🌱 In this episode of the Landmark Difference Makers Podcast, we feature Anna Maria Leon, a certified permaculture designer, educator, and co-founder of Homegrown L3C in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. Anna Maria’s dedication to sustainable urban agriculture, community development, and environmental stewardship has reshaped how we think about urban spaces and their potential to foster connection, beauty, and resilience.
What Is Permaculture?
At its core, permaculture stands for “permanent culture” or “permanent agriculture,” rooted in the sustainable practices of indigenous cultures. Anna Maria describes it as a systems approach that integrates ethics—caring for the Earth, caring for people, and sharing abundance—into agriculture and community life. Unlike traditional agriculture, which often separates people from the land, permaculture aims to reconnect communities to their environments, even in the smallest urban spaces.
Anna Maria specializes in urban permaculture, designing sustainable, edible landscapes within Chicago’s 25 x 125-foot lots. She teaches others how to use these small spaces to create interconnected systems that enhance both the environment and community engagement.
A Journey from Corporate to Community Impact
Anna Maria’s path to permaculture began with her grandmother, an indigenous Filipino woman whose wisdom about the land shaped Anna Maria’s early understanding of sustainability. Later, disillusioned with her corporate career, Anna Maria redirected her energy to urban agriculture, earning certifications in permaculture and sustainable horticulture.
Her journey wasn’t without challenges. Working for a large landscaping company, she realized that traditional landscaping practices often clashed with permaculture principles. This inspired her to establish Homegrown L3C, a social enterprise that integrates permaculture into urban landscapes, making sustainable living accessible and practical.
Revitalizing North Lawndale Through Permaculture
Anna Maria’s work is most visible in North Lawndale, a Chicago neighborhood marked by vacant lots and economic disinvestment. Where some saw blight, Anna Maria saw opportunity. She transformed these lots into vibrant green spaces, such as the Gravel Garden, a $7.5 million project featuring a food forest designed to capture rainwater and foster biodiversity.
Through her work, Anna Maria has sparked conversations about community ownership and the role of green spaces in fostering safety, pride, and connection. “Beauty is for everyone,” she asserts, challenging the notion that beautification leads to displacement. Instead, her projects promote inclusivity and the idea that everyone deserves access to natural, inspiring spaces.
Empowering Communities Through Connection
Anna Maria’s leadership philosophy emphasizes giving back to the community. Inspired by her experience in Landmark’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program, she creates projects that communities can adopt and sustain. “When I see people’s eyes light up because they’ve realized their vision, it’s incredible,” she says. Her commitment to collaboration has earned her recognition as a 2020 Chicago Peace Fellow.
A Vision for the Future
Anna Maria envisions a world where urban spaces are not just livable but thriving ecosystems. Her work in North Lawndale demonstrates how permaculture can transform not only the land but also the lives of those who engage with it. “Once people are out of survival mode, everything thrives,” she notes. Her projects inspire wonder, connection, and a renewed sense of possibility.
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