Not too long ago, the land that is now Little Portion Farm was riddled with rocks and patches of dry, unhealthy soil. In fact, one of the first volunteers for Little Portion Farm was given the task of walking the three-acre plot with a wheelbarrow to remove any large stones from the area. Today, volunteers are still using wheelbarrows, but not to pick up rocks. These wheelbarrows are likely carrying compost to lay on more than 100 beds that have been planted with more than 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables over the last five years.
“It’s a place I feel inspired,” Paula Cirincione, a regular volunteer, said of Little Portion Farm. “I step on that soil, and something happens – I feel hope.”
Little Portion Farm is a ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the Our Lady of the Angels Province in Ellicott City, Md. The mission of the farm is to provide fresh food to those in need while using sustainable farming methods to restore and promote the future health of the land.
Since 2019, Little Portion Farm has grown, harvested, and donated more than 100,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce to those living with food insecurity in the region.
“Going to the farm, everything comes together for me,” Paula, who has volunteered since 2020 said. “It’s about growth and new beginnings.”
Five Years of Expansion
The first seeds were planted on Little Portion Farm in the summer of 2019. Just over 1,000 pounds of food were harvested that year and given to the Franciscan Center of Baltimore. As food production has grown (now averaging more than 20,000 pounds of food per year), so has the Franciscan Center’s ability to serve more individuals meals made from fresh ingredients. The Franciscan Center of Baltimore has a hot lunch program that serves hundreds of people daily. With the help of produce from Little Portion Farm, most of those meals are made from scratch. Additionally, produce from Little Portion Farm is shared with the culinary training program run by the Franciscan Center.
Much of the expanded production on Little Portion Farm can be attributed to the improved health of the land. Prior to the start of Little Portion Farm, the farmland was leased out and farmed using conventional agricultural methods that proved harmful to the soil and surrounding ecosystems for many decades. Because of the sustainable methods used on the land now, the soil and surrounding environment have made tremendous strides in returning to a healthy, thriving ecosystem. This has been done by planting a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers to promote ecological diversity (as well as a diverse range of food for the community). The operations on the farm limit the use of machinery and no herbicides, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers are used on the farm. A no-till system of farming helps keep more carbon in the soil and reduce erosion. Finally, two-thirds of the farm is dedicated to perennial plants such as trees and native wildflowers to support soil life with their extensive root systems.
Additionally, two new high tunnels installed last year have increased farm production, both midseason and throughout the winter. In the last year, for example, in January, February, March, and April, volunteers and staff harvested 500 pounds or more in each of those months. Much of this production is due to the high tunnels. Finally, the farm also installed a greenhouse in 2024 and grew thousands of plants that were then transplanted to the farm or shared with the community.
A Volunteer-Driven Ministry
Farm Manager, Matt Jones, first welcomed volunteers on Little Portion farm in 2019. As one of the primary missions of the farm is protecting and supporting the health of the soil and surrounding ecosystems, Matt helps teach volunteers how to use sustainable farming methods to produce a variety of food.
All farm work is done by hand using simple tools, and a ton of volunteer labor.
“Every action taken on the farm is done with an awareness of the potential impact on the land and surrounding ecosystem,” Matt said. “We believe that our care of the earth allows us to better serve the people who receive our food, because food is most nutritious when it comes from healthy soil.”
Volunteers like Paula are introduced to the work in a variety of ways – some hear about the ministry from friends, some attend Mass at the Shrine of St. Anthony (in view of Little Portion Farm), while others are introduced as part of a church, corporate, or school group. Paula is a lifelong gardener, but she’s learned a lot from her time volunteering, she said, including many techniques she’s brought to her home garden.
“I’ve always asked a million questions about the different plants and insects,” Paula said. “Volunteering has been the jewel on top of my love for gardening.”
Paula is one of more than 1,200 volunteers who’ve worked on Little Portion Farm over the last year. She’s contributed to the planting, caring, and harvesting of thousands of pounds of food this year that were all donated to partners, including the Franciscan Center, serving individuals living with food insecurity in the region.
In 2019, the farm hosted 62 unique volunteers, including friars and friars in formation. The volunteer base has grown steadily over the last five years. In the last year, the farm hosted more than 1,200 unique volunteers serving more than 7,500 hours on and off the farm. In that same time period, the farm has seen the number of unique volunteer groups grow tenfold – from three in 2019 to 30 groups last year.
While great strides have been made in the last five years, Matt said the work on the farm is only just beginning.
“I know the community sees the beauty of our work,” Matt said. “And we work with a faith that God is able to multiply the fruits that we harvest in the lives of those who labor and in those who enjoy these fruits.”