What would it take for you to abandon your comforts and live and work the land around you? What would it feel like to source your own water, smell your own grown foods, and see the fields about you flourish because of your own hands?
What if it didn’t take very much at all?
This is the case for John and Molly Chester, who freely forfeit their city lives for the chance to control their own land. They come to an awareness of living in an environmentally friendly fashion only after their rescue dog barked incessantly in the city, leading their landlord to evict them. That started them on a path to a place where the dog could run free and bark all he wants. Their commitment to Todd, the dog they promised not to abandon under any circumstances, leads them to launch Apricot Lane Farms, in a forgotten rural area north of Los Angeles where the soil was dead and in dire need of resurrection. It’s a struggle—coyotes eat chickens, birds wreak havoc with their fruit—but they persevere, and each temporary curse forces them to dig to find the blessing.
The Biggest Little Farm is a light of true magic, finding in a world of struggling soil and impending catastrophe joy in cultivation. Sure, John and Molly are clearly on a quest of sustainability, but digging deeper, there is a sense of calling in any kind of light. Also laced in the film there is grace in learning and making mistakes that only lead to growth on this beautiful farm.
The Dove Take
Splendidly photographed and uncompromising with its detail and dilemma, The Biggest Little Farm is a wonderful testament to our relationship with our land. Dove awards it approval for All Ages.
