From Incarceration to Building a Thriving Urban Farm

What does it take to rebuild your life when your past seems to define your future? Urban farmer and community advocate Autumn Lowry knows the weight of that question. After experiencing incarceration and substance use challenges, she finds a new direction through recovery, education, and service. Now leading From the Ground Up Foods in Indianapolis, she works to expand food access and strengthen underserved communities through urban farming. In this episode of Living Your Legacy, Autumn explores the turning points that reshape her confidence, the challenges of building a mission-driven business, and the unexpected role gardening plays in healing. She also shares practical ways to transform vacant land into opportunity and why collaboration matters more than starting from scratch.Key TakeawaysHow recovery, education, and perseverance help rebuild confidence after incarceration.Why urban farming can improve food access and create stronger, healthier communities.How to turn vacant lots and underused spaces into productive community resources.Why partnerships, volunteers, and existing neighborhood programs are essential to sustainable growth.How to balance social impact, personal healing, and the financial realities of running a mission-driven business.Notable Quotes"Once I started my recovery journey, life got better.""The one thing nobody can ever take away from you is your education.""Gardening became therapeutic for me when I had some of my own life challenges.""How can you apply what you're good at to what's already happening?""My green thumb still kills things sometimes."