Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Garcia.
Hi Jess , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Like many good things, Oak Creek Family Farm and our micro bakery started small.
My husband and I are raising six kids, and a few years ago we found ourselves craving a slower, more intentional life. We wanted our children to know where their food came from, to understand the value of hard work, and to grow up surrounded by the kind of community that shows up for one another. So, in 2021, we took a leap and started homesteading.
I began baking sourdough in our kitchen simply because I loved it. There was something special about the process—the patience it requires, the way it brings people together, and the joy of sharing a warm loaf of bread with someone you care about. I started baking for friends and neighbors, and through word of mouth, people began asking if they could purchase what I was making.
At the same time, our little homestead was growing. We added animals, opened an honor-system farmstand, and involved our kids in every part of the journey. What started as a desire to create a meaningful life for our family slowly grew into Oak Creek Family Farm and our micro bakery.
As the business evolved, I realized that one of my favorite parts of this journey was teaching others. What began with sharing loaves of bread turned into hosting sourdough classes, where I help people gain the confidence to bake from scratch in their own kitchens. I also teach canning classes because preserving food is a skill I believe is worth passing on. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching someone discover that these old-fashioned skills aren’t out of reach—they’re practical, empowering, and can bring so much joy to everyday life.
The road hasn’t been perfectly straight. We’ve navigated the same ups and downs that many families face, and there have been seasons that tested us deeply. But through it all, this business has remained rooted in what matters most: family, community, resilience, and hospitality.
Today, when people visit our farmstand, attend one of my classes, or bring home a loaf of sourdough, I hope they feel like they’re getting more than just a product or an experience. I hope they’re getting a small piece of our story and a reminder that there is still beauty in slowing down, gathering around the table, learning something new, and building a life filled with intention.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. I think anyone who tells you building a business while raising a family is easy probably isn’t telling the whole story.
My husband and I are raising a blended family of six children, and that alone comes with its own unique challenges and beautiful moments. We have learned how to navigate different personalities, schedules, transitions, and the constant balancing act of making sure each child feels seen, supported, and loved. There have been seasons filled with graduations, sports schedules, school events, and all of the wonderful chaos that comes with a big family.
There have also been seasons of heartbreak. We’ve walked alongside loved ones through serious illness and loss while still trying to show up for our family, our customers, and the commitments we’ve made. Life doesn’t pause when you’re running a farm and a micro bakery.
On the practical side, farming and baking both demand a lot. Animals don’t take days off, sourdough has its own timeline, and there have been plenty of moments when we’ve had to pivot, problem-solve, and learn through trial and error. We’ve made mistakes, adjusted our plans, and started over more than once.
But I truly believe those struggles have shaped us for the better. Building this business as a blended family has taught us resilience, flexibility, grace, and teamwork. Our kids have had a front-row seat to what it looks like to work hard, support one another, and keep moving forward even when life feels messy.
When people visit our farmstand, take one of my sourdough or canning classes, or bring home a loaf of bread, they’re seeing more than the finished product. They’re seeing the result of a family that chose to build something together—imperfectly, faithfully, and with a lot of love.
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the lessons we’ve learned or the life we’ve built, because every challenge has helped shape the story we’re still writing together.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Oak Creek Family Farm?
Oak Creek Family Farm is a small family farm, micro bakery, and educational space rooted in the belief that food has a way of bringing people together. We specialize in handcrafted sourdough breads and baked goods, pasture-raised meats, seasonal farm offerings, and teaching traditional skills that help people feel more connected to the food they put on their tables.
What people may know us for most is our sourdough. Every loaf is made with care, using long fermentation methods and ingredients I feel good about serving to my own family. But what started as bread has grown into so much more. We operate an honor-system farmstand, raise animals with intention, offer seasonal products from our farm, and host sourdough and canning classes where people can learn practical skills and gain confidence in their own kitchens.
One of the things that is most important to us is how we steward the land and care for our animals. We believe that healthy food starts with healthy soil, ethical animal husbandry, and thoughtful practices. Our animals are raised on pasture and given the opportunity to live the way they were intended to live—with fresh air, room to roam, and attentive care. We choose not to use sprays on our property because we want to protect the land our children play on, the pollinators that are essential to our ecosystem, and the food we are producing for other families. We focus on working with nature rather than against it, always striving to leave our little piece of the world better than we found it.
I think what sets us apart is that we’re inviting people into our real life. We’re not a large commercial operation with a polished image. We’re a blended family of eight building this business together. Our customers have watched our children grow up, celebrated milestones with us, grieved losses alongside us, and cheered us on through every new adventure. They know the faces behind the farmstand and the hands that shaped the loaf sitting on their table.
The educational side of our business has become one of the things I’m most proud of. Teaching someone how to bake their first successful loaf of sourdough or preserve food for their family gives them more than just a recipe—it gives them confidence and a connection to generations of knowledge that came before us. Watching people realize, “I can do this,” never gets old.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve stayed true to who we are. In a world that often values convenience and perfection, we’ve built a brand centered around authenticity, hospitality, and community. We don’t pretend to have it all figured out. We simply show up as ourselves and invite others to pull up a chair.
What I want readers to know is that Oak Creek Family Farm isn’t just about buying bread, meat, or farm products. It’s about knowing the people who raised your food and understanding the care that went into it. It’s about slowing down, gathering around the table, learning something new, supporting local agriculture, and remembering that some of life’s sweetest moments are often the simplest ones. Whether someone visits our farmstand, attends a class, or follows along online, I hope they leave feeling inspired to create a little more connection, intention, and joy in their own homes.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always an animal lover. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from spending summers on my grandparents’ property, riding horses, swimming in the creek, and spending every spare moment I could out in the pasture. I felt most at home outside, with dirt under my fingernails and animals nearby.
I was also outgoing, curious, and, if I’m being honest, a little odd—and I’ve learned to embrace that about myself. I played soccer and was on dance team, but while other kids may have dreamed about city life, some of my happiest moments were standing beside my grandma in the kitchen learning how to make pie crust from scratch or wandering the property looking for my next adventure. Looking back, I don’t think I was ever really made for suburban life.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of seven. As a child, there were definitely times when I felt like I didn’t fit neatly into the boxes society expected. My mind moved fast, I had big ideas, and I often saw the world a little differently than the people around me. But animals never expected me to be anything other than exactly who I was. There was a comfort and connection there that shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time.
Now, as an adult, I can see how those pieces of my childhood prepared me for the life I’m living today. The creativity, the ability to pivot quickly, the willingness to learn new skills, and the energy to juggle many different roles have all become strengths. Running a farm, a micro bakery, teaching classes, raising six kids in a blended family, and building a business requires adaptability and leadership—and I genuinely love that no two days look the same.
In many ways, I think I’ve come full circle. The little girl who loved horses, homemade pie crust, and spending all day outdoors grew up to build a life centered around those same values: family, animals, good food, community, and a deep appreciation for the simple things. I may not have always fit the mold, but I’ve learned that sometimes the qualities that make you feel different as a child become the very things that allow you to create a life that’s uniquely your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oakcreekoregon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakcreek_familyfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083288303794
