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Fletcher's Family Farm Season 3 Episode 9
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00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:08Can you keep this?
00:11Right, Milo, let's get some jobs done.
00:14Farming's a breeze, compared to having four kids.
00:19We're surrounded by the spectacular peat district.
00:23As far as an office goes, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands and rolling hills as their playground.
00:36This year, we've big plans to increase our flock and herd.
00:47Can I ride on him?
00:49Oh, you can't ride on him, no.
00:51Whilst continuing to diversify.
00:53What about if we created some sort of farm musical?
00:57Kevin, we've got enough to do without creating a farm, I'm sorry.
01:01And we're excited about what our next chapter might hold.
01:04I can't think of something that would beat this for me.
01:07This is my version of a happy, full life.
01:10Right, let's get some cup of tea then.
01:12This week on our farm.
01:24Let's give a suggestion of what we think the name should be.
01:27It's naming day for our new bull calf.
01:30Milo first.
01:31Wolf king.
01:32Wolf king.
01:33Wolf king.
01:34We're teeing up a new grazing system that's well above par.
01:38That's what they call golf ball grazing.
01:40Golf ball grazing.
01:41Wow.
01:42Golf.
01:43So I love this thing.
01:44I couldn't even chip it in, could I?
01:45No.
01:46Could I?
01:47Liz's creative flair reaches new heights.
01:50Am I, have I gone delusional?
01:53Or is that amazing?
01:55My excitement over this is just sky high.
01:59And the plan to live back on the farm gets one step closer to becoming a reality.
02:04The twins love it.
02:06I love it.
02:07Marnie and Milo will love it.
02:09We didn't choose a caravan life.
02:11The caravan life chose us.
02:23At the start of this year, we made our first foray into arable farming
02:28by sowing our first crop.
02:30And, over a few months, we've watched this nine acre field transform into a sea of golden
02:37oats.
02:38We're hoping for porridge, but could end up with animal feed.
02:42Either way, it's almost time to harvest.
02:44And our trusted agronomist Ben has come down to see if the crop is ready.
02:49It's alright mate?
02:50I'm good.
02:51How are you?
02:52Is this you Ben that's trampled over my crop?
02:53I think it is to be honest, yeah.
02:55Listen, listen, I'll be having words.
02:57So, er, you're smiling, but you're always smiling.
03:03So you're happy?
03:04Yeah, oh yeah, this is perfect.
03:06All I've seen at the minute in the farming community, as I'm sure you've seen it as well,
03:10is how bad of a harvest this is going to be, how yields are going to be down.
03:14Yeah.
03:15But that's not the case with us.
03:17Yeah.
03:18Are we bucking the tram?
03:19Yeah, well, I think you've got to go off like a field by field or a farm by farm basis.
03:23Like, you know, it's not, it's too broad to say, you know, the yields are down.
03:28I mean, east side where it's been much, much drier than here.
03:30Right.
03:31You know, it has been uncharacteristically dry for here, but there's still a lot of moisture in the ground here.
03:36But I just drive past every day and think, phew, that looks good.
03:39Yeah.
03:40And I'm going off what farmers are saying to me, saying, oh, your crop's looking well.
03:43And it's surprising, honestly, the amount of people that are mentioning it.
03:46Yeah.
03:47Just with the way our farm is, people will always, you can see into it.
03:50Yeah.
03:51But when they say, yeah, yeah, I say, oh, we've got some spring goats.
03:54Yeah, I've seen it, it's looking well.
03:55And I'm thinking, really?
03:57And I get really excited.
03:58Yeah, oh, yeah, everyone's keeping an eye on everyone.
04:00Looking good to the untrained eye, or from afar is one thing.
04:04But Ben has spotted a potential issue with our oats.
04:10Some of it is close to being ready, but then some of it, a lot of it is still green.
04:16Ah.
04:17You see, and this is sort of the issue.
04:19You've kind of, I think what's happened here is you've got a thing that you call secondary growth.
04:22The stuff that came up first, that has ripened early, is ready, and you've got a secondary growth problem,
04:29and that's why you've got green.
04:31Green stalks coming through.
04:32So your straw, in particular, is going to be really green, which will just go mouldy.
04:36It means coming in with a tractor next week to give it a spray off.
04:39Yeah, yeah, just, it'll be, yeah.
04:41Just a light, not a high dose rate, just a small one, just to help it get over the line.
04:47Who'd have thought that too much growth could be a problem?
04:51But we need to clear out the new shoots before the crop is ready to harvest.
04:55We're going to have to get the tractor on next week, we're going to have to spray.
04:58Yeah.
04:59To mitigate this secondary growth.
05:01Just get the green out, yeah.
05:02So we're going to harvest a week on Monday.
05:04Yes.
05:05On the Monday.
05:06I'm happy.
05:07You seem happy.
05:08Yeah.
05:09I'm always happy.
05:10You are always happy.
05:12When can we open the beers and crack the beers?
