Ava Post

a professional horticulturist and environmental advocate for over 12 years managing and creating nonprofit gardens. As Interim Director for MudTown Farms at Watts Labor Community Action Committee, Ava has been involved in program and grant writing and management, fundraising, community engagement and urban farming in a nonprofit setting. 

As a lifelong environmental justice advocate, Ava performed soil testing and consulted for non-profit community garden organizations and schools in Los Angeles to mitigate risk of exposure to lead and other soil contaminants. Ava also worked with the Jordan Downs Environmental Justice Coalition to help organize and reduce hazardous fugitive dust exposure to residents in Watts. Currently at MudTown Farms, Ava leads culturally-progressive programming and grants such as free renter-friendly backyard farm custom designs and installations, bi-lingual urban farm classes, and bi-monthly produce distribution events that distribute over 350,000 pounds of food annually to community members most in need. 

At UCLA Extension, Ava takes a holistic approach to teaching Plant Materials for Landscape Use, where students can expect to identify and understand over 170 plants to be used in a variety of landscape styles and conditions in a changing climate. 

Ava holds a Bachelors of Science in plant sciences from Cornell University, an Associates of Applied Science in ornamental horticulture, and is also a Certified California Naturalist.