Thursday, September 21, 2023

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are Winning Hollywood On Solar Power and Organics

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Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis may be Hollywood royalty, but home life for the married That ’70s Show stars is very much a throwback to simpler times: organic, homegrown food, solar power, and rustic back-to-the-land vibes—even in Los Angeles.

The couple’s Beverly Hills mansion, which Kutcher dubbed “KuKu Farms,” after both stars’ last names, was a five-year project, re-designed by renowned architect Howard Backen, who’s known for blending landscapes and nature into his designs.

“Ashton and Mila are concerned about the quality of the soil, the purity of the food they eat and the water they drink. The ideals of sustainability and regenerative farming aren’t just abstract concepts to them,” Backen told Architectural Digest.

The renovated home hearkens to rural childhood for both stars—Kutcher grew up in Iowa, and Kunis is a Ukraine native. She recently helped raise more than $1 million to help efforts in Ukraine.

Solar-powered star power

Kutcher and Kunis also brought clean energy into the home.

“The house is entirely powered by photovoltaics, concealed from view above the expansive porch that stretches along one side of the main structure,” AD notes.

“In fact, the house’s solar array produces significantly more power than the property requires, although antiquated municipal codes don’t exactly encourage energy sharing—a situation the homeowners hope will change in the future.”

Keeping it organic

With enough land to grow their own food, it helps Kutcher and Kunis keep their commitment to organics — they only serve organic food to their children daughter Wyatt and son Dmitri. Growing it is half the fun. During Covid lockdown, Kutcher dug a well to irrigate the land so he could grow corn—just like back in Iowa.

Kutcher told Ariana Huffington about his organic kitchen in an episode of the Thrive Global Podcast last year. “The Ranch” star says the kids eat “100 percent organic,” and when the celeb couple can’t find fresh organic, they buy frozen.

“It’s almost easier than buying baby food,” Kutcher notes. “When you thaw [organic fruit or vegetables] you just boil it, steam it, put it in the blender, and away you go,” Kutcher says.

Kutcher recently took to Instagram to share a photo of organic corn he grew in his garden. “You can take the boy out of Iowa but…”

 To feel tranquility in a space, everything needs to be in order.

-Ashton kutcher

In a recent interview, Kunis told C Magazine they are now “very much in the tomato business.” Over the summer, the family also grew baby carrots, squash, lettuces, and a range of heirloom tomato varieties. There are fruit trees, lemongrass, and herbs like dill.

“We had this grand idea,” Kunis said, “and then we moved in four months before Covid hit. We didn’t realize how incredible it was to have a fully sustainable house until the world shut down,” she said.

“My husband’s from the Midwest, and a lot of this has to do with his upbringing. He’s like, we’re building a farm and we’re all going to work on the farm. I’m from L.A., and I was like, we are? This has been a big learning curve for all of us. My parents make fun of me that it probably costs more to grow a tomato here than to get one at the store. But I say, at least my kids will understand the value of a tomato and how much work goes into growing it. It’s good not to be afraid to get dirty. I was just listening to a doctor who said that the people who grow and thrive in life are comfortable being uncomfortable, daily. Whether it’s learning something new, doing something a little bit scary—all of that makes you stronger.”

Tranquil living

The family takes a relaxed and organic approach to parenting, too. The couple’s lax rules about bathing made headlines in recent weeks. They contend bathing daily isn’t necessary until the kids stink. “Now, here’s the thing: If you can see the dirt on them, clean them. Otherwise, there’s no point,” Kutcher told Dax Shepard and Monica Padman on the Armchair Expert Podcast.

Kutcher subscribes to other wellness habits, too. He told Huffington, who’s a vocal proponent of healthy sleep habits, that sleep is important to the father of two.

“I demand to sleep seven hours, eight if I can,” he said. And from their oasis atop the bustle of Los Angeles, the Kutcher/Kunis family are likely getting lots of it.

 “To feel tranquility in a space, everything needs to be in order,” Kutcher told AD. “If the world around you isn’t in order, it’s hard to get your brain in order. When we’re in our home, the world just makes sense.”

Read: All of Los Angeles Is Now a Certified Wildlife Habitat

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