Little Portion Farm is a ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual focused on providing fresh food to those in need while using sustainable farming methods. The 3-acre farm will function as an ecosystem, with a diversity of plants and habitats to support the life of this “little portion” of creation. In addition to common annual crops, the farm will also include sections of perennial plants, as well as native flowering plants to attract pollinators. As the food harvested from the farm will be donated to the Franciscan Center in Baltimore, the overarching mission of this ministry is, using the words of Pope Francis, to “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”  

The farm is also meant to serve as a place of gathering, service, reflection, and education for the local community, cultivating a deeper appreciation of the beauty of the natural world and its interconnectedness, and realizing the Catholic call to serve the most vulnerable and protect creation.  

The patron saint of the farm is Blessed Giles of Assisi, a farmer and early follower of St. Francis of Assisi. Bl. Giles inspired the work of the farm by his life of service and care for the poor. His words are a guiding light for the mission of Little Portion Farm: “Those who lovingly work their small expanse of fields, reap enough for themselves and others.”