LIZ Burns lives up to her namesake as nature's poet and lyricist of love for the environment.
She is a classic, and kindly disposed to letting nature take its course.
She yearned to have her own farm in the Musk district, and after graduating in agriculture and dietetics, her dream became a reality.
Liz called her farm Trewhella Farm, Cornish for 'farmer on the hill', after her ancestors – generations of Cornish berry farmers and miners who first settled in the area in the 1850s.
"I've been farming for 40 years after completing my degree in agriculture – the genes just flowed my way," she said.
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"I retrained as a dietitian as I couldn't work in the 1970's style of agriculture, and worked as a community dietitian for 30 years before becoming a full–time biodynamic farmer.
"My aim was to concentrate on flavour rather than quantity.
"In the end, people eat because they like it," said Liz.
"Being surrounded by the Wombat Forest and having multiple dams fenced off from stock, enhances my biodiversity for natural pollinators, pest and disease control.
"I no longer need bees for pollination."
Liz's farm is distinctive because it is 'totally with nature' as Liz passionately describes.
It is certified Demeter biodynamic, which is to say the soil is continually being built to convert organic matter and any free soluble elements into stable humus.
This process is driven by the sun and acts as a powerful stimulator in the soil.
Combining this, with good agricultural practices, enables consistent and high–quality results for farmers.
"With a growing number of links being found between diet and disease, it is becoming increasingly important to know what we are eating and what effects it has on our state of health," Liz said.
Trewhella farm runs a small herd of Dexter cattle and Boer goats for vegetation control.
This has enabled zero fossil fuel use and minimal emissions for over 2 years.
"After I broke my leg, four years ago, I set myself a challenge to develop methods to keep me farming for the rest of my life.
"Using solar powered portable electric fencing, I started using animals, mainly Dexters and Boer goats to do the cleaning up, pruning and fertilising for me.
"I work around my physical situation by finding alternative ways," said Liz.
Liz is proud of her large range of berries which include blueberries, blackberries, silvanberry, and marionberry.
There is zero waste as 'seconds' berries make good jams and the rest are enjoyed by goats and chooks.
Twenty years ago, Liz Burns began experimenting with an array of herbs, using hand cultivation and processing, stainless steel buckets; and natural spring water.
Having a diploma in herb growing and herbal medicine from Dorothy Hall is a boon for herbalists wanting to make their own tinctures, appreciative of the biodynamic method.
"My biodynamic farming practices have evolved over the years, working with nature and not trying to control it.
"I find weeding an exciting activity, getting my hands into the soil and discovering new fauna and flora."
Trewhella also introduced local bush foods into its repertoire, believing it is better to grow plants in their natural environment rather than forcing growth in a hostile setting.
This is another enchanting aspect of Trewhella driven by the deft hand of Liz Burns, for her love of native vegetation.
The native roundleaf mint also known as native thyme is also an ideal understory shrub with medicinal properties.
They also have nashi pears, heritage apples and Morello cherries, mountain pepper berries; with plans for avocado trees.
"My farm is self–sustaining.
"I always felt like a farmer and descended from a long line of farmers from Cornwall – we are seven generations of family on the land, down to our 3–year–old granddaughter, Charlotte.
"I'm probably an agricultural scientist playing around on the farm and trying to make a living.
"Our farm works totally with nature.
"We are exploring ways of protecting this land permanently for food production and enabling the next generation of farmers to keep farming."
