Applying Permaculture to Food Systems and Community with DGC Sprouts

Event: Applying Permaculture to Food Systems and Community with DGC Sprouts

Venue: St John Lutheran Church Learning Garden (south end of the parking lot)

Date: August 27, 2025 / 5pm Garden Tours / 6pm Permaculture Presentation

Local expert, Annamaria Varona Leon will help us explore permaculture’s sustainable principles. She’ll share how those principles can be integrated into local food systems to create a more resilient and interconnected community.

Annamaria has experience and expertise with permaculture as well as creating local food sources for those in need in the community. She is bringing along a farmer friend and together they will be explaining the food cycle in our country and the goodness that comes from more sustainable local and farm sized agriculture. We’ll also discuss the connection to community that we are creating here in the Sprouts Learning Garden.

In this interactive talk we will not only examine modern food systems but we’ll address how we can incorporate permaculture systems thinking to help with food distribution issues. We will explore ideas for increasing local food production and sharing yields with the community.

The Sprouts Learning Garden practices sustainability as we recycle resources in many eco-conscious ways. We are growing food and pollinator friendly flowers while prioritizing soil health and regenerative practices which heal our earth and our bodies. Please come early to tour the garden with DGC Sprouts members. These youngsters have their hand in every step of the process that produces over 300 pounds of produce annually, much of which is shared with the community.

Local Scouting Groups and Eagle Scouts have joined our efforts by helping to create and add features to our garden's ecofriendly mission. They have also provided energy and muscle when requested. We encourage your scouts to join us for this evening that will touch on some of scouting’s Arrow of Light Adventure’s “Champions for Nature” activities.

Discover how small changes in your daily life and gardening practices can have a big impact on the environment and your community.

See you there!

Notes:

Optional: Garden tours available from 5-6pm

Sprouts Meeting starts at 6pm

All are welcome to attend.

We will meet in the Sprouts Learning Garden on the south end of the parking lot.

A responsible adult must accompany children.

Please register for one ticket/family participating.

Learn more about DGC Sprouts

If you would like to support DGC Sprouts programs see our donation link or sponsorship opportunities.

Annamaria Varona Leon is co-owner of Homan Grown LLC – CHI & MKE in Chicago. She also founded the Permaculture Chicago Teaching Institute and offers Permaculture Design Certificates geared toward urban permaculture.

Info: Tour the Sprouts Learning Garden with the children and families responsible for planting, caring, and harvesting the produce. We are celebrating our fourth year of growing food and flowers sustainably this season. Come to see this special spot!

Info: Local expert, Annamaria Varona Leon will help us explore permaculture’s sustainable principles. She’ll share how those principles can be integrated into local food systems to create a more resilient and interconnected community.

Also check out other Meetups in Darien, Nonprofit events in Darien, Health & Wellness events in Darien.