The Biggest Little Farm

Watching the new documentary "The Biggest Little Farm" about an earnest couple trying to farm the old-school way just outside of Los Angeles, I learned one thing:

I never want to farm.

While there is much beauty to behold and much to honor in John and Molly Chester's dream, boy did it stress me out. From starting the project completely in the dark, to dealing with dead soil, aggressive wildlife, natural disasters, and much more, it really doesn't look like a fun experience. But for those that love it – like John and Molly – it's probably the most fulfilling thing they'll ever do.

The well-edited and beautifully photographed doc speedily gets to the meat of the story. John (an LA based cinematographer) and his wife Molly adopt a dog while he is shooting a doc on a woman with over 200 dogs living in her home. When they are taken away from her, John falls for a pup he calls Todd. But Todd is noisy, and soon enough John and Molly are evicted from their LA apartment. Having promised Todd they would be his last home, they decide to pursue a dream Molly has had for a long time: Run a traditional farm eschewing some of the more modern aesthetics to create a place that is self-sustaining and utilizes the plants, trees, wildlife, and animals they bring in to keep the farm going. They quickly seek the advice of an old farmer named Alan to show them the ropes, and off they go.

Following the farm over seven years, it's fascinating how their hard work ultimately pays off. But it is surely a tough road. From sick animals to birds that eat their fruit to a coyote problem that is only made worse because John's ideal is to not have to kill them to fix the issue. Various stumbling blocks come to light and it's with great interest how we watch them solve each one. But it's a struggle and it takes a long time before their vision is fully realized.

What the film misses, however, are two things:

One, we never see the toll trying to build, run, and sustain the farm takes on the couple. I was interested to see if it caused issues or brought them closer together but this aspect is never touched upon.

Two, we are never clear how the Chesters make their money. At one point they discuss how some of the farmer's markets aren't bringing the returns they hope. On the other hand, their eggs sell out daily. But what about the myriad other fruits, veggies, and animal products they sell? In addition, at one point John laments how he becomes attached to his lone pig Emma's piglets knowing they will eventually become someone's food. But that's the only time this issue is discussed.

While the film is engrossing, gorgeous, and inspiring, digging a little deeper into the personal reality would have made the complexity of the vision this couple had blossom. Despite those aspects missing, I was still moved by the endeavor and when it was all over I wanted to know more. Good thing I live an hour away. Time for a road trip!