I had the opportunity to visit Rei and Evan at their small, neighborhood farm last fall and was surprised to learn they were around the corner from me in Ojai. Ojai Roots was started by this duo in the height of COVID, a pet project to pass away the time and grow some food. Evan had grown up on his property and received the green light from his mother to start a home farm. Cut to a couple years later and he has a successful farm box delivery service benefiting locals and restaurants alike, as well namesake products like candles and olive oil not unlike the LA based well known Flamingo Estate.

I first learned of Kate Kilmurray when she reached out to me via Instagram, asking me if I would photograph her hand woven pot holders. She makes only potholders, just her, by hand on a small loom using dyed pieces of recycled fabric, often socks. Each pot holder a one of a kind. I am slowly amassing them.

Welcome to the world of GARA.

Based out of the East End in the bucolic Southern California farm town of Ojai, GARA is more than a natural skincare line. Emilee Dziuk-Barnett and Paul Barnett, the founders are dear friends of mine and active in the holistic healing community in Ojai. Emilee and Paul use locally sourced ingredients only and handcraft their tinctures, oils, tonics, hydrosols, serums, balms and creams out of their studio themselves.