Our founder

Jim Churchill writes:

This is Church, my dad and Lisa’s erstwhile employer. He spent his life making and distributing superior educational films; a lot of people passed through Churchill Films on their way to jobs in the industry.

My folks moved to Ojai in 1956, when I was 9 years old, and we lived there full-time through 1961. When we moved back to LA, my folks kept the house in Ojai, and I became a weekender. I always regarded Ojai as my home, even though for years I was not there more than I was there.

In 1972 Church bought the 40 acres which became the orchard. He was a canny dude and he detested the stock market; when he inherited some money he took it out of stocks and invested it in the land. He was never a farmer; for him the orchard was more to take advantage of the favorable tax treatment afforded orchards in the 70’s and to sell off parcels as the land appreciated and as he needed the money. It was his retirement.

He did sell off 3 parcels over the years, leaving us with 17 acres. Later he carried the orchard for years while Lisa and I were trying to figure out what would work. It’s thanks to his forebearance and support that we exist and are able to bring you the wonderful tangerines and other citrus and avocados that we’ve found.

Thanks Dad