change the chemistry of soil. One of the most common questions after a fire is: “My soil shows arsenic. Should I be worried?” The short answer is: Not usually. Understanding two numbers used by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) helps explain why. 1. DTSC Screening Level What it is: A very conservative, risk‑based number used as an early warning flag to dec