S R McMullen’s roots are deep in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where on a daily basis her parents grew and preserved their own food. Having been raised in that rich culture helps inform her love of gardening and food preservation. McMullen is a pastor’s wife, a mother, and a grandmother, and has training in architecture (twelve of her designs have been constructed), music, fine arts, and the Bible. She writes and teaches a ladies’ Bible study that has been going on for over twenty years, leads the ladies’ Sunday School class at her church, organizes the music for the church services, and plays banjo in the worship band. Her greatest heart’s desire is for people to be encouraged in the LORD.