by Mark R. McMinn & Lisa Graham McMinn
Life at Fern Creek points toward simplicity, community, compassion, justice, gratitude, generosity, hope, humility, openness, faith, and integrity. The concepts hold such lofty and idyllic connotations when stored as words in the mind. But when connected to Willamette Valley dirt, the words become the underpinning for stories. Each shared life experience is a human-interest story. As Mark and Lisa chronicle life at Fern Creek, their convictions and commitments show through. Their narrative is actually about something more than growing produce for community-supported agriculture subscribers, it's about making choices that enhance life.
Mark and Lisa McMinn's journey has taken them from Oregon to Wheaton, Illinois, and back again to Oregon. Here their Christian values found fertile soil at Fern Creek. Life for Mark and Lisa includes a lot of teaching and writing. Professionally they each have a Ph.D. degree. Mark is professor of psychology and Lisa is professor of sociology, both at George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon. But their reflections on life at Fern Creek make it obvious their world extends well beyond the halls of academia.