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Joyce was one of seven children that grew up on the
Loo family farm in Springfield, PEI. She is one of the four
siblings that have become farmers themselves, carrying-on the family
tradition and legacy of their parents. Their father, Gerrit Loo,
together with his brother Everett developed the famous Island Sunshine
potato variety. Their mother, Joyce’s namesake, Joyce Loo, was
“the glue that held the farm together,” says Joyce, “she kept
everything up while dad had to find off-farm employment, she made sure
everything got done.” Joyce claims that if it weren’t for their
mother’s strength and love of the farming life, that she wouldn’t have
gone into farming. “She is a big influence on all of us,” says
Joyce.
Together, the siblings grow a large
variety of produce to supply a full range of fruit and vegetables to
their Farmers’ Market customers. Each of them: Margie, Joyce,
Raymond and Ricky (who helps out mostly on Raymond’s farm), grow
different vegetables to supply a well-rounded variety at their combined
“Island Sunshine” stall. Nature’s Bounty Farm provides most of
the root crops found at the Island Sunshine Stall, but they also grow a
selection of berries including haskap (an edible honeysuckle berry
which makes an excellent jam).
Nature’s Bounty Farm is run by Joyce and her husband, Mike Kelly.
Mike knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a farmer, and now,
Nature’s Bounty Farm exemplifies the goals he’s had since youth.
Although he also works full-time at a hog farm, his passion, just like
Joyce’s, is his home farm. Joyce also has off-farm employment
with Veseys’ Seed Company where she gets to exercise her green thumb by
testing the potential of new seed varieties. “Working at Veseys
is a great fit for a farmer,” Joyce exclaims, “I really enjoy working
with the new trial varieties.”
Nature’s Bounty Farm is located in Dromore, Prince Edward Island,
about 5kms away from their beautiful century home which overlooks the
Pisquid River. They somehow manage to expand their many acres in
Dromore each year.
Joyce and Mike knew from the
outset that they wanted to farm organically. Joyce has a severe
chemical sensitivity that makes it difficult for her to breathe around
fields that are sprayed. “The additional benefits that
certification brings is that you’re part of a network of like-minded
folks who all love to share information. The sense of community
and family is really strong in the organic sector,” says Joyce.
“My father first got certified in ’95,” remembers Joyce, “He thought it
was the way to go, and I think it was.”
In the future Joyce would like to spend even more time on the farm. “I
wish it were more viable to be a full-time farmer, but so far it’s a
labour of love.” Mike joins Joyce in these hopes, and plans to
eventually retire from the hog farm in order to dedicate more time to
Nature’s Bounty.
“I guess it’s in our blood,” smiles Joyce,
“farming seems to get to you like that.” She’s pretty sure they’ve
passed this desire to farm onto her children too. Currently both in the
Navy, her two children were very keen on participating in the farm life
as youngsters and Joyce and Mike both think it is likely that one or
both of them will return to carry on the Loo legacy for many years on
the Island. |
