MISSION STATEMENT
Producers of organic diverse probiotic foods and beverages– invigorating hearts, minds and guts while embracing diversity in farming and in eating and empower a healthy planet and healthy selves through the science and art of fermentation.
VISION STATEMENT
California producer of organic bio-diverse probiotics in fermented foods and beverages while continuing to have a lasting positive effect on people’s lives, our community, and our environment.
How–through your foods, beverages, speaking engagements, and community events
BRAND PROMISE
The food in the jar are going to help me with digestive and immunity benefits and I can taste and feel the high quality difference.
BRAND STORY
Wild at Heart Ojai came from the idea of being ready for the apocalypse. Our products help fight the apocalypse that is happening in your guts everyday. We bring power to your guts with probiotics, a natural product of fermentation.
Both being scientists, Michelle and Mikhael learned that doing long 28-day ferments and using organic produce from a diversity of farms creates the most beneficially nutrient-rich and deliciously complex taste for you to eat and drink. Take action with your health and wellness with foods that inspire a better you from the inside out.
Trust your gut instincts. Always be prepared.
Michelle Lopez
CEO & Master Fermentor
Michelle grew up in the Ojai Valley, at the age of 18 she left to pursue her academic hopes and dreams. She earned a bachelors degree in Zoology and a minor in Botany and started her career as a wildlife biologist. Consulting throughout southern California with a handful of federal permits to survey for endangered species..
Michelle grew up in the Ojai Valley, at the age of 18 she left to pursue her academic hopes and dreams. She earned a bachelors degree in Zoology and a minor in Botany and started her career as a wildlife biologist. Consulting throughout southern California with a handful of federal permits to survey for endangered species.
Butterflies quickly became a passion and eventually gained status as a southern California butterfly specialist. Still living in Los Angeles, the “concrete jungle” and with a small child in hand, she felt drawn back to Ojai.
Deepening her ties with the native land, through hiking, farming, gardening, yoga and being in community, she started the Ojai Food Co-op. The need for “access to healthy foods for all” became her mission. Hosting food workshops out of her home, private residences, natural food grocery stores, and at local food and community events throughout California.
Her passion of empowering people to preserve healthy foods transformed into fermenting in-season veggies and fruit that help aid in digestion and strengthen the immune system. All the while optimizing the bounty of local produce grown and received here as a southern California resident. She is most fulfilled when her hands are close to the earth, chopping raw foods on a wooden board, crafting nourishing foods. This is what brings her life value.
It is her intention to reignite the connection we once had with the land, animals and the microorganisms that live all around us. She does this by hand-cutting all the raw foods with love and ferments are aged much like a fine wine, meticulously looked after for up to 28 days in glass vessels. She has her own naturalist-probiotic twist on fermented foods and drinks.