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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. |
