FemaleStory

Jennifer Garner made a decision to save her family’s history 

Jennifer Garner is one of the most beloved celebrities, known for her relatable and approachable personality. Her Instagram account is filled with wholesome content about motherhood and navigating through life.

Patricia English Garner, Jennifer’s mother, grew up on a farm in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. She has many sweet memories of her childhood there. Patricia recalls how her parents bought the land in 1936 with a bonus her father received from fighting in World War I. The family had only $700 at the time and didn’t own a car, so they hired someone to drive them to the property. The farm consisted of a two-room house and 20 acres, minus one acre which was a Native American cemetery.

Patricia reminisces, “My parents didn’t even have a car, so when they heard about the land for sale, they hired someone to drive them to the property. The farm had a two-room house and 20 acres, minus one acre at the heart of the property, which was a Native American cemetery. My dad spent all day negotiating over $20. When they finally agreed, the deal was sealed, and the land has stayed in our family ever since.”

Over the years, as family members grew up and moved away, the farm changed hands several times. Finally, in 2017, Jennifer Garner decided to purchase the farm herself. She envisioned turning it into a profitable business and enlisted the help of her uncle Robert and aunt Janet, who had previously owned the farm.

It had been 40 years since the farm was last planted and tended to. Jennifer’s mother and her siblings were once avid farmers, selling pecans and growing lettuce, radishes, and potatoes. Jennifer wanted to revive this tradition. She co-founded “Once Upon a Farm” with Ari Raz, John Foraker, and Cassandra Curtis. Their goal was to grow organic fruits and vegetables to make nutritious food for children.

Jennifer shared her vision, saying, “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!”

The company, started in 2018, has been highly successful. Their products are stocked at major retailers across America and are also available online. Jennifer emphasizes that providing busy moms with access to nutritious food is important to her.