I flew the red-eye from Seattle to Raleigh-Durham with farmer Anne of Cherry Valley Dairy. We were headed to visit the farms where her farming passions were ignited, and meet the women who inspire and mentored her. We landed in the early morning, got our rental car, found some strong coffee, and drove here - to Bushy Tail Farm. Elizabeth greeted us and at once I was no longer tired. She was headed to her fields to harvest for market the next day and I was delighted and excited to document this young farmer in action.

Like many other female farmers I have photographed, and interviewed, Elizabeth is farming as a second career. She is a former research biologist from Boston and now working towards creating a sustainable agriculture business on her family's 200 year old farmstead in North Carolina.

Interestingly enough, Elizabeth didn't set out to be a research biologist either, she entered school with the idea that she would be a hippie and Philosophy professor. To earn extra money she began to work in a biology lab, that coupled with an influential science-oriented philosophy professor, she pursued psychology and biology instead. After graduating with her degree she took a year off before pursuing a graduate degree in Neuroscience. During that year she traveled cross-country by bike with non-profit Bike and Build and quickly realized that she enjoyed the outdoors and appreciated the dynamics of weather and environment. Still not sure that neuroscience was her path, she moved to Boston and found a job in a lab working in research. After two years she decided that her idealism was wearing down and that her definitions of success did not map with the careers in science. At this same time her grandfather had passed and she was reminded that there were 75 acres in Saxapahaw, NC, owned by her family for over 200 years, and it was completely untouched. It only took a moment for her to decide. She was leaving Boston and headed to Saxapahaw and her future in Agriculture.

Elizabeth's family farm just happened to be in a very vibrant local-food economy of Saxapahaw village in North Carolina. Her first business idea? To build a vineyard and winery. Research revealed that she would need approximately $1 Million dollars to just get started and that the timeline from planting to product would be very long. But along the way she discovered an elegant and optimized way to rotate animals and food crops in a very close system and fell in love with the idea of the polyculture farm. The startup time and money were not nearly what the vineyard would be and there would be immediate reward. Bushy Tail Farm was born.

I was very curious how her scientific training and methodology prepared her for becoming a farmer and was surprised that she tries not to use a science paradigm when it comes to soil, animals and plants. She describes her dive into farming as an attempt to reject the control necessary in the lab and instead describes her role as one who subtly facilitates and guides the natural system.

“ I would compare my approach to a conversation rather than an experiment with my plants and animals.”

However, years of learning how to deal with small amounts of substances and incredibly large numbers in a lab did prepare her for the work ahead of her on the farm.

“I understand efficiency of starting seeds, the impact of inputs, planting transplants, and mentally trudging through a task in a long bed of vegetables. I worked with mice for many years in the lab, and my experience with them has unexpectedly helped tremendously in working with livestock and husbandry.”

When I asked what her biggest surprise was in moving from working in an indoor lab to working with the farm she said it was the first job she ever had that she couldn’t stop thinking about. She loves it more every day and finds herself living on the land where her great-great grandparents lived and experiencing each season has married her to the land and occupation.

The rewards for Elizabeth have been great, she’s making tangible impressions on her customer’s lives, working a job and creating a life that feels natural.

“Although I’m not driving a Mercedes, the food in my life is better than any I could buy. I spent most of my money on good food when I was working! Farming makes me appreciate quality in a tool, flavor imparted by cold or heat, sitting down at the end of the day, and the equal fragility and resilience of natural systems.”

Thank you to Elizabeth for participating in the Female Farmer Project.

Originally published: March 18, 2014

Comments (10)

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Jessa A year ago

Gorgeous photos as always! I'm so happy to read about female second career farmers because I aspire to be one!

Vicky Brown A year ago

Remarkable! As always. A vibrant reminder of the many, many rewards for farmers and to farmers. Love this!!

Chloe Al 2 years ago

What a beautiful article, pictures and words! Elizabeth's path is very impressive and seems really wise :)

a Bostonian neuroscientist

Kaye Kittrell 2 years ago · 1 like

Audra, so glad I found you. As a photographer and now an urban farmer, I admire your photos and the work to bring women farmers to light. I'd like to visit Elizabeth for my web show. I'll be following and reposting on https://www.facebook.com/LateBloomerShow. Please follow me on twitter. My urban garden web show, "Late Bloomer," inspires anyone to grow their own food. https://www.youtube.com/user/kittrellkaye

audra mulkern 2 years ago

Thank you, I am so glad you found me too, and thank you for your kind words. I do believe I found your social media outlets. Thanks so much for getting in touch and let's keep in touch!

Kaye Kittrell 2 years ago

Audra, so glad I found you. As a photographer and now an urban farmer, I admire your photos and the work to bring women farmers to light. I'd like to visit Elizabeth for my web show. I'll be following and reposting on https://www.facebook.com/LateBloomerShow. Please follow me on twitter. My urban garden web show, "Late Bloomer," inspires anyone to grow their own food. https://www.youtube.com/user/kittrellkaye

FarmerEllis 2 years ago

Are you Organic?

audra mulkern 2 years ago

Hello - If you are asking about whether the article's subject, Elizabeth's farm is organic, then here is her site http://bushytailfarm.com/

I am unsure, but I don't think she is certified organic but rather employs organic practices.

Thanks! Audra

Melissa 2 years ago

Beautiful! Love the one of the bok choy and the lettuce washing too!

audra mulkern 2 years ago

Thank you Melissa! I appreciate your visit!

the scientist: bushy tail farm

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