Potting Workshop from last year’s Seed of Unity Festival hosted by SCOPE and South LA Eco-Lab

by Zaakiyah Brisker, SCOPE Communications Associate

In a city like Los Angeles, where every inch of land feels accounted for—developed, paved over, or fenced off—it’s easy to forget that we are not separate from the Earth. We are Earth. Yet for many urban dwellers, our relationship to the land has been mediated through concrete, corporate development, and environmental degradation. These systems have not only polluted our air and water but also our imaginations. They make it feel like access to nature, beauty, and restoration must be bought.

This blog hopes to unearth something different: the many ways we can appreciate Earth without spending a dime. Because globally, human relationships to land have long been shaped by extraction. To regenerate Earth, we must first regenerate our relationship to it—one that resists consumption and embraces reciprocity, care, and presence.

Here are some powerful ways to appreciate Earth for free:

1. Grounding. Walk barefoot on grass, soil, or sand. It’s an ancient way to reconnect with the rhythms of the Earth and calm your nervous system.
2. Composting. Return your food scraps to the Earth instead of sending them to a landfill. Organics LA gives out kitchen bins, and LA Compost collects them at local drop-off spots. It’s free and restorative.
3. Volunteer at a local garden. Community gardens like the ones in South LA are not just about growing food—they’re about growing community, knowledge, and stewardship. Spend a morning helping out and see what grows in you.
4. Hang out at a park. Nature doesn’t have to be far to be healing. Bring a blanket, sit under a tree, listen to birds, and let yourself simply be. Public parks are sacred spaces when we treat them that way.
5. Highlight E-Bike Library Program. Did you know South LA has an E-Bike library program? It’s a great way to explore your city, reduce car emissions, and enjoy the open air.
6. Learn about the Indigenous history of the land you live on. Honor those who stewarded this land long before us. Acknowledgment is a step toward restoration.
7. Trade or share food or clothes with your community. Bartering and mutual aid reduce waste and strengthen relationships. They remind us that we don’t need to buy more to live well.
8. Use less. Unplug devices, skip plastic, or reuse containers. A simple reset in daily consumption is powerful.
9. Write a thank-you letter to the Earth. It sounds soft, but it can be healing and a reminder of your connection. Gratitude roots us.
10. Lay in the grass and cloud-gaze. No agenda, no productivity—just presence. The Earth is not a task. It’s a home.

In a society that wants to monetize everything, appreciating Earth for free is radical. It’s a practice of resistance and repair. Try one of these acts this week and notice how it shifts your sense of place and possibility.

SCOPE Team photo from last year’s Seed of Unity Festival.

And if you’re looking for a way to celebrate Earth collectively, join SCOPE in honoring the Earth at our Seeds of Unity Fest—a celebration of the Elements of Power: fire, water, air, and earth.

📍 Harvard Park
📅 April 12th | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

This is a space to connect, reflect, and take action for environmental justice in South LA. Together, we plant the seeds for a cleaner, greener, and more united future. Let’s harness our collective power!