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    Movie Review

    The Biggest Little Farm shows couple's quest toward bioharmony

    Alex Bentley
    May 17, 2019 | 2:20 pm
    The Biggest Little Farm shows couple's quest toward bioharmony
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    For most Americans, the idea of being a farmer is a daunting one. Most of us wouldn’t have the foggiest idea of where to start, and even if we did, the never-ending obstacles toward being successful would seem insurmountable.

     

    But John and Molly Chester aren’t most people. John, a nature documentarian, and Molly, a food vlogger, had big dreams of owning their own organic farm, but not the means to do so. Somehow, they were able to convince the right investors to seed their project, and they purchased a rundown and parched 200-acre farm north of Los Angeles in 2010.

     

     The Biggest Little Farm, directed by John Chester, chronicles the ups and downs the couple experienced as they attempted to bring their land back to life. Faced with soil that seemed inhospitable to any type of growth, they turned to Alan York, a veteran organic farmer, for help. His ambitious plan called for them to go way beyond what they had expected, turning the farm into an ideal paradise for food and creatures of all kind.

     

    Using his skills as a documentary filmmaker, John details the intricacies of this specific type of farming while never shying away from the joys and frustrations it can bring. That turns the film into a fantastic combination of a great nature documentary and heartfelt family movie.

     

    We get to know John, Molly, and Alan intimately, but the film is also a showcase for the myriad animals on the farm. The Chesters’ dog, Todd, was partially the impetus for them purchasing the farm, and John returns to the dog’s soulful blue eyes repeatedly in order to emphasize certain points. A sow named Emma, her rooster companion Greasy, an orphan lamb, menacing coyotes, and the plethora of chickens and ducks all become emotional plot points thanks to the deft storytelling and cinematography.

     

    Even though the film includes the difficulties of maintaining a biodynamic farm, in which they try to let all creatures — even wild ones — live in harmony, it can’t help but yada-yada a lot of in-between steps for the sake of brevity. But when a movie is chronicling events taking place over the course at least seven years, the filmmakers can be forgiven for not getting down in the weeds of everything.

     

    Still, it’s clear that the Chesters and their employees put in the back-breaking work day after day to make the farm a success, making their journey an amazing and inspiring one. They make a compelling case that, given the right resources and enough work ethic, a dream such as theirs is achievable by others.

     

    By the end of the film, the story of the Chesters and their farm — Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California — has brought forth a bevy of smiles and tears, and a strong desire to book a trip to visit their small slice of heaven.

    Molly and John Chester from The Biggest Little Farm.

    Molly and John Chester in The Biggest Little Farm
      
    Photo courtesy of Neon
    Molly and John Chester from The Biggest Little Farm.
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    Books News

    Indie Bird's Bookstore to open store & cafe at Preston Royal Dallas

    Alex Gonzalez
    Jul 9, 2025 | 3:55 pm
    Stack of books and coffee cup.
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    Brick-and-mortar bookstores continue their thrilling comeback, with a new one coming to a prominent North Dallas corner: Called Bird’s Bookstore, it's an independently-owned store opening in the Preston Royal shopping center at 6025 Royal Ln. #207, in a former massage place next to Eatzi's, where it will debut in August.

    Bird's Bookstore promises to be a unique retail destination incorporating elements of Scandinavian, Japanese, and mid-century modern design with books, magazines, and artisanal products.

    Owners Drew and Emily Dawson are a young couple inspired by design, history, and travel. Drew previously worked in the nonprofit sector to private equity before pursuing this decade-long dream. Emily is a former graphic designer who founded Emily by Design, a wardrobe consultation company in 2022.

    The couple first conceptualized the idea when they began dating 11 years ago while students at the University of Texas at Austin.

    “Initially, it was an idea that we wanted to execute towards retirement age,” Drew says. "But as I saw Emily follow her passion and open her own vintage clothing styling business a year and a half ago, I said, 'It's time for me too. I want to follow my passion and open this bookstore.' There's really no time like the present."

    Drew estimates that the shop will carry about 3500 adult fiction and nonfiction books at at time, along with 2500 kids and young adult books.

    “I like everything,” Drew says. “I like incredibly thick history books, memoirs, biographies, horror — all of it. We’ll be selling everything, including self-help and kids' books, since the area has a ton of families, and Emily and I have our own little one on the way."

     Emily and Drew Dawson Emily and Drew DawsonCourtesy

    While Drew handles the bulk of the book selection, Emily will oversee coffee table books, design books, and magazines.

    “We're going to have a strong selection of about 20 magazines covering the design and creative fashion industries, like Neptune, The Gentlewoman, and L’Etiquette," Emily says. "I'm anticipating there will be a draw for that because — other than certain shops in New York — there's not a place where you can buy these titles in person."

    Bird’s will also sell stationery and paper goods from European and Japanese vendors, as well as plates and bowls from Marcello Ortega of Marcello Andres Ceramics.

    The store will also house a small cafe serving coffee from Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters and baked goods from acclaimed Bresnan Bread and Pastry in McKinney.

    The couple keep their eyes on current reading trends, using sites like TikTok’s “BookTok” community, as well as literary social media outlets like Goodreads. Emily credits these platforms — as well as book clubs by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Jenna Bush Hager — for keeping bookstores alive.

    Dallas-Fort Worth is witnessing a small independent bookstore revival with Interabang Books nearby, plus Wild Detectives and Poets Bookshop, which just opened a second outpost in Deep Ellum.

    With the opening of Bird’s Bookstore, they hope to not only cultivate a space for those passionate about books, but also eliminate the burnout that comes from being attached to screens all day.

    “I think there's a fatigue of everything being online,” says Emily. “And I think there's a yearning for a community space that is beautiful, and feels like a second home — a place where you can get amazing customer service. We're excited to hopefully be that place for some people.”

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