Jennifer Garner saves family farm her mom grew up on to preserve family memories

Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 7, 2022. It has since been updated.

Jennifer Garner is saving the farm that her mom grew up on as a kid. The actor has bought the piece of land that was once owned by her grandparents and is now going all out to make it a flourishing place. Garner says her grandfather, a World War I veteran, bought the piece of land with the bonus he received from fighting the war. Garner’s mother, Patricia English Garner, grew up at the farm in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Jennifer Garner now wants to revive the place that her mother once treasured and associated with happiness. Her family had purchased the farm for just $700 in 1936. Patricia recalls how her parents didn't even have money for a car and that they had to hire someone to take them to the property.  

“My parents didn’t even have a car, so when they heard about the land that was for sale, they hired someone to drive them to the property. The farm consisted of a two-room house and 20 acres–minus 1 acre at the heart of the property, which was a Native American cemetery,” Patricia told Southern Living. "Mother told me the story of Dad leaning on his heels and negotiating all day over $20. When they finally agreed on a price, the deal was sealed, and the land was purchased. It’s been in our family ever since,” she ended. The farm didn't have running water or indoor plumbing at the time. The property has since changed hands multiple times and was left untended and uncared for over 40 years. In 2017, Jennifer Garner decided to buy the farm and turn it into paradise as her mother remembered it.

It wasn't just about reviving the memories of her mother but implementing a vision to turn it into a self-sustainable business. She hired her uncle Robert and aunt Janet to help her with running the farm. They had also previously owned the farm and knew the place well. Nothing had been planted on the farm for over 40 years. Her mother and her siblings had grown lettuce, radishes, and potatoes among other things on the farm and were avid farmers. She started a company named “Once Upon a Farm” along with co-founders Ari Raz, John Foraker and Cassandra Curtis. They decided to grow organic fruits and vegetables that could be made into nutritious food for children.

Garner said it was a longtime dream of hers. “Once upon a time… we dreamed of bringing baby food back to the roots with organic fruits and veggies harvested from local farmers, blended with love, and served fresh from the fridge. We dreamed of feeling less stressed about mealtimes because we could feed our little ones foods that give them all the nutrients they need – and then some!” read the company website. "We dreamed of a company filled with co-workers we're happy to spend time with every day and that offers the balance between work and life that every parent needs. Now, with Once Upon a Farm, our dream has come true." 

The company incorporated in 2018 has since been a huge success and can be found in some of the biggest retailers in America, including online and through the company's website.