Our Team
Harry Carr - Farmer, Founder
Harry & Gwen bought the land that became Mint Creek Farm together in the early 1990s with a dream to restore the native prairie. With their then very young kids, Jonathan and Raya, they studied biodynamic and organic agriculture at Michael Fields Institute, rooting the farm in those principles. Harry, a self-taught entrepreneur who grew up hunting and gardening in rural New Jersey, became a voracious lifelong learner about holistic perennial polyculture farming practices. These farming practices embrace the diversity and abundance of nature, demonstrating a healing alternative to the chemical-laden industrial monoculture crop farming so prevalent in the Midwest. Harry has long been an advocate of the power of perennial pasture to counteract climate change & add resilience and biodiversity to this region, stewarding land this way and inspiring others to do so. Harry has plugged along organically farming in Illinois for over 30 years now & continues to be the fearless leader of the farm. Harry is a joy to learn from and a wealth of experience ranging from how to deliver a breech baby lamb to the nuances of soil science on the farm.
Erin Hancock (they/them) - Market Operations Manager
Erin began their journey with Mint Creek in April 2024, staffing our booths at various farmers markets throughout Chicago and Evanston. It only took one season for Erin to fall in love with the work of promoting organic, pasture-raised meat while building relationships with customers who are equally as passionate about supporting regenerative farming and community-based food systems. In December 2024, Erin stepped into the role of Operations Manager, providing full-time support to the week-to-week operations of Mint Creek's presence at farmers markets across Chicago. Erin feels like they have the best of both worlds - getting to work at markets on the weekends while also getting to spend time each week out at the farm learning more about Mint Creek's farming philosophy and practices while connecting with the land and the animals.
Chaniece Moryah - Market Staff
Chaniece’s journey with Mint Creek began June 2023. She primarily works retail at the Chicago farmers’ markets. Chaniece was drawn to Mint Creek first as a customer to the organic and regenerative practices that centered the well-being of both the soil and the animals. What Chaniece likes most about her work is getting to know the community of folks who shop with Mint Creek every week, and working with the sweet and kind folks at Mint Creek. Fun fact, Chaniece absolutely LOVES to dance!
Maddy Ray (she/her) - Lead Market Chef, Home Delivery Staff
Maddy has worked for Mint Creek seasonally since 2021. Here she is pictured doing home deliveries in February. She is proud of developing the recipe for pulled pork/boar in partnership with Urban Canopy and bartending at Farm Dinners.
Aly Meza - Market Staff
Aly joined the farmers market staff team in spring 2025. A Chicagoan born and raised, she loves the city's access to locally raised and grown food. The market is the perfect outlet for her extroversion, where she enjoys chatting with customers and picking up cooking tips. When she’s not with Mint Creek, you can find her bike camping through the Great Lakes region, attending births as a doula, and studying for nursing school.
El Arkin (they/them) - Market Chef, Market Staff
El is an artist, clown, bodyworker and chef who has supported mint creek with deliveries starting in fall 2024, but often picks up market shift slinging sandos. They're passionate about local food systems, food justice, and ecology. They're known for their emojis and puns delivery texts and making sure everyone is hydrated and taking breaks at summer sweaty heatwave markets. They currently spend their days dreaming up marinades, foraging, and playing in the kitchen.
Anton Kriksunov (he/him) - Farmhand, Market Staff
Anton has become an integral part of Mint Creek operations since joining the team in 2023 after relocating to the farm from San Fransisco, taking a hiatus from the tech sector to learn to drive the tractor. Anton often does farm chores as well as farmers’ market sales, and with his background in engineering & programming, he has been fixing things and focusing on systems improvements since he first arrived!
Maddy Rowe - Farmhand
Gwen Carr - Farmer, Founder
Gwen, an owner, caretaker, and advisor to the farm, spends much of her time these days teaching Montessori School. She cares for the farm animals throughout the summers—at times with great delight. Gwen, a devoted mother, Montessori teacher, writer, & master gardener from southern California, imparts Mint Creek with her love of healthy food and respect for nature as well as the people involved with the farm.
Raya Carr (she/her) - Shepherdess, Founder
Raya’s love of sheep began at age 4 when Mint Creek got its first two lambs. She’s been a founding team member and and a force behind the farm ever since (still naming sheep with great satisfaction). Raya’s aim is healing & balance within the powerful & delicate community ecologies we exist within to eat and live. After growing up as farmhand at Mint Creek, Raya spent most of her 20s running the farm’s markets and launching new enterprises for Mint Creek, while pursuing a career as a LMT at Centered Chicago & with a private practice. In 2019, Raya joined the team at Iroquois Valley Farms where she guided other farmers seeking financing and organic land leases through the investment process. Inspired by the business challenges & opportunities holistic farmers & small business people face, Raya completed her MBA in Finance at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in 2025. She is extremely grateful to spend time in Mint Creek’s prairie fields while using this knowledge to iterate business improvements at this farm & beyond.
Jonathan Carr - Founder, Advisor
Jonathan grew up on Mint Creek, and is passionate about organic land stewardship and the environmental impacts of farming ecologically. He has been a vital part of Mint Creek for decades, and over the years he has worn many hats: from farm management, organic certification paperwork, bookkeeping, business planning & grant writing, to soil & pasture maintenance through prairie restoration. After completing his degree in computer science, Jonathan became a software developer for a Chicago-area public sector hospital system. He lives with his wife Kathleen and their two daughters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Jonathan loves playing music on piano and accordion (and just about any instrument you put into his hands). As a trusted advisor for the farm, Jonathan takes a broad view of the family business, assessing the bigger picture risks and proposing informed solutions.
Sean Winters - Lead Farmhand
Sean found Mint Creek through his mother, Christine, who worked for the farm, as well. Sean started at Mint Creek some time afterwards, and took well to the hard work and heavy lifting. Sean has now been farming with Mint Creek for the better part of a decade, and manages on farm animal care and livestock operations during the week. He has particular fondness for the livestock guardian dogs and the goats. Sean and his family also raise a few of their own animals on a nearby farm.
Carly Pinto - CSA Coordinator, Marketing
Carly discovered us after beginning her journey as a holistic nutritionist in Chicago in search for the highest quality meat offered in her area. As an advocate of conscious meat eating, she felt deeply connected to the mission of Mint Creek's farming philosophy. Carly is excited to be working behind the scenes of this truly unique farm and is passionate to spread the word about their mission in the nutrition and holistic health field.
Syd Raven Whittington (she/her) - Market Staff
Syd has enjoyed her work in the service industry for the last 17 years and loves bringing that passion to the amazing team at Mint Creek. Syd believes community and human connection are the bedrock of a meaningful and joyful life, and has found those values held by everyone else on the team. In addition to the humans she gets to work with and serve at the markets, she enjoys the time spent with the animals and learns new things from every visit to the farm!
Wilson Yerxa - Market + Prepared Food Staff, Home Delivery Staff
Wilson has worked markets on the retail and prepared food side on and off since 2019. He loves the people, the variety of scrappy labor, and the food(!) he gets to enjoy working for Mint Creek. He’s lived in Chicago since 2018. When he drives the farm’s delivery van through all Chicago’s neighborhoods, he’s flooded with endless memories.
Mi Row (he/they) - Market Staff
Mi has been a part of the Mint Creek team at Chicago Farmers' Markets since May 2025. He has loved working on a team with shared values of maintaining connections to the environment and building relationships with our food sources. When not at the markets, Mi loves to play board games with friends and loved ones!