Wildfires can be extremely destructive, especially in an urban environment such as Los Angeles, where many of its most cherished and historic neighborhoods are in the foothills, surrounded by abundant, yet often dry, vegetation.

But wildfires can also bring rebirth. The seeds that lie dormant just under the surface begin to germinate, and native shrubs, vines and trees start to resprout. Root systems planted centuries ago suddenly come to life, releasing stored nutrients into the soil at just the moment they are needed. And as the land recovers, it supports the life all around it.

The Indigenous people knew this. It was central to their survival and symbolic of their resilience. Even after they were enslaved by the Spanish, they maintained a reverence and a connection to the land, and we should use this knowledge, and this sense of survival, as we start to consider how to reshape the landscape of Los Angeles.

We should also explore ways to address what some are calling a 'mass erasure of heritage' caused by the destruction of so many historic landmarks. One idea is to plant a a vineyard, for it was the Indigenous people who planted the first vineyards and made winemaking L.A.'s first and most important agricultural industry.

The vineyard, which will be called the Interpretive Grape Garden to emphasize its educational purpose, will feature L.A.'s unique chronological sequence of grapes -- the native, Spanish and hybrid -- which was only recently uncovered by grape geneticists from UC Davis.

Once established in the centrally located Los Angeles State Historic Park, the Interpretive Grape Garden will allow us to share the story of those who worked in the vineyards and provide a space for all Angelenos to heal, even as we honor the memory of those who have perished in the fires.

CALL TO ACTION

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are coming up in just three years. And people have been watching. "Hollywood is on Fire" has been a typical headline, with the fires themselves providing the kind of visual drama valued by station directors the world over.

As a result, when the tourists arrive, they'll be wanting to see the effects of the wildfires. It will be a different kind of Hollywood tour, a disaster tour, so the double-deckers can roll slowly past the burnt remains, the destroyed lives.

But we can show them something different. We can show them the Interpretive Grape Garden, which will keep alive the memories of those who have perished. And show the world a different side of Los Angeles.

Thank you and please give what you can.

Ned Teitelbaum

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