First Fruits Farm - Serving Alongside Others

At First Fruits Farm, PHILEMON MEN discover that the greatest harvest is found in service, fellowship, and compassion.

The morning air is fresh, the fields are alive with activity, and volunteers arrive with a common purpose: to help provide food for people in need. In July 2026, and again in August, members of Philemon Ministry traveled to First Fruits Farm in northern Baltimore County, Maryland, to experience firsthand the mission of a place where agriculture and compassion come together.

Before the day’s work began, volunteers received guidance and encouragement from the farm team. Soon, they joined a larger community of people from across Maryland and beyond who had come together to serve. The work was simple but meaningful—each person playing a role in a much larger effort.

The first assignment was a lesson in teamwork. Volunteers helped package hundreds of pounds of fresh green beans from large 550-pound bins into smaller boxes ready for distribution. The repetitive work required many hands, but the atmosphere made the task enjoyable. Volunteers from different backgrounds worked side by side, and the process moved quickly because everyone shared the same goal: helping feed those who are hungry. In August, and again in September, Philemon returned to harvest tomatoes and potatoes. This is what service looks like, and this is the kind of fruit your support can bear!