A Lifelong Love for Green Space
For Penny Daigle, the value of nature has always been clear—even in the heart of the city.
A lifelong New Orleanian and graduate of Ursuline Academy and Loyola University, Penny has long believed that every community needs room to breathe, observe, and belong within nature. Today, she calls Christwood Retirement Community in Covington home, where 60 acres of mature trees, ponds, wildlife, and open space reflect what she believes all people deserve: daily access to the natural world.
Her connection to the Land Trust for Louisiana began through fellow steward Bonnie Lewis, and from the very beginning, the mission resonated deeply.
“I don’t want to live in a concrete jungle,” Penny says. “I want to find birds, squirrels, the smell of trees and grass, little streams, bayous—the life that exists in all of it.”
Bringing People Together for Conservation
Penny has served as a tireless Land Trust for Louisiana volunteer for years, helping connect people to one another and to the land.
She sees relationship-building as a form of stewardship in action. Whether hosting conversations at Christwood, encouraging friends to attend LTL events, or introducing landowners to the idea of conservation easements, Penny brings people into the mission with warmth and purpose.
Penny helps LTL by:
Connecting new supporters to events and programs
Introducing landowners to conservation opportunities
Advocating for protecting land while respecting private ownership
Building community around shared values of stewardship
“Every time I meet someone with five acres or more,” she laughs, “I jump on my Land Trust bandwagon.”
Stewardship as a Moral Responsibility
For Penny, stewardship is not an abstract concept—it is a moral calling.
She believes we are responsible for caring for the earth and leaving it as we found it. Her work extends beyond volunteering with LTL. She has supported anti-litter initiatives, spoken before city councils about environmental responsibility, and encouraged others to seek meaningful experiences in wild and protected places.
“I believe humans are becoming less human because of their separation from nature,” she reflects. “That’s where you can feel something larger than yourself. That’s where I feel God’s presence.”
Her message is simple and powerful: conservation begins with connection.
Why Volunteers Like Penny Matter
Because of volunteers like Penny, the Land Trust for Louisiana can expand its impact far beyond protected acres.
Her work helps:
Grow a network of conservation-minded landowners
Increase community engagement in stewardship
Protect wildlife habitat and green space
Strengthen the culture of conservation across Louisiana
She reminds us that protecting land is not only a legal or scientific effort—it is a human one.
A Voice for Future Generations
Penny’s advocacy ensures that future generations will inherit a Louisiana rich in bayous, forests, wildlife, and working lands.
Her story is a testament to the power of one person to build community, inspire action, and protect what cannot be replaced.
Join Penny in Protecting Louisiana’s Land
You can be part of the mission:
Volunteer for a stewardship day
Become a Steward of the Land member
