Farm Hours
Tuesday & Friday: 12–5 pm
Saturday: 10–3 pm
CLOSED on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday
U-Pick OPEN: Blackberries!
welcome to the farm
Meet the owners
Ariela Gottschalk brings 20 years of experience in growing vegetables, flowers, and nursery plants as farm manager for Growing Grounds Farm, a program of the Transitions-Mental Health Association. Many of you have purchased the veggie starts she’s been bringing to the stand over the years.
Before Growing Grounds, Ariela spent 2 years as the Market Manager for the Hollywood Farmers’ Market, a weekly market with more than 150 vendors.
Jeff Pienack, an avid surfer and environmental activist, spent 8 years as the SLO County chapter chair for Surfrider Foundation, working on water quality and conservation issues. Jeff is also a member of the local band the Mother Corn Shuckers.
Their daughter, Olivia, is a 7th grader at Paulding Middle School.
Meet the Team
One big Family
You’ll see the same friendly faces at the farm and great produce that have been offered by the farm’s previous owners (of the farm formerly named Rutiz Family Farms) Jerry and Maureen.
Ariela and Jeff look forward to carrying on the Rutiz tradition of building and nourishing community through fresh, local produce. They look forward to meeting you all on the farm.