Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Birckhead.
Hi Lori, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Seventeen years ago, I had a vivid dream that changed the direction of my life.
In the dream, I was given a clear and unexpected instruction: Buy land. Grow food. Give it away.
I didn’t know what to do with it at first. I wasn’t a farmer and had no background in agriculture. I tried to dismiss it. But the dream returned, not once, but many times — and over three years, I kept finding myself placed in front of agriculture in ways I couldn’t explain or orchestrate. Conversations, opportunities, relationships, and circumstances kept circling back to land and food.
Eventually, my husband Jim and I stepped forward in faith and purchased land in Joelton, Tennessee. What started as a simple act of obedience became By Faith Farm, and later the nonprofit Fed By Faith. Today, we steward 97 acres where we grow and donate 100% of our produce to people in need—while also creating a place where community forms, hearts heal, and faith becomes tangible.
Looking back, the journey has been less about building a farm and more about learning how to trust one step at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road—and I think that’s true of anything worth doing.
We’ve faced steep learning curves, weather challenges, physical exhaustion, financial uncertainty, and moments where the vision felt far bigger than our capacity. There were times we wondered if we were in over our heads, especially as the scale of food donation grew and the needs around us became more visible.
One of the biggest struggles has been learning to balance sustainability with generosity—figuring out how to give abundantly while also building the infrastructure needed to continue long-term. Another has been letting go of control and trusting others to come alongside us in leadership and support.
But every challenge has also brought unexpected blessings: the right people showing up at the right time, doors opening when we had no backup plan, and a deep sense that we are being carried by something much bigger than ourselves.
We’ve been impressed with By Faith Farm , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
By Faith Farm is a working farm with a simple but radical commitment: everything we grow is given away.
Through our nonprofit, Fed By Faith, we donate 100% of our produce to local food partners serving individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. There is no farm stand and no produce sales—our “business model” is generosity.
What sets us apart is that this work is deeply communal. Volunteers—our “Farm Angels”—are essential. People come not just to serve, but to be part of something meaningful. We also host educational programs, volunteer days, farm stays, and community gatherings that invite people to reconnect with land, purpose, and one another.
We’re known for doing things “by faith”—stepping forward when provision isn’t yet visible and trusting that obedience invites participation.
I’m most proud that we’ve stayed true to the original call. As the farm has grown, the mission hasn’t shifted: feed people, steward land well, and create space for God to work through community.
I want readers to know that this isn’t our story—it’s an invitation. Many people assume they have nothing to offer unless they farm or volunteer, but some of the most impactful moments in our journey have come through generous financial partners and sponsors who felt called to help carry the vision forward.
Their support doesn’t just fund infrastructure—it multiplies impact. It turns seeds into harvests and harvests into hope.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
So many people.
First and foremost, my husband Jim. This mission would not exist without his steady faith, quiet sacrifice, and his willingness to say “yes” even when the road ahead was unclear. He has walked every step with me.
Our volunteers—the Farm Angels—are truly the backbone of By Faith Farm. Thousands of hours of donated time, hard work, laughter, and love have made this mission possible. What grows here is just as much theirs as it is ours.
Christy Palmer also deserves special recognition. She first arrived as a volunteer in 2020 and simply kept showing up. At one point she lovingly said, “You need help,” and then strongly encouraged me to file for a 501(c)(3). That step led to the creation of Fed By Faith, and today Christy serves as its president. Her leadership and belief in the mission have been a tremendous gift.
We’ve also been blessed by mentors, advisors, donors, and community partners who believed in this vision early on—people who offered wisdom, encouragement, prayer, and support at just the right moments.
Most of all, I credit God for every step of this journey. This farm exists because of His provision and the people He continues to place in our path.
By Faith Farm stands as a reminder that when God plants a vision, He also invites a community to help it grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.byfaithfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byfaithfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byfaithfarmNashville
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-birckhead-b87725139/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fedbyfaithatbyfaithfarm
