Written By Olena Riznyk
STRATHROY – What began with a borrowed plot of land and little farming experience has grown into a thriving small-scale vegetable farm serving families across the Strathroy area.
Mulberry Moon Farm, operated by Alex Glazirin and Kimberly Barker, is a two-acre vegetable farm where dozens of crops are grown using organically managed and regenerative practices and distributed through a community-supported agriculture program, an on-farm store, and local restaurants and retailers.
Alex said the journey began in 2010, when he decided to try market gardening after moving to Canada.
“I had very little experience,” Alex said. “I basically started with a stick as my tool and learned everything the hard way.”
Originally from Moldova, Alex grew up around family gardens and small farms, which sparked his interest in agriculture. After discovering that market gardening could be done without owning large amounts of land, he began searching for farmland to rent and launched the operation.
The farm moved several times before settling near Strathroy. The couple relocated to the current property in 2016 and gradually developed the land into what is now Mulberry Moon Farm.
“When we came here, it was just an empty field,” Alex said. “Everything you see now—the greenhouses and the beds—we built ourselves.”
One of the biggest early challenges was the heavy clay soil on the property. Over several years the farmers improved the land by adding large amounts of compost and installing drainage to manage standing water.
A central part of the farm’s operation is its Farm Share program, a model known as community-supported agriculture.
Kimberly explained that the program allows residents to commit to purchasing a share of the farm’s harvest ahead of the growing season.
“When people sign up, they are committing to receive a share of the harvest every week,” Kimberly said. “That support matters because in winter we already have expenses—seeds, soil and staff—but nothing to sell yet.”
About 150 local families subscribe to the farm’s CSA program. Members typically receive weekly bags of vegetables from June through October, with pickup available at the farm and several local locations. Each week the farmers harvest only what members ordered, allowing them to plan crops more precisely and reduce food waste.
“When vegetables come straight from the ground, they taste completely different,” Kimberly said. “People should know where their food comes from — and it’s even better when it’s grown right in their own community.”
