The Farm
Saint Joseph Acres is both a first generation farm, and one with deep roots. The farm is located just north of McMinnville, where the town of Saint Joseph used to be. Though the land has been in Mark’s family as a dairy since 1920, it is new to growing produce for market. After fifteen years of grass seed production, Mark and Liz have the opportunity to return the land to food production.
In 2015 the farm started with a 1.5 acre plot filled with row upon row of various crops. In August of that year the first truckload of produce went to market, and from then on Mark and Liz have delighted in sharing the fruits, and vegetables, of their labor with the public. Talking to people about what we grow and how we grow it is the highlight of our week.
We’re excited to continue sharing the bounty of our fields in the 2019 season.
Our goals are to provide fresh, delicious, produce grown in a sustainable way, at reasonable prices. We believe that healthy fruits and vegetables should be available to all members of our community and now we’re doing our part to make that happen – We’re glad to have you along!
Mark
Mark’s been training practically his whole life for farming.
Mark is the driving force behind this operation. With the idea of becoming a farmer always on his mind, he grew up managing a vegetable garden in his backyard, adding more and more space each season. With some diversions along the way, his focus always turned back to the task of growing food; including adding a soil science second major to his philosophy degree at Oregon State University. Now he has the chance to combine his practical knowledge of the land, his formal training in soil health, and his resourceful nature to grow sustainable food in the Yamhill valley.
Liz
Liz is Mark’s partner in farming, and in life. When Mark hinted at wanting to start a farm, she was on board from the very beginning. Liz grew up shopping at farmers markets with her mom, but had never imagined she would be on the other side of the booth. Now, she loves cooking with her own farm-fresh produce and is excited to try out new recipes this season. In June 2016, Liz graduated with a Master’s degree from Western Oregon University to become a high school social studies teacher. She is looking forward to using those skills to educate the community about the importance of local agriculture and small farms.