A WOMAN who lives on a narrowboat and gets her milk fresh from a Jersey cow has been named Smallholder of the Year for 2009.

Jane Fanner, 58, who has lived on her boat in Kirtlington with its 32-acre smallholding for 13 years, said the reasons behind her self-sufficient lifestyle were more than just environmental ones.

She said: “It sounds trite to say you feel at one with nature, so I’m not going to say that.

“But you cut firewood in winter, plant seeds in spring, make wine, jam and chutney in autumn.

“It just feels right.”

Mrs Fanner picked up the £1,000 prize and trophy at a ceremony in Devon, the finale of a national competition organised by Country Smallholding magazine.

TV’s It’s Not Easy Being Green presenter James Strawbridge, who announced Mrs Fanner as the winner, said: “Visiting the 32-acre smallholding was like walking back in time, with a working pony, an old Fergie tractor, a 1940s bailer and a 1960s Morris 1000.

“There is a marvellous Heath Robinson system for boiling water with solar power, efficient rainwater harvesting and even a homemade incubator for chicks.

“This is a smallholding that is magical and inspirational.”

Mrs Fanner said having 32 acres of land next to the narrowboat mooring was a dream, ensuring she and her partner had access to electricity.

Her favourite place to go ‘shopping’ was the dump, she added.

Although most of the land is part of a flood plain, they have two acres of flood-free land for their orchard, chickens and Jersey cows.

From these, she makes cakes, cheese and ice cream which go towards running a tea garden on Sundays.

And the smallholder has already spent the prize money on six big, new chicken cages with runs and a state of the art incubator, which will help her breed old-fashioned, rarer strains of chicken.

Entrants to the contest were asked about issues ranging from care of livestock, land management, self-sufficiency, care of the environment and involvement in the wider community.

Mrs Fanner has lived on a narrowboat for 25 years and praised the way of life. She said: “There is such a diverse collection of individuals living along the canal, many of them highly skilled.

“I can’t speak for everybody, but I have made many firm friends.”

Country Smallholding editor Simon McEwan said he hoped the competition would continue to raise the profile of smallholders.