The Covid-19 pandemic changed life in ways few could have predicted. Some changes were temporary, fading as life returned to normal, while others left a lasting mark on how we live, work, and connect. One enduring change can be found off Hensel Road in Huntley, IL: Hongik ECO Farm. This community-centered eco-farm began with Younglim Lee’s desire to teach others healthier ways of living and to counteract the isolation she felt during the pandemic. While the idea quietly began in her mind during those uncertain months, it wasn’t until August 2024 that she and a group of like-minded friends were able to purchase 10 acres of farmable land and start bringing that vision to life.
Walking the fields with Younglim and Eric, I could feel their pride at every turn. Younglim, a neuroscientist from Korea with a PhD from Yale, spoke gently but passionately about how isolation during the pandemic revealed itself not only in loneliness but also in financial and mental hardship. Drawing on decades of personal and academic insight, she came to believe in a whole-body, whole-community approach to health. A belief she summed up simply: “take ownership of your body and play an active role in your health.” That belief became the foundation of the farm’s mission, supported by four board members with equally diverse and meaningful backgrounds, each bringing something unique to the table.
Eric Carlberg, the farm’s first official farmer and manager, lives on the property with his family. He shared stories from his past, how gardening began as a hobby, evolved into a passion, and eventually became a way for him to fuse his background in social work with hands-on education for individuals from all facets of life. Walking with him, I watched him gesture toward the covered beds, explaining how cardboard acts as a no-chemical weed control, how composted manure becomes rich fertilizer, and how untouched patches protect prairie crayfish and other wildlife. His no-till gardening approach, he explained, is about keeping the soil alive and whole.
Every Tuesday, the farm’s produce is harvested and packed into crates, then delivered directly to the food pantry in Harvard, where it reaches community members who need it most. Eric explained how the team plans their crops carefully. For example, last month they grew and harvested everything needed to make fresh salsa. When they introduce a new vegetable, they provide clear information on its uses and nutritional benefits so people know how to incorporate it into their meals.
After we wandered through raised beds and tidy rows, we rounded past several small outbuildings that will soon be refurbished for yoga, and Younglim began to talk again about community. Hongik ECO Farm’s full potential depends on community involvement. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the farm relies on volunteers to help carry out its vision, from maintaining the gardens to supporting educational programs and future activities. Younglim, Eric, and the rest of the team have ambitious plans for the space, but those plans can’t move forward without people willing to contribute their time and effort. The farm’s growth depends on neighbors and community members coming together to make the vision a reality.
Younglim paused by a patch of kale and spoke about the ripple effect, the idea that a single drop in water spreads outward to reach the shore. She applies that philosophy to the farm, hoping that even a small effort, one garden plot, one harvest, or one volunteer contribution, can have a wider impact on the community.
The name itself, “Hongik,” carries this spirit. In Korean, it means “benefitting all” or “widely benefiting all life.” It’s a traditional idea rooted deep in Korean philosophy, expressing a belief that we are here for each other's benefit and in service to the greater web of life.
That idea guides the farm’s phased growth. Right now, Phase One includes turning the land into a working eco-farm with community gardens, student plots, and food forests shaping themselves under careful planning. Further down the road, Hongik ECO Farm hopes to offer not just produce, but experiences: free yoga and Tai Chi classes, meditation sessions, hands-on community gardening, education, and eventually even farm animals.
The spirit of the farm reflects its origins. Born from a moment of isolation, it has grown into a place of connection. Each week’s harvest is more than food, it is a reminder of what can be built when people come together with a shared purpose. And with every season, Hongik ECO Farm moves closer to its goal of being not just a farm, but a community space where health, learning, and belonging coincide.
Take ownership of your body and play an active role in your health.
Hongik ECO Farm is a 10-acre community-centered farm in Huntley, IL, focused on sustainable growing, education, and outreach. The farm delivers fresh produce to local food pantries and plans to offer community gardening, yoga, Tai Chi, and educational programs as it grows. Volunteers and community support are welcome.
Address: 12713 Hensel Rd, Huntley, IL 60142
Website: hongikecofarm.org