Today we’d like to introduce you to Marty And Kim Gutierrez
Hi Marty and Kim, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2014 we decided to move to Temecula. It is a 2 acre property and nothing was on the property except the house. Kim and her granddaughter started growing some carrots and potatoes in two small raised beds, and the rest is history! We found a wood mill that was giving away some wood and Marty made our first 6 big raised beds. Growing our own food and knowing that it was all organic and free of pesticides was very important to us. Soon our friends would ask us if we any extras they would buy it! Marty was still working as a crane operator in the port of LA at the time and weekly kim would send him with bags full of fruits and veggies and zucchini bread for her friends. Everyone loved it and and soon our farm doubled in size every year! Example the first time we planted onions we planted 200, now we plant atleast 1400. We originally had one bed of strawberry plants and now we have 1500 strawberry plants!!
We started started doing farm tours, farm picnics, and we’ve even hosted 7 proposals here on the farm!
We do a farm tour with the opportunity to u-pick their own produce or flowers.
We have a make shift farmstand in our garage where they pay for their items that they’ve picked and our Farmfriend’s also have the opportunity to shop for dried lavender/flowers and cute little stuffed animals to remember all our farm animals. We have one pot belly pig that does tricks (yes she plays a piano!) two alpacas, goodness and mercy. Lots of chickens and now one duck who doesn’t really know what he is a duck,chick or an alpaca!! (Laughing)
We have over 30 fruit trees, elderberry, peaches, apricots and more. Blackberries and raspberries vines as well as table grapes.
In the last 5 years we started growing flowers, and we truly enjoy our Farmfriend’s browsing through all the flowers to make their own bouquets.
Most of the flowers can be used for either fresh or friend arrangements so it makes it super fun for everyone!
We host u-pick flower nights during the summer. We even sell our flowers on doordash and now we can sell our produce on there also! Marty is retired now and loves to spend his whole day outside, building things, taking care of the animals. We both enjoy looking at the farm and seeing how much we have grown! Sometimes we say, “we’re doing it! What we’re doing we don’t know, but we’re doing it!” And we laugh!
And enjoy it very much!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth road?? definitely not! No one can ever have smooth roads with gophers!! (Laughing) gophers have been a challenge. And we’ve had to modify lots of our beds with wire to help protect our plants.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Marty was a union member of ilwu local 13 for 47 years. He started working as a longshoremen when he was 18 years old. He was a crane operator for 30 years. Marty likes to stay busy, work with his hands, and enjoys building things. He built the chicken coops, pigs house, and farm to table dinner area all on his own.
Kim enjoyed working in graphic design and research but decided to stay home and raise their daughters in 2000, she’s definitely the more free spirit between the two (Marty calls himself the nerd) she’s creative, likes to try new things, loves the outdoors, and loves to teach other women all she knows.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Marty: Marty remembers when he was a kid and him and his friends would go to the store, they would all buy candy and he’d buy fruits! He has always enjoyed fresh fruits and fruit stands!
Kim: I think one of my fondest memories is when my mom and I had a garden in our back yard. I’d go out and water, and pick strawberries.
Pricing:
- Farm Tour Pricing $20.00 per person kids 4 and under are free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.1stfruitsfarm.com
- Instagram: 1stfruitsfarm
