Patrick Muhammad, widely known as The Principal Farmer, is redefining leadership, sustainable living, and mindful eating. As a Black farmer, community leader, and educator, he is passionate about teaching future generations the importance of being intentional about what they eat and where it comes from. Over the past decade, he has transformed his 31-acre Your Faith Farms into a thriving homesteading oasis and has helped over 30 families establish their own farms. In addition to his agricultural work, Muhammad serves as the Principal of Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, an agricultural school where he integrates hands-on farming lessons into education. His viral educational videos, Emmy-nominated work, and upcoming book, Farming by Faith, continue to inspire and educate a global audience.
Revelence was able to speak exclusively with Muhammad on the importance of sustainable living, the impact of vertical farming, the importance of mindful eating, and how making intentional food choices can transform individual health and entire communities.
Revelence: What is sustainable living, and how can the average person incorporate it into their daily life?
Patrick Muhammad: Sustainable living means creating a lifestyle that can be consistently maintained with minimal human intervention. Unfortunately, many in our communities have adopted diets that don’t align with our natural makeup, leading to widespread health issues. We’ve moved away from farming and embraced fast food, which has contributed to conditions like diabetes. At our farm, we grow and raise our food, sell excess produce, and use compost to maintain a cycle that sustains itself year after year. That’s how you create a truly sustainable lifestyle.
Many assume that sustainable farming requires large plots of land. What are some practical ways city dwellers can participate?
Even if you live in an apartment, you can start by growing herbs on a windowsill. Place basil or other herbs near your stove, and you can use fresh ingredients while cooking. For those with patios or backyards, small raised beds work well. Many homeowners’ associations encourage decorative landscaping but don’t tell you that you can grow food beautifully—cabbage, kale, and fruit trees can all enhance your yard while providing sustenance. Additionally, if you keep hens (not roosters), you can collect fresh eggs daily without disturbing your neighbors. Sustainable agriculture is about using the space you have creatively.
If a person lives in a cold-environment where winter brings heavy snow, how can they continue farming year-round?
Historically, our ancestors found ways to farm in cold weather. One solution is cold frames—raised beds covered with glass or plastic to trap heat from the sun. Even though the sun is 93 million miles away, its rays reflecting off glass can generate enough warmth to sustain plants. We also use cold-hardy crops like cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, which thrive in winter. At night, we cover them, and during the day, they continue to grow. If you’re interested, we offer blueprints on our website, or we can even build them for you.
Vertical farming is gaining traction, especially in urban and space-limited environments. How do you see it transforming food accessibility?
Vertical farming is a great method for maximizing small spaces by growing crops upward instead of outward. Some people use tower gardens, while others, like me, use growing racks—we can grow 400 beds of lettuce in just a 6×4-foot space.
However, it’s important to remember that in vertical farming, you have to use chemicals because you’re not working with natural soil and its rich nutrients. The taste and texture aren’t the same—lettuce, for example, can be more rubbery because it hasn’t developed strength from outdoor conditions like wind, sun, and rain.
That said, vertical farming is a step in the right direction. It removes barriers and encourages people to take control of their food sources.
Let’s discuss mindful eating. You emphasize being intentional about what we eat and where it comes from. What’s the first step for someone looking to transition to a more mindful eating lifestyle?
Absolutely. I’m not a medical doctor, but I would say the first thing you have to do is know your numbers —cholesterol, weight, blood sugar—so you understand where you are before making drastic diet changes.
Next, avoid the drive-thru. Fast food is mostly fried, processed, and unhealthy. There’s no drive-thru serving fresh salads!
Instead, start grocery shopping with intention. Stick to the perimeter of the store, where fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, eggs, and dairy are. And call Grandma—pull out those old-school recipes that use real ingredients, not preservatives.
That’s great advice! Our grandparents cooked with whole foods, but convenience has led us away from that.
Yes! And let’s pass that awareness to the next generation. Imagine if kids started saying, “No, don’t go to the drive-thru—you’re hurting me!” That mindset shift could transform families and entire communities.
Every day, every meal—it’s a choice to eat for better health.
For more information on the Principal Farmer, follow him on social media via https://www.instagram.com/patricktheprincipalfarmer/ or visit his website at https://patrickmuhammad.com/
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