The Biggest Little Farm

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1 hour, 31 minutes

Watch it for...

A cathartic and inspiring story about two people committed to each other and their cause: bringing the earth back to life, one small farm at a time.

Synopsis

Molly Chester was a food writer with a dream of growing her own food. Her husband John was a wildlife photographer who told compelling stories about animals. Together, they were determined to make Molly’s dream of a sustainable farm come true. They raised funds through a network of friends, but the land they bought north of Los Angeles was a true wasteland. After some research, they persuaded biodynamic expert Alan York to teach them his methods. Told in a style that blends home video footage, infographics, and beautiful nature photography, this movie takes us through the ups-and-downs of making their dream of a sustainable farm come true. The story of Apricot Lane Farms, their eight-year labor of love, will inspire and delight you!

Liz's thoughts

John and Molly’s mutual respect and teamwork were amazing to witness. Their relationship, as well as their conviction about sustainability, felt authentic and never preachy. I have been a gardener for as long as I’ve been lucky to have a yard, and I was motivated by this movie to choose plants for their biodiversity and help my own backyard pollinators. I think about Apricot Lane Farms every time I go to my local farmers’ market.

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I’m also an animal lover who wishes she had her own chickens and sheep—so I got to live vicariously through them! The animals’ storylines in this movie were just as important as the human’s stories, and here John’s talent as a photographer really shines. The footage of piglets and lambs was adorable, and stop-motion and slow-motion techniques caught hummingbirds and hawks in action. It’s hard to watch a few moments of animals in peril, but the obvious bond between humans and animals, and the clear message of nature working in harmony, somehow made even these moments feel inspiring.