In 2015, I moved back to my hometown a small valley town of Ojai, California too be near family and to heal my body. Years of chronic inflammation had left me searching for answers, and it became clear that food something so basic, so central to our daily lives might hold the key.
So I made a decision to start over. I cleared my pantry of processed and grain-based foods and began experimenting in my kitchen. The goal wasn’t to build a business—it was to feel better. Within weeks, I noticed changes: more energy, better digestion, a clear sense that my body was finally being nourished rather than inflamed.
But I missed my morning ritual: granola. The comfort of that crunchy, slightly sweet bowl that started my day. Determined to recreate it in a way my body could love, I began blending nuts and seeds, soaking and sprouting them, and drying them slowly to preserve nutrients and flavor. What came out of the oven was something new light, crisp, and deeply satisfying.
At first, I shared my creations with friends and neighbors. Their reactions convinced me I was onto something bigger. I started bringing bags to the Ojai Farmers Market under the name Ojai Granola Girl. My two sons helped me at the booth, and soon we had a small but loyal following of locals who believed in real, simple food.
A few months later, a trademark snag forced me to rename the company. The answer was literally outside my front door. I lived on Lark Ellen Avenue, a street inspired by Ellen Beach Yaw, an opera singer from the late 1800s whose incredible vocal range earned her the nickname “Lark Ellen.” She was also a philanthropist who used her talent to help others, a story that felt like a mirror of what I hoped to build: a business rooted in compassion, care, and community.
And so, Lark Ellen Farm was born.
What began as one woman’s experiment in self-healing grew into a family-run brand dedicated to crafting sprouted, organic, grain-free foods that truly nourish. Today, our products are found nationwide, but the spirit of those early days, the small batches, the integrity, the curiosity still guides everything we do.
Sprouting remains at the heart of it all. It’s a simple, ancient practice that transforms nuts and seeds by soaking them in water, unlocking their nutrients, and making them easier to digest. It’s a process of renewal just like my own journey from inflammation to innovation.
Every bag of Lark Ellen Farm granola or sprouted nuts is a little piece of that story: the belief that food can heal, that simplicity can be powerful, and that kindness in business and in life always matters.
From our Ojai kitchen to your table, thank you for being part of the journey.