Why I Started Grow Food Not Lawns , And Why It Changed Everything!

When the world shut down in 2020, I remember walking through the grocery store and seeing nothing but empty shelves. That moment stuck with me, not because of fear, but because of what it revealed. I was dependent. Dependent on the government to keep order, dependent on grocery stores to feed my family, and dependent on systems that could fall apart overnight. It was the kind of moment that forces you to take a hard look in the mirror and ask yourself, “If everything stopped tomorrow, could I take care of the people I love?” My answer was no. And that answer set me on a mission that changed the course of my life.

Long before GrowFitFL or YouTube, I was known around my community simply as Jermaine the guy who helps people get healthier. I’ve spent over fifteen years as a certified personal trainer and athletic trainer. I’ve owned my own fitness studio and trained hundreds of people from all walks of life, helping them regain their strength, confidence, and discipline. In those years, I became known locally as “the strong herb man,” not just because of my strength, but because of my passion for natural healing. I’ve always believed that true wellness is rooted in God’s design food, movement, sunlight, and rest. It’s all connected.

I didn’t just wake up one day and start talking about plants. I lived this lifestyle for decades. Even today, I’m no spring chicken, (I'm in my 40's) but I’m still grinding out thousand-mile running years, still lifting over fifteen hundred pounds combined between squat, bench, and deadlift, and still reading over a hundred and fifty books a year. I study health, plants, mindset, and scripture because I believe God gave me a mission to use what I’ve learned to help others. Helping people is what I do best. It’s who I am.

My wife, Toni, runs her own channel, @RootedinJs. She focuses on classical gardening  seed starting, pruning, soil health, all the foundational things that keep gardens thriving. Together, we’ve built something powerful. Her channel teaches how to grow, and my channel, GrowFitFL, teaches why you should grow and what to grow for your health. We show people how to plant with purpose, how to grow food that improves their health, and how to create a home that feeds body and soul. Between the two of us, we’ve built a community of people across Florida and beyond who are reclaiming their health and freedom one plant at a time. We do this with our four kids right beside us, turning our home into a living classroom.

That’s where the book Grow Food Not Lawns was born out of a simple desire to help families like ours stop wasting time, money, and energy on lawns that give nothing back. The book isn’t just about planting. It’s about perspective. It teaches why we need to grow our own food, how to start no matter your space, and what plants can change your life in Florida’s unique climate. It’s packed with experience, faith, and the same drive that has fueled everything I’ve done in health and fitness. People who read it often tell me it fired them up, that it made them look at their backyard differently, that it reminded them of their purpose. That’s what it was written for to light that fire.

I tell everyone, start there. Get the book. Read it cover to cover. Let it wake you up to what’s possible. Inside, you’ll learn how to grow real food, how to build soil that works for you, and how to choose plants that strengthen your body and mind. Once you’ve gone through it, once you’ve felt that spark, then take the next step into our Florida Food Freedom System. That’s where you’ll find the deeper training our full blueprint to build your own backyard food forest, live healthier, and become self-reliant.

I’ve helped hundreds of people transform their health through training, mindset, and movement, and now I’m helping people transform their lives through the garden. This isn’t just business. It’s calling. God put me here to remind people that we were never meant to live dependent on broken systems. We were meant to grow, to move, to give, and to thrive.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start, this is it. Pick up your copy of Grow Food Not Lawns today, It’s the first step toward a life that’s stronger, freer, and rooted in something real.

If you’re ready to go deeper and become part of this movement, come join me on Patreon. That’s where I share what doesn’t always make it to YouTube the behind-the-scenes lessons, in-depth plant breakdowns, health insights, and real conversations about what it takes to build a life of strength and freedom. You’ll get early access to new videos, private Q&A sessions, and direct support as you grow your own backyard system.

This isn’t just a page; it’s a community of people choosing to live differently, to take back control, and to grow what matters.