Our Beginning

Grown By Me was conceptualized in September of 2017. Realizing the lack of nutritious options for urban youth ignited a desire to create healthier affordable alternatives. Our application of aquaponics and our ability to grow organic food in virtually any environment was key. Food deserts emerged as the evident problem. We formed GBM’s educational and vocational components & sustainable food systems as part of its solution. We embarked to eliminate food deserts one child and one community at a time.

Founders

Grown By Me, LLC. Co-Founders Ferman Moody and J. Demond Johnson, met at Virginia Union University, in Richmond, Virginia in the fall of 1997.  We later became fraternal brothers in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.  We never considered the possibility of being business partners until that phone call in September of 2017. That conversation would serve as the catalyst for the formation of Grown By Me. Our discussions about food insecurity and food deserts made us soon realize that we had a similar vision and passion to see it to fruition.

J.Demond Johnson and Ferman Moody established Grown By Me to help eliminate the problems associated with urban and rural food deserts: lack of the availability for nutritious food, affordability, price gouging, poor accessibility, minimal economic opportunities for youth in general, and underprivileged youth in particular. We both understand that we were both extremely blessed to have been raised in places and in families that could assure that our health and well-being were a priority. The ability to attend Virginia Union University and to have received an education that has allowed us to be successful black men is not lost on us. It is because of this that we are duty bound to give back to the Black community in a tangible way. Legacy is what drives us. By our programs we can create a change in culture around food, health and lifestyle.  Our passion with Grown By Me will lead to greater self-sufficiency and empowerment for our communities.

 Individual roles were identified based upon innate strengths, modicums of professional experience, and proven proficiencies. Co-Founder Ferman Moody has over 17 years of classroom instruction and is an expert in sustainable urban design. Co-founder J. Demond Johnson has over 13 years of sales and business development experience within several industries.  Ferman continues to expand scientifically while J. creates avenues were results can be most quantified.