Residential
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Residential Garden
A private residential garden documented by location and year only, preserving client privacy while showing the ongoing evolution of the planting.

Edible gardens and community landscapes, designed and stewarded by one family, two generations.
A mother and daughter
We design and steward permaculture landscapes across the Great Lakes region — edible gardens, community plantings, and urban-durable plants chosen for the exact site they land in.
Annamaria Varona designs with 15 years of practice. Lucía León manages the projects and production. One family, two generations, one intention.
Selected Work
2012 to Present
Each project is a study of one site. Its light, its water, its soil, and the people who live with it. Hover a title to see the place.
Each project is a study of one site. Its light, its water, its soil, and the people who live with it. Swipe to explore.
01
OAK PARK, IL
2023–present
Residential
A private residential garden documented by location and year only, preserving client privacy while showing the ongoing evolution of the planting.
02
CHICAGO, IL
2025
Community Collaboration
Installing a memorial garden with faculty and administration for a beloved teacher at Malcolm X College.
03
CHICAGO, IL
2025
Community Collaboration
A fruit orchard and gravel garden designed with the Historic Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church Youth Green Team.
04
NORTH LAWNDALE, CHICAGO, IL
2021–present
Community Collaboration
An ongoing community collaboration with North Lawndale residents and renowned garden designers Piet Oudolf and Roy Diblik to design the historic Sears Sunken Garden. Renovation work begins in 2026.
05
WEST SIDE CHICAGO, IL
2022–present
Community Collaboration
Teaching the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council GROWSS Youth Council — Greening Open Space, Water, Soil, and Sustainability — on raised-bed gardens and cut-flower cultivation.
06
BARRINGTON, IL
2022
Community Collaboration
An educational conservation-grant project teaching students permaculture principles. Three classes designed gardens in groups, the winning design was installed around the greenhouse, and edible design competitions are now part of the school curriculum.
07
WEST SIDE CHICAGO, IL
2024–present
Institutional / Commercial
This is an ongoing rehabilitation of a bioswale located outside of Legacy Charter School in Chicago. The area was primarily taken over by three native plants and unwanted plants. Homan Grown is adding diversity and more color to the plant palette.
08
CHICAGO, IL
2024–present
Institutional / Commercial
Homan Grown was asked to restore and bring more diversity to the Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC) campus and four City of Chicago owned bioswales that LCHC oversees. Plants were chosen that were close to the original design, and yet also had more durability.
09
WEST SIDE CHICAGO, IL
2017–2026
Community Collaboration
Bioswales can be useful for stormwater retention as well as being a haven for pollinators and urban wildlife.
10
SOUTH SHORE CHICAGO, IL
2023–present
Residential
A private residential garden transformation in South Shore, documented by location and year only while preserving client privacy.
11
EAST GARFIELD PARK, CHICAGO, IL
2025–present
Residential
This is the beginning of a residential forest garden focused on providing habitat for wildlife. In temperate climates such as Chicago, a forest garden is made up of eight layers - Overstory, understory, shrub layer, herbaceous perennials, bulbs, groundcover, and vines.
12
PORTER, IN
2024–present
Residential
A private second home used as a getaway from the big city and an in-demand listing through Airbnb. Documented by location and year only, preserving client privacy while showing the ongoing evolution of the plantings.
13
DOWNTOWN CHICAGO, IL
2026–present
Institutional / Commercial
This historic church, built in 1871, is known for its wonderful social programs, community outreach, and grand architecture. Homan Grown was hired to design plantings that are welcoming, soft, and durable, matching the Church's mission.
14
CLARENDON HILLS, IL
2026–present
Residential
Working with new homeowners to put their stamp on an established garden. A private home documented by location and year only, preserving client privacy while showing the ongoing evolution of the plantings.
15
MILWAUKEE, WI
2026
Institutional / Commercial
Homan Grown donated this bite-sized garden for this Milwaukee landmark and spiritual center of the Marquette University campus. Now stewarded by Gesu staff.
16
WEST SIDE CHICAGO, IL
2026–present
Institutional / Commercial
Designed a native pollinator garden that addresses stormwater issues for the headquarters of Inherent L3C, builders of high-performance modular homes.
17
CHICAGO, IL
2024–present
Institutional / Commercial
The edible landscapes on this corporate campus were installed in 2017 and have been stewarded back to health by Homan Grown.
18
NORTH LAWNDALE, CHICAGO, IL
2026
Community Collaboration
This native rain garden is part of the YMEN Learning Campus. YMEN collaborates with NLGC and NLCCC GROWSS. Design of the greenhouse and site layout by renowned architect Odile Compagnon. The campus includes a fruit orchard and freight farm.
Swipe →
All Projects →Working together
One
We come to the site, read the soil, light, and how you live with the space, and listen to your vision for it.
Two
A permaculture planting designed around your vision — edible, native, urban-durable species chosen for your exact site, then installed by our team.
Three
A minimum three-year stewardship plan. As gardeners say: the first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps.
Start a project
Tell us about your site and your vision, and we'll start with a walk through the grounds.