Dirt and the Good Life

by Lisa Graham McMinn, Mark R. 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.

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2012

About the author

As a contemplative Quaker I see my job as loving creation, holding hope, nurturing, laughing, praying, and being attentively grateful. My blog, “Reflections on the Ordinary” captures appreciation for things messy and glorious, ancient and ever-changing, living and dying, and always held in the heart of God.

Alongside writing, my professional journey has included nursing, academia, farming and husbandry, and the offering of spiritual direction. For 20 years I taught sociology to college students, journeying with them as they connected dots from here to there, making sense of the world and their place in it. My Ph.D. gave me access to the ivory towers of academia that continues to inform my writing. When I transitioned out of the classroom, I trained to become a certified Spiritual Director and currently am in a lovely chapter tilted toward spiritual care.

I’m a tender of a small dairy goat herd, dahlias and daffodils, broccoli and beans, and people’s storied lives. In addition to crafting words, I make goat milk soap, and an occasional round of goat milk cheese.

For 44 years I have been married to Mark, and live grateful for our journey together with all its vicissitudes. We live at Fern Creek, a small farm outside of Newberg, Oregon where we preserve what we grown, and so our grandmother’s traditions, and a more simple way of life. For the last 42 I've mothered three extraordinary daughters, and for the last 13 years have had the joy of grandmothering six curious, blossoming souls.

My childhood faith has been deepened and broadened by the contemplative practices of Quakers, earthy Franciscan spirituality, the wisdom of ancient mystics, and most significantly by long walks with God in the woods.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't separate my years-long admiration of Lisa & Mark from my thoughts on this collection of stories. What I can say is that it felt very consistent with what I know of Fern Creek personally. (I was not a CSA member at the time of this writing but I have been the last 2 seasons.) A treasure.