About us
Motivated to grow wholesome food and create healthy, vibrant landscapes that work in harmony with nature, Lauren started River Run Farm in the spring of 2023 with the help of her partner Andrew (and their dog Yvie). Lauren originally took over the market garden at Mackay Farms in Wellington County. Working outside with her hands in the soil nurtured her soul and connected her to her community. The first few years were filled with experimentation and the joys of learning by doing.
River Run Farm has grown to serve a CSA Membership of over 50 families, as well as supplying a local farmers market and restaurants. In late 2025 it moved to Neighbourly Farm, where it is surrounded by other ecologically minded farmers and entrepreneurs. The farm is still small and intensive, and consists of an acre of over forty different varieties of vegetables, herbs, perennials and melons. The farm would not exist as it is today without the support of family, friends, and the community.
Michael began his farming career growing vegetables on small plots in Milton, Ontario, and trays of microgreens indoors during the winter months.
The Covid-19 pandemic closed his restaurant clientele and so Michael pivoted his microgreens grow-space into a mushroom facility. He spent the entirety of lockdown learning the techniques of growing mushrooms from agar plate all the way to the fruiting stage, and the intricacies of growing at scale.
Michael and his wife Catharine arrived at Neighbourly Farm in 2025 to continue mushroom cultivation for local businesses, markets, CSA, and to supply their own value-added businesses. They are also planting raspberries, grapes, and vine crops using the Soil Food Web methodology of building soil using no off-farm inputs.
Nice Things Farm
Maxine is an experienced organic market gardener growing vegetables, herbs and flowers. She became a farmer to grow good food, to feed and grow community, and nourish the soil.
Maxine moved to Neighbourly in 2024 with her partner Craig and dog Coco to start up her own enterprise. You can find Maxine at Georgetown Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings, May through October.
Follow Nice Things Farm on Instagram.
Christian and Ally are first-generation farmers who felt the call to align their lifestyle in a way that mirrored the inner connection they were experiencing with the world, to honour the circle of life by farming in nature’s image. They operate a mixed regenerative livestock operation consisting of cattle, pigs, and chickens.
They believe in being self-sufficient and sovereign. By taking responsibility for what we require at a basic level, farming reminds us of the simple truth that when we do the best we can every day with a free spirit, our life experience is rich in and of itself.
Johann and Magda Kleinsasser are elders and caretakers of the land and other living beings at Neighbourly since 2022.
Johann grew up in western Canada on a conventional farm. His grandmother, an experienced midwife, was an active gardener who saved seeds and planted by the moon. In 1979, Johann moved to Community Farm in Ontario. He learned organic gardening under the guidance of Fred Kemp, and about biodynamic farming from Bernard Hack.
Magda moved with extended family from Alberta to Ontario when she was five. She learned sewing, crafting, gardening, seed-saving, and preserving.
During 2002-2018, Magda and Johann operated Whole Circle Farm, where they had cattle, pigs and chickens, and supplied a 200-plus member CSA. Because communal living at Whole Circle Farm could sometimes be challenging, they integrated the practice of non-violent communication.
Johann says, “we did a lot of new farmer training, and taught gardening, preserving and cooking skills to many enthusiastic young people. I am a fairly good mechanic and can fix most things except for electrical stuff.”
Motivated to grow wholesome food and create healthy, vibrant landscapes that work in harmony with nature, Lauren started River Run Farm in the spring of 2023 with the help of her partner Andrew (and their dog Yvie). Lauren originally took over the market garden at Mackay Farms in Wellington County. Working outside with her hands in the soil nurtured her soul and connected her to her community. The first few years were filled with experimentation and the joys of learning by doing.
River Run Farm has grown to serve a CSA Membership of over 50 families, as well as supplying a local farmers market and restaurants. In late 2025 it moved to Neighbourly Farm, where it is surrounded by other ecologically minded farmers and entrepreneurs. The farm is still small and intensive, and consists of an acre of over forty different varieties of vegetables, herbs, perennials and melons. The farm would not exist as it is today without the support of family, friends, and the community.
Michael began his farming career growing vegetables on small plots in Milton, Ontario, and trays of microgreens indoors during the winter months.
The Covid-19 pandemic closed his restaurant clientele and so Michael pivoted his microgreens grow-space into a mushroom facility. He spent the entirety of lockdown learning the techniques of growing mushrooms from agar plate all the way to the fruiting stage, and the intricacies of growing at scale.
Michael and his wife Catharine arrived at Neighbourly Farm in 2025 to continue mushroom cultivation for local businesses, markets, CSA, and to supply their own value-added businesses. They are also planting raspberries, grapes, and vine crops using the Soil Food Web methodology of building soil using no off-farm inputs.
Nice Things Farm
Maxine is an experienced organic market gardener growing vegetables, herbs and flowers. She became a farmer to grow good food, to feed and grow community, and nourish the soil.
Maxine moved to Neighbourly in 2024 with her partner Craig and dog Coco to start up her own enterprise. You can find Maxine at Georgetown Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings, May through October.
Follow Nice Things Farm on Instagram.
Christian and Ally are first-generation farmers who felt the call to align their lifestyle in a way that mirrored the inner connection they were experiencing with the world, to honour the circle of life by farming in nature’s image. They operate a mixed regenerative livestock operation consisting of cattle, pigs, and chickens.
They believe in being self-sufficient and sovereign. By taking responsibility for what we require at a basic level, farming reminds us of the simple truth that when we do the best we can every day with a free spirit, our life experience is rich in and of itself.
Johann and Magda Kleinsasser are elders and caretakers of the land and other living beings at Neighbourly since 2022.
Johann grew up in western Canada on a conventional farm. His grandmother, an experienced midwife, was an active gardener who saved seeds and planted by the moon. In 1979, Johann moved to Community Farm in Ontario. He learned organic gardening under the guidance of Fred Kemp, and about biodynamic farming from Bernard Hack.
Magda moved with extended family from Alberta to Ontario when she was five. She learned sewing, crafting, gardening, seed-saving, and preserving.
During 2002-2018, Magda and Johann operated Whole Circle Farm, where they had cattle, pigs and chickens, and supplied a 200-plus member CSA. Because communal living at Whole Circle Farm could sometimes be challenging, they integrated the practice of non-violent communication.
Johann says, “we did a lot of new farmer training, and taught gardening, preserving and cooking skills to many enthusiastic young people. I am a fairly good mechanic and can fix most things except for electrical stuff.”