05:14Am I just getting ahead of myself here?
05:15Getting ahead of yourself, yeah.
05:16Right, OK.
05:17So, I guess the biggest test will be, once we've got it off, we go to the mill, they'll
05:22grade it.
05:23Yeah.
05:24And at that point, and they say it's good enough for porridge.
05:27I'm opening my, I'm opening my beer then.
05:29Yeah, you can do it then.
05:30Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:32Yeah, OK, that's what I'm thinking towards.
05:34Yeah.
05:35Are you going to come on harvest day?
05:36Yeah, come on harvest day if you want, yeah.
05:38You don't have to.
05:39Is that what you normally come on harvest day?
05:41Normally, but this isn't normal.
05:43This isn't normal, is it?
05:46I love it.
05:47I love it, man.
05:49Good.
05:50I want to see you.
05:51I want to see them just for myself as well.
05:53Yeah.
05:54I want to have that moment.
05:55I want to share it with you.
05:56Yeah.
05:57I want us both to say, we did it.
05:58Yeah.
05:59We did the unthinkable.
06:00Because I wouldn't have done this without you.
06:02I couldn't have done this without you.
06:03Yeah.
06:04Awesome.
06:05Well, until then.
06:07Until then.
06:08Brilliant.
06:11We've come a long way, but we're not at the finish line yet.
06:15And there's one more hurdle ahead.
06:18Once it's harvested, the local mill will do a quality check
06:21to see if our oats will end up in our breakfast bowls
06:24or in the animal trough as feed.
06:35Well, you tell Milo what it is.
06:45Keep them close.
06:47With the kids all back from school,
06:49Liz and I are keen to introduce them to the farm's new arrival.
06:54Open your eyes.
06:58What do we think, guys?
07:00Oh, is it?
07:01Wait.
07:02Wait.
07:03Can we guess if it's a boy or a girl?
07:05Yeah.
07:06I'm going to...
07:07I think it's a boy.
07:09Boy?
07:10What do you think, Milo?
07:11I think it's a boy.
07:12Can I call his name?
07:15Well, you have to find out if it's a boy or a girl yet.
07:17It is a boy.
07:19Look.
07:20How about why?
07:21How about why?
07:22You were right.
07:23Our new bull calf is settling into life on the farm by Mum Cherry's side.
07:28And the kids are desperate to give him a name.
07:31Let's give a suggestion of what we think the name should be.
07:34So, Milo first.
07:35Wolf King.
07:36Ooh.
07:37Wolf King.
07:38Wolf King.
07:39Mateus.
07:40Wolf King.
07:41Wolf King.
07:42You want Wolf King as well?
07:44OK.
07:45Marnie.
07:46OK.
07:47Oliver.
07:48Oh.
07:49Oliver.
07:50That's a nice name.
07:51What made you think of that?
07:52I was just looking at him and he just gave me...
07:54It gave me a new vibe.
07:56I was, like, thinking, like, before it was Milo's girl, I was like,
07:59what name?
08:00And then I looked at him and then I'm like, oh, it's Oliver.
08:02I think he's in Oliver.
08:04What about you, Maximus?
08:06What name have you got?
08:07I've got, um, Spin.
08:10Spin.
08:11Spin.
08:12OK.
08:13Mummy, what would you like to...
08:14for him to be called?
08:16Barry.
08:17Barry?
08:18Barry!
08:19Why Barry?
08:20Barry the ball.
08:21Buzzer?
08:22Buzzer?
08:23Buzzer?
08:24No way!
08:25Daddy's turn!
08:26I like Barry!
08:27Your turn, Daddy!
08:28OK.
08:29Are you goofy names?
08:30Have you done a list?
08:31No, I'm trying to...
08:32I was waiting back from the society.
08:34Oh, right, to see if it has to be a letter.
08:36For the letter.
08:37All newborn calves have to be officially registered.
08:40And with this breed, the Lincoln Red Cattle Society suggests a particular letter that all names should begin with each year.
08:48I'm guessing if Crowther was born in 23, 24 was D, 25 is E.
09:01This year, it's the letter E. Sorry Liz, but that rules out Barry.
09:06I won't lock you in.
09:07I won't lock you in.
09:10Let's see what he weighs here.
09:1415!
09:15You're good!
09:16While the kids are distracted, me and Liz have got a plan.
09:20Shall we just name it Kelvin instead of asking kids all time?
09:23I'd like a name that we've picked.
09:25We're not having a young bull called Wolf King.
09:27We just...
09:28We'll be laughter.
09:30Who's going to name it me?
09:31Oh, no, I was going to say me.
09:32Me.
09:33I've got a name.
09:34You already?
09:35When I met us, I met me.
09:36Beginning with E?
09:38I like Ezra.
09:39Ezra?
09:40Ezra.
09:41That is quite a cool name.
09:43Ezra the bull.
09:44We've got Sonic, Ray, Ralph, Ezra.
