Five Generations of Illinois Farming Blooms Into a Beloved Family Garden Center
What happens when a fifth-generation farm family decides to open their land to the community—and creates a destination that brings joy to thousands of families each year?
Meet Bronkberry Farms & Greenhouse—the family-owned garden center, farm stand, apple orchard, and pumpkin farm in Plainfield, Illinois, that has been serving the southwest Chicago suburbs since 2012. Built on land that has been in the Bronk family for five generations, Bronkberry Farms represents the best of Catholic family entrepreneurship: honoring the past while building something beautiful for the future.
Founded by Jennifer Bronk and her husband Kevin Veen, Bronkberry Farms transforms a working agricultural heritage into a year-round destination where families can connect with the land, each other, and the rhythms of the seasons.
Five Generations on the Same Land
The Bronk family has been farming this Illinois soil for five generations, growing corn and soybeans on land their ancestors first worked over a century ago.
When Jennifer Bronk and Kevin Veen looked at that legacy, they saw an opportunity: to honor the family's agricultural heritage while creating something new—a place where suburban families could reconnect with where their food comes from and experience the beauty of a working farm.
In 2012, they established Bronkberry Farms, opening their property to the public with a greenhouse, farm stand, and seasonal attractions. What started as a modest operation has grown into one of the premier destinations in the Plainfield area, serving families from Oswego, Montgomery, Joliet, Yorkville, Naperville, and beyond.
A Greenhouse That Grows Community
At the heart of Bronkberry Farms is their state-of-the-art greenhouse—a 70 x 30 foot structure where quality meets care.
Spring and Summer Offerings:
- Annual flowers in stunning variety
- Perennial plants for lasting garden beauty
- Hanging baskets ready to display
- Vegetable plants for home gardeners
- Herb starts for kitchen gardens
Everything is grown with attention to quality, ensuring that plants thrive when customers take them home. For families looking to beautify their yards or start vegetable gardens, Bronkberry provides not just plants but the knowledge to help them succeed.
The Farm Stand: Local Goodness Year-Round
Beyond the greenhouse, Bronkberry's farm stand offers a curated selection of local and homemade products:
Fresh From the Farm:
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Farm fresh eggs
- Michigan blueberries (in season)
- Pumpkins and mums (fall)
Artisan and Local Products:
- Local honey from area beekeepers
- Homemade caramel apples
- Fresh pesto
- Canned goods and preserves
- Essential oils
- Artisan soaps
Unique Finds:
- Antiques with character
- Metal yard art
- Seasonal decorations
The farm stand creates a connection between local producers and the families who want to support them—keeping dollars in the community and building relationships that big-box stores can't replicate.
Fall at Bronkberry: A Family Tradition
When autumn arrives, Bronkberry Farms transforms into a fall destination that has become a tradition for thousands of families:
Pumpkin Farm Rows of pumpkins in every size and variety, from tiny decorative gourds to massive carving pumpkins.
Apple Orchard Fresh apples from the trees, plus those famous homemade caramel apples.
Hayride Adventures Hayrack rides through the property, letting families experience the farm together.
Seasonal Beauty Mums, fall flowers, cornstalks, and decorations to transform homes for the season.
For families seeking wholesome fall activities—places where children can run, explore, and experience the harvest—Bronkberry offers an alternative to screen time that creates lasting memories.
Why Family Farms Matter
In an age of industrial agriculture and imported produce, family farms like Bronkberry represent something precious:
Connection to the Land Children who visit Bronkberry see where food comes from. They touch soil, smell flowers, and experience agriculture firsthand.
Generational Continuity Five generations of the Bronk family have worked this land. That continuity connects past, present, and future in ways our mobile society often loses.
Local Economic Impact Money spent at Bronkberry stays in the community—supporting a local family, local suppliers, and local workers.
Seasonal Rhythms The farm operates according to God's calendar—planting in spring, growing in summer, harvesting in fall, resting in winter. Visiting connects families to these natural rhythms.
Serving the Southwest Suburbs
Bronkberry Farms serves a wide area of the Chicago suburbs:
- Plainfield — Home base
- Naperville — Just minutes away
- Oswego — Neighboring community
- Joliet — Easy drive south
- Montgomery — Local families welcome
- Yorkville — Part of the extended community
The farm's location makes it accessible to hundreds of thousands of suburban families seeking authentic farm experiences without driving hours into the countryside.
Why This Matters
Bronkberry Farms represents something that is vanishing from the Chicago suburbs: a fifth-generation family farm that has not been sold to developers. Jennifer Bronk and Kevin Veen found a way to honor over a century of agricultural heritage while creating something new -- a destination where suburban families can touch soil, pick pumpkins, and reconnect with the seasonal rhythms that God built into creation. For the families of Plainfield, Naperville, and Joliet, Bronkberry is not just a garden center. It is one of the last places where children can experience a working farm without driving hours into the countryside, and where a Catholic family's generational faithfulness to the land is a living witness.
How You Can Support
- Visit the farm: Find hours and directions at BronkberryFarmsIL.com
- Shop the greenhouse: Stock your garden with quality plants
- Explore the farm stand: Discover local honey, fresh eggs, and artisan products
- Make fall traditions: Bring your family for pumpkins, apples, and hayrides
- Spread the word: Tell friends and neighbors about this local gem
Location: 18061 S Bronk Rd, Plainfield, IL 60586 Phone: (815) 436-6967 Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
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Have you visited Bronkberry Farms? What's your favorite thing to pick up at the farm stand or greenhouse? Drop a comment below—we'd love to hear about your experience!
Find Bronkberry Farms & Greenhouse:
- Website: bronkberryfarmsil.com
- Address: 18061 S Bronk Rd, Plainfield, IL 60586
- Phone: (815) 436-6967
- Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9 AM - 6 PM
- DCB Listing: Find Bronkberry Farms on Discover Catholic Business
Sources: Bronkberry Farms, Enjoy Illinois, Heritage Corridor, TripAdvisor