Roots of 1st Ave Farm
Owner: Becky Martinez
The roots of 1st Ave Farm stretch back to my formative years, where my earliest memories are painted with dirt under my fingernails and the warm companionship of my German shepherd, Butch. From the ages of three to four, I lived on a one-acre farm with my parents, where the rhythms of life revolved around the land. My days were filled with adventure and discovery—hunting lizards with Butch and running barefoot across the garden rows to fetch whatever produce my mom needed for the next meal. Those simple, grounding moments planted seeds of connection to the land that would grow deep within me.
Decades later, life took me to a vastly different but equally formative landscape: Arorae, a remote Pacific Island in the Republic of Kiribati. The island’s beauty was matched only by its isolation. If I wanted fresh fruits or vegetables, I had to grow them myself. The sandy soil and salty air presented unique challenges, but they also offered me lessons in resilience, resourcefulness, and the interconnectedness of life. I learned how to cultivate much of what I needed to thrive and to appreciate the value of every harvest, no matter how small. The experience solidified an understanding that food—real, fresh food—is not just about nourishment but is also deeply rooted in relationship with the earth.
These early experiences, both on my family’s one-acre farm and on the remote shores of Arorae, laid the foundation for my passion growing food and stewarding land. They taught me that the act of growing is as much about connection as it is about sustenance, and they inspired the vision that eventually became 1st Ave Farm. What started as a personal journey has since evolved into a mission to empower others to reclaim that same connection to their food, their community, and the earth.
Evolution as a Grower
My recent journey growing food began about 12 years ago, when my oldest child was a toddler. The simple desire to provide healthy, affordable food and to teach her the profound power of growing her own sparked a quiet revolution in my life. We started small, planting seeds together in a couple of raised beds. Her tiny hands would press seeds into the soil, and we’d marvel together at every new sprout and every small harvest. Those moments were more than lessons in gardening; they were lessons in patience, hope, and the magic of nurturing life.
Over the years, what began as a few modest beds steadily grew. Gardening became both a passion and a necessity, feeding not just my family’s bellies but also my spirit. By the time 2020 arrived, with its upheavals and uncertainties, I knew it was time to expand. The extra hours at home and concerns about potential disruptions to the food system spurred me to take a leap. I added more growing space, installed water catchment systems, and welcomed a flock of hens into our backyard to provide fresh eggs. My garden transformed from a pastime into a sanctuary—a place of sustenance and solace.
As my garden grew, so did my awareness of broader issues of food justice, access, and sovereignty. The disparities in who has access to fresh, healthy food became more glaring, especially in BIPOC communities that are often most deeply impacted by systemic inequities. These realizations strengthened my resolve to contribute to a movement much larger than myself. I began to see how my efforts might contribute to supporting those long-standing leaders in this community.
This journey has been about coming full circle—from the barefoot child chasing lizards and harvesting produce for my mom to an adult eager to learn from and contribute to the incredible work of urban farmers here in the Denver and Aurora areas of Colorado. They have been cultivating not just food but systems of equity and resilience for generations. I’m grateful for the chance to grow alongside them, weaving my own experiences into the fabric of their collective efforts toward a more just and connected future.