When John Chester and his chef/food writer wife Molly decided to move from Los Angeles to an abandoned 200-acre farm where Molly could grow anything she dreamed of cooking, the novice farmers had no clue of the mammoth task on their hands, he explain...
When John Chester and his chef/food writer wife Molly decided to move from Los Angeles to an abandoned 200-acre farm where Molly could grow anything she dreamed of cooking, the novice farmers had no clue of the mammoth task on their hands, he explained on "Salon Talks."
Motivating and inspiring the Chesters from the beginning was their beloved rescue dog Todd, whose incessant barking in their Los Angeles apartment became the reason for their eviction, and ultimate decision to raise money and buy a farm one hour north.
"Todd was a rescue dog and he came into our life. I made this promise to the dog that our home would be his last," Chester told SalonTV's Alli Joseph. "We had always been talking about farming and we found the courage in protecting our promise to the dog, to make this huge leap into farming."
"The Biggest Little Farm," a documentary film directed by Chester, follows the challenges and triumphs the Chesters faced building and running Apricot Lane Farms, a now successful organic, biodynamic farm that grows 250 fruits and vegetables and is home to over 800 animals. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018, and will be in theaters nationwide, after opening in LA and New York on May 10.
Watch the video above to hear more about the moment Chester realized just how idealist his farm dreams were. And watch the
full episode to hear about his day-to-day experiences as a farmer embracing nature's flaws.