Springwillow Farm: Raymond Loo

OCIA Certification #11101G02995

This is the home farm of the Loo family. It is now being farmed by Raymond Loo, one of 7 children who grew up on the farm. Raymond’s mother Joyce, nee Haslam, was a member of the family who originally settled on this land in 1842. His father, Gerrit Loo, moved to Canada in 1951 from the Netherlands. The farm surrounds a small family church which was build by Raymond's ancestors. Raymond has a great interest in the world and the environment. He has traveled to Japan 3 times but has not made it to the area that his grandfather took the silver foxes to in 1921. He has had many people from Japan volunteer to work on his farm. Raymond grows main different kinds of fruit and vegetables, as well as cattle, pigs, and poultry. He sells most of the vegetables at the Charlottetown Farmers Market, but he also sells from a roadside store.

The farm is 250 acres with about 70 acres of woodland with native trees and animals growing wild. Raymond hopes to build a windmill to take advantage of the wind for power on his farm. Raymond is married to Karen, who is a school teacher and they have 3 children. They live 5 km from the farm in a 100 year old home. Family and home are very important parts of his life. You can visit the farm website for more information at www.springwillowfarms.com Raymond supplies black currants and rhubarb for our jams.

Elderflower Farm: Margie Loo

MCOG Certification #PE02204

This farm is located in Valley Prince Edward Island and is owned by Margie Loo and Gary Schneider. This is a beautiful, quiet area in south eastern PEI. They have greenhouses and produce greens year round, as well as herbs, apples, seed potatoes, tomatoes, english cukes, peppers, eggplant, squash, small fruit and sprouts in the winter. They have owned the farm since 2000. They sell most of their produce with Raymond and Joyce at The Island Sunshine Booth at the Charlottetown Farmers Market.

Gary is an ecologist and operates a native tree nursery in Orwell. Margie runs the farm and really enjoys the art of producing the best organic food that she can. Margie worked in Guatemala for 6 years with street children and displaced aboriginal people. She enjoys the peace and quiet offered by her farm. Margie Loo currently supplies black currants for our jams.

Caleb’s Outlook: Jim Newson

MCOG Certification #PE04209

Caleb’s Outlook began in the fall of 2000 for Jim and Betty Newson. Betty had grown up near the water in Newfoundland Betty is trained in nutrition and dietetics. Jim has a background in Agriculture was always interested in owning some land for agricultural purposes. They purchased a house with an incredible view located on top of a hill on 45 acres in New Glasgow, PEI. They began a bed and breakfast business and are now hosting people from around the world. See website at www.peisland.com/calebsoutlook/.

In the spring of 2001 Jim began planting some perennial crops such as strawberries and raspberries for their own domestic use. He realized that the trend toward organic agriculture was a growing business opportunity. At that point he investigated becoming certified organic, applied to MCOG and became certified in the fall of 2002. He had already started a u-pick strawberries operation and had a agreement with a neighbouring dairy farmer to manage the hay land organically.

The business grew from that modest beginning to 1.5 acres of strawberries, 0.25 acres of raspberries, rhubarb, mixed vegetables and most recently, in 2006 a planting of black currants. Jim currently supplies rhubarb and strawberries for our jam.

Kelly Cheverie’s Farm

MCOG

Kelly Cheverie has a certified organic farm on the shore in East Point, Prince Edward Island that has been certified for 7 years. He grows cranberries in the natural bogs. Kelly also grows strawberries and a mixture of different grain crops and enjoys experimenting with new crops. The windmills behind Kelly’s farm has attracted many more visitors to this area which is the most eastern point of the Island. Kelly currently provides organic cranberries for our jam.

Natures Bounty: Joyce & Mike Kelly

MCOG Certification #PE04214

This farm is located in is Dromore, Prince edward Island and operated by Joyce and Mike Kelly. They have been growing mixed vegetables and fruit organically since 1997. They both grew up on small farms and love the satisfaction of seeing plants grow. This is the farm that Mike grew up on. Most of their land is forest, so they cut their own wood for lumber and firewood. They also tap sugar maple trees and make maple syrup. They live in Pisquid, 5 km from the farm in Dromore. Their home is 100 years old and overlooks the river.

They grow a number of different vegetables and fruit which they sell here on the Island at The Charlottetown Farmers Market. They have a family booth called Island Sunshine. Mike's family have lived in the area for a lot of years most having originated in Ireland. Mike has always wanted to farm and went to college to get his Farming Diploma. He works full time on a large hog farm. Joyce is a first generation Canadian as her father Gerrit Loo was from the Netherlands. Her mother's family, the Haslams, have lived on PEI for almost 200 years. Joyce has a deep interest in what is happening in the world. As a child she heard stories of her grandfather's travels to Japan with silver foxes in 1921. Their 2 children helped on the farm when they were living at home but are now working with the Canadian Navy. Joyce and Mike have plantings of organic black currants and strawberries. They aspire to growing haskap berries as well. They will be future suppliers of fruits for our jams.