Former Veronica Mars actor Jason Dohring has revealed that he stepped away from television acting after developing a passion for farming that led him to acquire three agricultural properties across the United States. Speaking on an episode of the Don't Do Nothing podcast released on Thursday, the 44-year-old former child star explained how a backyard gardening hobby during the coronavirus pandemic quickly expanded into a full-scale farming operation.
Dohring, who played fan-favorite character Logan Echolls on the hit teen noir mystery drama series Veronica Mars, disclosed that he took up gardening while spending time at home. The actor admitted that he initially barely noticed the global pandemic because he spent so much time outdoors working in his backyard.
"I didn't even notice COVID for months 'cause I was in my backyard, just gardening and stuff like that," Dohring explained on the podcast episode. "It wasn't, like, a huge thing, but then I just got [a bigger] interest in it."
From Television Star to Full-Time Farmer
Dohring first rose to fame starring alongside Kristen Bell in Veronica Mars, which aired for three seasons before being abruptly canceled in 2007 due to low ratings. He later reprised his role as Logan Echolls in a fan-funded feature movie released in 2014, as well as an eight-episode revival series released on the streaming platform Hulu in 2019.
Since the original series ended in 2007, his costar Bell has gone on to enjoy a massively successful career, including voicing the title narrator on Gossip Girl and starring in a wide array of movies and television shows. Meanwhile, Dohring made television guest appearances on the drama series All Rise in 2020 and the military series SEAL Team in 2021 before shifting his primary focus toward agriculture.
The actor explained that he started taking the farming hobby seriously about three or four years ago. Over time, he acquired three separate farms in different locations across the country for various agricultural reasons.
Family Life and Farming Motivation
Off screen, Dohring married painter and artist Lauren Kutner in 2004. The couple share four children together: 16-year-old son Owen Riley, 13-year-old daughter Lilly, 10-year-old daughter Ainsley Mae, and eight-year-old daughter Isla Avery.
Dohring is a member of the Church of Scientology and lives near its spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. In the past, the actor has stated that practicing Scientology helped him become a better actor.
His decision to pursue commercial farming was driven by concerns about public health and modern food production standards. "We're just making great food for people 'cause I really realized that people are getting sick from the food that they're eating," Dohring explained of his passion for farming.
"I just really wanted to change that and the flavor of food can be so amazing and there's an art that you can create too, like with the way your farms are built and stuff," he added. "I told my agents, 'I'm just going to go farm for a minute.' They said, 'Well, we're still going to send you stuff.' I said, 'OK, fine.'"
Cultivating Fruit Orchards in West Virginia
Dohring has worked on farm properties across the United States. On his 14-acre farm in West Virginia, a state known for its mountainous terrain and distinct cold seasons, he personally planted around 3,500 fruit trees.
"We did apples, pears, peaches, cherries, nectarines - all the cold weather stuff that you can't do here in Florida because those trees need a certain amount of cold weather to make fruit," Dohring explained.
To protect his West Virginia orchard without using synthetic chemicals, Dohring devoted three months to installing physical protective barriers over the trees. "We spent three months covering all of our trees with a landscape fabric," he revealed. "We haven't sprayed once on our farm. And we're doing it with great success."
Future Agricultural Goals and Acting Projects
Dohring now aims to scale up his agricultural operations to grow organic produce for 5,000 people. He envisions creating a specialized market for consumers who prioritize premium food, comparing the concept to a private wine club, "but for exceptional food."
"I really, honestly, just want to help people, in whatever way, whether it's farming, gardening, education, art - I just love it," Dohring said.
Although farming takes up most of his time, the actor has not retired from acting completely and plans to return for select creative projects. He recently appeared in an independent short film as a favor to a friend.
"I got a call to do somebody's little short film a little while ago, and I went and did that as a favor to them [and I enjoyed] that," Dohring shared. "I love art, and when I get around art, even talking about this is exciting to me... It's really amazing."
Reflecting on his creative drive, he added: "I think there's something in everybody that is aesthetic, meaning beautiful, or wants to create. I think that, obviously, because when they see that, they feel it, so there's something in them that resonates with that, you know. I just love it."
