A Visit to Apricot Lane Farms, California

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When my friend invited me to tour Apricot Lane Farms in California, he told me to watch the HBO documentary The Biggest Little Farm beforehand to “prepare myself.” I didn’t. (Much to his irritation — he’s used to it by now.) I’ve always believed it’s better to arrive somewhere without expectations, to let a place introduce itself on its own terms.

We made the drive to Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark under that golden Southern California light — the kind that stirs up nostalgia for a simpler life you never actually lived.

And the moment we stepped onto the farm, I felt it: that quiet, reverent energy, like entering a sanctuary. There’s something sacred in the way the land is cared for here. Something alive in the soil, the air, the stillness — as if the earth itself is exhaling.

Where is Apricot Lane Farms

Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California, is 51 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

What to Expect on an Apricot Lane Farms Tour

The tour is absolutely lovely, and I highly recommend it. While it’s a few hours of walking and they describe it as a ‘strenuous uphill climb,’ I didn’t find it difficult at all. If walking or standing for extended periods is a concern, they offer golf cart transportation if needed.

Need to know about this family-friendly farm tours in California

• Arrive early — the tour starts promptly. I arrived about 30 minutes early and snuck into the garden and took many photos without anyone getting in my background shots. Bunnies hopped around me in the garden. The tour guides saw me and didn’t stop me, which was nice.
• Bring a sun hat and a water bottle — We lucked out on the day we visited—the sky stayed overcast the entire time, and I actually found it a bit chilly. But from what I’ve heard, that’s not the norm. Typically, once the clouds burn off, it gets quite hot, so be sure to bring plenty of water to stay comfortable during the tour.
• Wear comfy shoes — You’re walking on a farm, people, it’s dirty. Wear sneakers or hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Parking — Once you drive into Apricot Farms, parking is on your right. It’s easy and there is plenty of it.
• Bathrooms — Sadly, only porta-potties. Yikes, I skipped this part. (This is my only complaint.)
• Bring a lot of money — If you want to shop at the farm stand after the tour for their famous eggs and Avocado Oil, it’s not cheap. The eggs are about $12 per dozen, and the Avocado Oil is $55 (and that is the discounted price)
• Molly and John Chester — Molly and John Chester, the owners, are usually working the farm. They weren’t there the day we visited, but apparently that’s unusual.

Apricot Lane Farms: Origin Story

Inspired by their rescue dog, Todd, Molly and John Chester traded their small Venice, California, apartment for a rundown plot of land in Moorpark, with a dream of building a farm that worked in harmony with nature.

In 2011, they founded Apricot Lane Farms, a place that would come to embody Molly’s lifelong dream of creating a traditional, biodiverse farm rooted in regenerative principles.

Their journey is beautifully captured in the documentary The Biggest Little Farm, which I highly recommend watching. Todd plays such a pivotal role in their story that it almost feels like the farm should bear his name—he was, in many ways, the spark that started it all. 🐕‍🦺

Apricot Lane Farms Video

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Traditional Farming

Apricot Lane Farms: A Regenerative Farming Model

When the founders, John and Molly Chester, set out to build a traditional farm, they weren’t expecting to start a quiet revolution. What began as a dream to grow real food on healthy land quickly evolved into something much deeper — a journey toward regenerative agriculture, a philosophy rooted in restoring the land rather than depleting it.

Early on, they crossed paths with renowned biodynamic consultant Alan York, who became their mentor and helped shape the vision of Apricot Lane Farms. Alan didn’t just teach them how to farm — he taught them how to listen to the land, to see every pest, weed, and wild animal as part of a greater ecological story.

At Apricot Lane Farms, regenerative farming isn’t a buzzword — it’s a daily practice.

Beneath the Alan York Lookout at Apricot Lane Farms lies a serene pond (see pic above) that reflects more than just the sky — it mirrors the farm’s commitment to biodiversity and balance. This pond isn’t just picturesque; it plays an essential role in supporting local wildlife and managing water naturally on the land. Surrounded by native plants and teeming with life, it’s a living tribute to the farm’s regenerative philosophy and the visionary who helped shape it.

From planting cover crops that nourish the soil to letting ducks manage pests instead of chemicals, every decision is made with the ecosystem in mind.

What’s remarkable is how this approach, grounded in age-old principles, has brought the land back to life — and with it, an entire web of wildlife, balance, and beauty.

Let’s explore regenerative farming terms and how their respect for soil, biodiversity, and natural rhythms has transformed their 234-acre farm into a thriving model of sustainability — and a beacon of hope for the future of farming.

• Founding and Location: Apricot Lane Farms was established in 2011 by John and Molly Chester in Moorpark, California, approximately 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. ​
• Farm Size: The farm encompasses 234 acres of countryside.
• Farming Practices: Apricot Lane Farms is certified Organic and Biodynamic®. The farm focuses on building soil health, maximizing biodiversity, and regeneratively growing nutrient-dense food.
• Crop Diversity: The farm cultivates over 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including more than 60 different fruit varieties in their diverse orchard known as “The Fruit Basket.”
• Livestock Integration: Animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, goats, and guardian dogs are raised with care and respect. Each species plays a role in the farm’s ecosystem, contributing to soil fertility and pest control.
• Soil Health and Cover Crops: A critical step in revitalizing the farm’s soil involved planting cover crops—edible grasses, clovers, peas, radishes, and other plants—to enhance soil fertility and structure. 
• Water Conservation: The farm employs practices that reduce water usage compared to conventional farms and enhance the infiltration of rainwater back into the aquifer, minimizing runoff.
• Ecosystem Restoration: Apricot Lane Farms has dedicated portions of its land to wildlife habitats, supporting over 100 bird species and 215 native plant species. ​
• Educational Outreach: The farm offers guided tours, providing visitors with insights into regenerative agriculture practices and the interconnectedness of farming and nature. ​

The Biggest Little Farm Documentary

After spending an afternoon at Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California, I went home and watched Apricot Lane Farms Documentary, The Biggest Little Farm, and promptly burst into tears.

Maybe it was the ducks waddling in single file between the rows of trees I had just walked through, or the quiet devotion of the farmers who spoke with such tenderness about soil, compost, and cover crops. Maybe it was the sheer beauty of a place that feels both wild and intentional — where nature isn’t controlled, but invited to participate.

All I know is that something about this farm lodged itself deep in my heart.

What Molly and John did — are doing — is the kind of quiet miracle that doesn’t ask to be noticed. They didn’t “save” the land; they listened to it. They let it speak. They allowed the gophers and coyotes, the owls and ladybugs, the wildflowers and weeds to return because they understood something elemental: that the earth doesn’t need us to fix it. It needs us to get out of the way, to become stewards instead of owners, participants instead of masters.

This isn’t nostalgia for the past. It’s a blueprint for something better. A regenerative rhythm, a return not to old ways, but to right ones.

Out there among the apricots and avocados, I found myself longing for a life lived slower. A life in tune with seasons, with effort, with consequence. A life where we remember that farming, real farming, is not extraction but collaboration — and that our future depends on how gently we can place our hands back on the land.

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