ABOUT THE FARM

The most unique aspect of Apricot Lane Farms is its purposeful integration within an intentionally reawakened ecosystem. The marriage between farm and nature is how we maximize the flavor of the food we grow and regulate the immune system of our land. And ultimately it all starts (and ends, and restarts) with the soil. The relationship between the health of our planet and everything that lives on it is regulated by the stability of microbially diverse soil systems. As John likes to say, “Whether we eat a cow or a carrot, it is only as nutritious as the soil that feeds it.” And healthy soil is built from the top down, which means every decision we make above it matters. In short, this is why ecologically regenerative farming methods that restore biodiversity above and within the soil (cover cropping, compost application, managed grazing, etc.) create some of the most nutrient-dense and flavorful food that only nature can provide.

Bringing to life this connection between food and ecosystems has been the guiding vision of Molly and John Chester since the farm was founded in 2011. Today the farm spans 234 acres of countryside in Moorpark, California, just 40 miles north of Los Angeles. We grow more than 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables, and raise cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and ducks on pastures and within our orchards. The farm is Certified Organic (CCOF) and Certified Biodynamic® (Demeter). Several of our restored habitat areas are Certified Wildlife Habitat, and our Holistic Livestock Program is Humane Certified.

Learn more about our farming practices by clicking around the different areas of the farm above.. or see it for yourself on a guided Farm Tour!

Map illustration by Andreana Raville