Biggest Little Farm – Documentary on Traditional/Regenerative Farming
Background
A testament to the immense complexity of nature, The Biggest Little Farm follows two dreamers and a
dog on an odyssey to bring harmony to both their lives and the land. When the barking of their beloved
dog Todd leads to an eviction notice from their tiny LA apartment, John and Molly Chester make a choice
that takes them out of the city and onto 200 acres in the foothills of Ventura County, naively endeavoring
to build one of the most diverse farms of its kind in complete coexistence with nature. The land they’ve
chosen, however, is utterly depleted of nutrients and suffering from a brutal drought. The film chronicles
eight years of daunting work and outsize idealism as they attempt to create the utopia they seek,
planting 10,000 orchard trees and over 200 different crops, and bringing in animals of every kind–
including an unforgettable pig named Emma and her best friend, Greasy the rooster. When the farm’s
ecosystem finally begins to reawaken, so does the Chesters’ hope – but as their plan to create perfect
harmony takes a series of wild turns, they realize that to survive they will have to reach a far greater
understanding of the intricacies and wisdom of nature, and of life itself.
Apricot Lane Farms is a traditional foods farm started by John and Molly Chester, a husband and wife
team, who left their jobs in Los Angeles to become farmers and pursue their dream vision of starting
Apricot Lane Farms in 2011. Located 40 miles north of Los Angeles, the farm is dedicated to the mission
of creating a well-balanced eco-system and rich soils that produce nutrient-dense foods while treating
the environment and the animals with respect. Apricot Lane farm residents include pigs, goats, sheep,
chickens, ducks, guinea hens, horses, highland cattle, and one brown swiss dairy cow named “Maggie.”
Many of which, you will meet in the Biggest Little Farm. The land consists of Biodynamic Certified
avocado and lemon orchards, a vegetable garden, pastures, and over 75 varieties of stone fruit.
