Urban Farming Biography of Malcolm Steele

Meet Malcolm Steele, the visionary founder of Big Steele Urban Farm. A dedicated urban farmer, U.S. Navy veteran, entrepreneur, and public health graduate, Malcolm was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His deep connection to the land began well before the establishment of Big Steele Urban Farm. Growing up, he worked alongside his father in the family landscaping business, learning the importance of hard work and cultivating an appreciation for plants, soil, and the beauty of the outdoor environment. These formative experiences greatly influenced his approach to agriculture and shaped his belief in the need for people to reconnect with the land.  

Malcolm pursued his education at Jackson State University, earning a bachelor's degree in business. He then committed seven years to the United States Navy, where he honed essential skills such as discipline, resilience, and leadership. In addition to his military service, Malcolm took on the role of coaching youth football and mentoring young athletes, which reflects his passion for community engagement.  

His fascination with the interplay between food, plants, and human health led him to Everglades University, where he earned a Master of Public Health, focusing on Alternative Medicine and Functional Nutrition. This advanced education enriched his knowledge of nutrition, traditional plant use, public health, and how food systems can profoundly impact individual and community health.  

Big Steele Urban Farm was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its origins go back much further. After the loss of his father in 2018, Malcolm returned to the land, rediscovering a productive outlet that tied him back to the lessons instilled in him years earlier. What started as a personal growing space has evolved into an urban agriculture initiative prioritizing food production, herbs, fruit trees, education, sustainability, and building community resilience.  

Today, at Big Steele Urban Farm, Malcolm employs a hands-on approach, cultivating an array of vegetables, tropical fruits, culinary and traditional herbs, as well as nursery plants. He is actively involved in developing herbal products and in educating others about growing food and understanding the plants in their surroundings. His work also encompasses garden consultations and creating educational content focused on agriculture, herbs, functional nutrition, and sustainable living practices.  

A central tenet of Malcolm's mission is proving that effective food production doesn't necessitate vast tracts of land; urban spaces, too, can be bountiful and productive. Through regenerative growing techniques, soil enhancement, biodiversity, water conservation, and mindful land management, Big Steele Urban Farm exemplifies what small-scale urban agriculture can achieve.  

For Malcolm Steele, farming transcends mere crop yields; it embodies ideals of food security, knowledge sharing, self-reliance, land stewardship, and empowering individuals to engage actively in the production of their food. This philosophy is the essence of Big Steele Urban Farm: Grow What You Eat.