Rustic Road Farm
Elburn, IL
Date Funded: June, 2024
Rustic Road Farm was founded in 2012 by Marc and Luis Bernard on 5.5 acres in Elburn, Illinois, with the intention of providing fresh, sustainably grown vegetables to select Chicago restaurants. Quickly, Marc and Luis realized the folks right nearby in Kane County were hungry for clean, ethically-grown produce, so they pivoted to a model that focused on feeding their immediate community.
Rustic Road has since expanded to 18 acres, launched an on-site farm stand, and grown their CSA from 25 to over 750 members. In 2016, the farm launched a line of farm-fresh soups and sauces, and production has also grown to include hogs, poultry and eggs, honey, and a variety of tree fruits.
In 2023, they partnered with The Conservation Fund’s Working Farms Fund program to purchase the historic 30-acre Cloonlara Farm. Over the next ten years, TCF will work to place a permanent conservation easement on the property before transferring full ownership to Rustic Road. Expansion onto Cloonlara will allow Rustic Road to grow even further—producing wagyu beef, adding value to their products, and hosting community events.
A low-interest loan from Foodshed Capital allowed Rustic Road to drill a new well on the property and renovate Cloonlara’s large historic barn to accommodate a new milk house, creamery, and kitchen.
