BY ARNOLD CANGAINI
On a calm morning near Thiba Dam in Kirinyaga County, a quiet revolution is unfolding. In a small, neatly designed compound, 27-year-old Richard Muchiri is redefining what it means to farm—turning his home into a living exhibition of creativity, sustainability, and hope.
Once a county government employee, Muchiri left the comfort of a salaried job four years ago to pursue what many thought was an eccentric dream—creative agriculture.
Today, his efforts are paying off, one innovative idea at a time.
“The job wasn’t fulfilling because it didn’t challenge me intellectually. I like working with things that make me think and allow me to experiment,” Muchiri explains.
At first glance, Muchiri’s compound feels more like an art gallery than a farm. The first thing that greets a visitor is a raised garden bed shaped like a sofa seat—an elegant blend of form and function.
“This design beautifies my compound and makes it easy to harvest vegetables even when I come home late,” he says with a smile. But beneath the beauty lies purpose.
Muchiri’s designs embody principles of regenerative agriculture, blending artistry with ecology to restore soil health and promote sustainability.
NOTE: ARISE MEDIA is now on WhatsApp Channels! CLICK this link to JOIN and read the news in your favourite messenger.
One of his most ingenious creations is the “living raised bed.” Instead of using conventional wooden or metal structures, Muchiri weaves his beds using Lantana Camara twigs, an invasive species he has found a sustainable use for.
“These beds don’t rot or attract termites. The Lantana twigs actually grow roots, making the structure stronger over time,” he explains.
By transforming an environmental nuisance into a useful farming material, Muchiri not only beautifies his space but also contributes to controlling the spread of Lantana in his community.
Muchiri’s raised beds stand five feet off the ground—a smart design choice that keeps free-range chickens and other domestic animals from destroying crops.
Each bed is layered with compost, mulched to retain moisture, and never tilled, in keeping with regenerative farming practices. He uses only organic pesticides and plans to start vermiculture (earthworm farming) to enrich his soil and generate additional income.
“Next year, I’ll rotate vegetables with butternuts, carrots, and sweet potatoes,” he says. “I also plant creepers around the beds to make full use of the space.”
On weekends, Muchiri wears another hat—that of a trainer. For a modest fee of Sh1,000, he offers hands-on training to local farmers eager to learn his creative techniques. The cost of his raised beds varies depending on size and materials.
But Muchiri is more than a farmer and designer. He is also a landscaping artist and a youth counselor, using his platform to inspire other young people to see agriculture not as a fallback option but as a field of innovation and purpose.
Muchiri’s work is beginning to ripple beyond his village, inspiring a new generation of farmers to combine creativity with sustainability. His small compound has become a model of what’s possible when imagination meets soil.
As Kirinyaga hills turn greener under his vision, Muchiri’s message is simple yet profound—that agriculture can be both a science and an art, and that beauty, sustainability, and productivity can indeed coexist.
“Art is an experimental journey. And for me, the soil is my canvas,” he says.
What’s happening near you? Send us the story via
news@arisemediagroup.co.ke or WhatsApp 0750456085
Book Advert-use above contacts
151