Elburn couple realized dream of owning successful farm
Owning a farm was a longtime dream of Marc Bernard's.
“As far as I could remember, from the time we met, he used to always talk about owning a farm,” said his husband, Luis Bernard.
When a small farm property on Brundige Road in Elburn — complete with an old barn and house, and five acres that hadn't seen crop growth in years — went on the market, the Bernards took a leap of faith and purchased it. Today, Rustic Road Farm has grown into a successful, 18-acre agricultural gem.
Realizing a dream
Before owning the farm, Marc was an executive chef for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago-based chain of more than 100 restaurants, but his managerial role kept him out of the kitchen and on the road with frequent travel.
“If I just wanted to make a living, I would've stayed in the restaurants, but I did that for years,” Marc said. “I had a great career, and I just said, ‘I don't want to do this anymore.'”
Luis, who dreamed of a career as a special-education teacher, was working on his master's degree at the time, but agreed the farm was an opportunity they couldn't pass up. Luis recently accepted a position in special education in Elgin Area School District U-46, and when he's not in the classroom, he helps Marc maintain the crops and animals.
Growing into success
Originally, the Bernards had planned to only grow vegetables, but that soon changed when they added pigs, followed by chickens, beehives and goats. They installed a hoop house, allowing them to farm almost year-round.
The now 18-acre farm has more than 100 varieties of vegetables, more than 80 pigs throughout the year that go to the market, 25 chickens for eggs and 25 for meat and just shy of two dozen goats. They hire eight to 10 summer workers and two full-time workers. The summer workers are generally high school or college students.
Rustic Road Farm sells its product to more than 350 community supported agriculture (CSA) shareholders within 30 miles of the farm. CSAs allow people to buy a share of the farm and, in return, receive a portion of the produce from the farm each week.
“We really didn't know what we were going to do or what it was going to become,” Marc said. “We have a clearer vision now. We want to provide good, healthy food for people in this area. What's important is for people to see (not only) where their food is coming from but also to create a sustainable model.”
Wheaton resident Mallory Troyer has been a CSA member with Rustic Road Farms for two summers and picks up a box of veggies each week.
“They just seemed like a really authentic, local farm. A lot of the other stalls have a lot more variety, but you can tell it's not grown around here, and this is grown right down the road,” she said.
“They are super friendly, helpful and affordable, too, for what you get.”
The personal touch
Three years ago, Luis and Marc decided to sell their produce at Wheaton and Geneva farmers markets, as well as at a farmstand at the farm, which allows them to get to know their customers.
“They appreciate the fact that they can walk in on Saturdays and in the summer it's going to be me in the market. They expect to see me,” Luis said. “I've come to know most people's names, and I know about families. I ask them about their kids, and I know the names of their kids.”
Providing organic, sustainable food is only part of Rustic Road Farm's goal. The Bernards work to be sure each person that visits the farm has a good experience.
“When guests come to the farm, the most important thing is to just come to the farm and have a good time. I don't care if you buy something or not,” Marc said. “What's important is that you get to experience this.”
Joe Moskal of Campton Hills came out to the farm for the first time with his family and spent some time looking at the pigs, chickens and goats.
“I feel like when we are out here, we're on the edge of the country. You still have the Tri-Cities and you have the plays and the restaurants, and, with a short drive, you are out in the country,” he said, as his daughter Ava, 9, attempted to bleat back at the goats.
Future plans
Marc's goals for the farm include adding a vegetable washing and packing house for CSAs, a commercial kitchen, a dairy for milking and a spinning area for honey. He also wants to add 10 more acres of land and have up to 500 CSAs next year.
“Sometimes I still can't believe we live here. I had a good job, and Luis has always worked, but this is crazy. We never expected to live like this,” Marc said.
The farmstand at Rustic Road Farm, 1N292 Brundige Road, Elburn, is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays year-round, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, June thorough November. Visit rusticroadfarm.com.