Every Harvest Tells a Story.
Love Bug Farm
How it started
Rooted in purpose. Growing with intention.
My daughter "Love Bug" planting garlic.
- Maiya
Love Bug Farm is a regenerative, certified naturally grown farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where love is put into action through caring for people and caring for the land. Established in 2022, the farm grows diverse, nutrient-dense produce that nourishes the local community while building soil health and supporting thriving ecosystems. Love Bug Farm isn't just growing food — it's cultivating meaningful connections that inspire healthier, more connected lives.
The Meaning of "Love Bug"
Love — Love is an action. Love Bug Farm practices farming through love — caring for the land and the people who will be nourished by what they grow.
Bug — Bugs indicate healthy soil and thriving ecosystems. We're all part of an ecosystem. When soil thrives through regenerative practices, so does the community. The presence of beneficial bugs signals the vitality and balance you're cultivating.
The story behind the farm
It started with a garden.
I grew up in a largely immigrant community just outside of DC, where my family put down roots after arriving as refugees. Our neighbors came from El Salvador, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Jamaica, Guyana, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic — nearly every part of the world was represented. And the thing that connected us all, across every language and cultural difference, was food.
I remember my father turning our entire backyard into a garden. He grew vegetables and herbs from our homeland alongside tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Being in that garden brought him peace — a kind of healing that didn't need translation. At the peak of summer, we'd knock on neighbors' doors and offer whatever we'd grown. Despite every barrier between us, that garden built community.
That experience shaped everything. My path wound through restaurant kitchens, community farms, and years of learning before it led here. Along the way, I came to understand that farming is about so much more than food — it's about building food security, honoring cultural traditions, helping people connect with the land, and inspiring our community to take ownership of their own health and well-being. In 2022, those motivations became Love Bug Farm.
"All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you."
- Octavia Butler
What we believe
There's no culture without agriculture.
Our harvest isn't only about nutrition. It's about honoring the food traditions that live in the communities we serve — the ginger, the lemongrass, the turmeric, that show up in kitchens across this region and around the world.
That's part of why we grow what we grow. It's about honoring the food traditions that live in this community. The parent who wants their child to know where their family's flavors come from. The chef who wants to source an ingredient with integrity. The neighbor who just wants food that feels like home.
"There is no culture without agriculture"
- Baba Oduno
Growing through change
Still growing. Still giving.
For the first few years of Love Bug Farm, we had the privilege of partnering with the Capital Area Food Bank to deliver fresh, locally grown produce to families across our community. Through federal funding, our small half-acre farm grew, harvested, and delivered over 30,000 pounds of nutritious produce to neighbors in need.
That federal funding has since been discontinued. But our commitment hasn't. This year, we're expanding direct-to-consumer sales throughout Prince George's and Montgomery County, and launching a Community Nourishment Fund — where every dollar donated goes directly toward fresh produce for families who need it most. When you purchase from Love Bug Farm, you're helping us feed your neighbors, too.
If you'd like to give directly, you can make a donation to our Community Nourishment Fund at any time.
What drives us
Caring for people and caring for the land are one and the same.
At Love Bug Farm, every decision is made with the next generation in mind. We believe that when we strengthen the connections between land, food, and community, we build food systems that truly serve us all.
Regenerative Agriculture
We build soil, not just grow crops. Cover cropping, composting, and no-till practices restore the earth with every season.
Hyperlocal Access
Nearly everything we grow is harvested and delivered within 15–20 miles. Your food was growing in the earth before it reached you.
Chemical-Free Growing
No synthetic pesticides. No artificial fertilizers. Just sun, water, compost, and fifteen years of hard-won intuition.
Community First
We partner with non-profits, food banks, schools, and local families. Growing food is how we grow community.
From seed to soul
How Your Food Gets to You
We Start with the Soil
Living soil through composting, cover cropping, and no-till practices — healthy food starts with a healthy foundation.
Seeds Are Planted
Diverse plantings that reflect the full richness of this community and support the ecosystem.
Harvested Fresh
No pesticides. No shortcuts. We work with nature, not against it. Picked at peak ripeness before it reaches you.
To Your Table
Less than 20–30 miles from our soil to your table. From our soil to your soul.