09:48That's a strong crew, that.
09:50What name would you go for?
09:53The only thing that sticks out for E is...
09:59Emmerdale.
10:02I'm not calling the cab Emmerdale.
10:05People will be shouting, get over it.
10:08You left ten years ago.
10:10Ezra is a much better name.
10:12Does he look like an Ezra?
10:13He does.
10:14He does look a bit.
10:15Ezra-ish.
10:16He's very pretty.
10:18He is very good looking.
10:20Ezra.
10:21What?
10:22Select your Ezra.
10:23All right, we'll go with that.
10:26Well, Ezra it is.
10:29Let's hope the kids agree.
10:31Guys, we thought of a name.
10:33The names that you suggested were all fantastic names.
10:37Spin, Wolf King, and...
10:40Oliver.
10:41Great names.
10:42Great names.
10:43However, I've just had an email back from the Breed Society, the Lincoln Red Society.
10:48And because in 2025, the letter is actually E.
10:54So the name has to start with an E.
10:56But...
10:57I know what it is.
10:58Mummy's actually thought of one.
10:59What name begins with E that's really cool?
11:02Ezra!
11:03Yeah!
11:04Ezra!
11:05George Ezra!
11:07Green, green grass.
11:08Blue, blue sky.
11:10Blue, blue sky.
11:11Blue, blue sky.
11:12On the day's day.
11:14Say that or die.
11:15D, D, D, D.
11:16D, D, D.
11:17D, D, D.
11:18Yeah!
11:19Z, D, D, D.
11:20Ezra is now officially a member of the Fletcher Farming family and once he
11:27finds his feet we may even have a future show winner on our hands
11:33do you want to do some painting yeah eat it
11:47living in the Peak District we've certainly got used to seeing our fair share of rain
11:56but this year it has been scarce so today's welcome downpour is giving Liz
12:02the excuse to get creative undercover with the kids
12:07right here you go Marnie so what's my favorite thing to do paint and what do we
12:15like to do on a rainy day paint paint right how brave are you feeling do you
12:19want to go big or little big big let's find you see if I've got any bigger ones
12:26or do you want to go super creative do like two and then we'll put it on the
12:31wall like that but it's all one picture or do you want to just do one picture
12:36right is that okay there
12:42bit too low too low yeah I'll tell you what you use that one and I'll use that one because
12:48today's activity isn't just about occupying the children as Liz is using it to create some of her own unique artwork so I've got a spot in the holiday cottage where I was going to put a TV but the cottage we came to put a TV
12:55but the cottage became such a tranquil vibe I thought I'm not going to put any TVs in the bedroom so I've got this spot
13:02which i've looked at which I've looked at for ages of what can I put there and I could put a mirror there have
13:30I've looked at paintings, but they just don't do anything for me.
13:33So I thought, do you know what?
13:35I reckon I could paint something that looks good there.
13:38And this is going to be it.
13:40Being on the farm has kind of woken up some creative side to me.
13:45I think, you know, I've always been into sort of interiors and decorating,
13:52but there's something about the farm I absolutely love there.
13:55And I think I'm inspired by, like, the outsides and the outdoors and seeing everything.
14:01And I get these little ideas in my head.
14:03And I think as well, my time to myself is very small
14:06because we've got a farm for kids and other jobs in the mix of that.
14:11And I think this is often my me time.
14:14Like, I don't go to the gym.
14:15I don't get to socialise and see because there's always a job on.
14:18And I think this is my little moment.
14:20And I find just a little half an hour here and there where I'll be like,
14:24Oh, yes, I'll do that.
14:25A lot of the time it's in the middle of the night when everyone's asleep.
14:28But I do love it.
14:31I've really found a love for restoring things or creating things.
14:38And it's definitely something that's come with moving to the farm.
14:43I love painting.
14:45Do you think you love painting because of me or have you always loved painting?
14:49I really like painting, especially with you.
14:51Oh.
14:54I actually like mine.
14:56I'm very proud of myself.
14:58That is brilliant.
14:59Lovely blending.
15:02I'm going to paint.
15:03Oh.
15:04You're doing so good.
15:06So is that good enough to go into the cottage?
15:09That is stunning.
15:10I will absolutely go in the cottage.
15:15Mine is a TBC.
15:16I'll come back to this alone and finish it off.
15:21But so far, so good.
15:24Got a lot of building to do.
15:25Got a lot more to add.
15:27I'll let that dry.
15:28Come back to it with a bit more inspiration.
15:30And without these snot rags hanging around, eh?
15:33I'll let that dry.
15:33Oh.
15:36Aww.
15:36Aww.
15:48Each year, we look to learn and gain a better understanding of how best to utilise every acre of our farmland.
15:55and by committing nine acres to growing oats means we have less farmland to
16:00graze our animals. We started taking this fencing up last year believe it or not
16:05you get halfway into it and then something else takes your priority.
16:10So I've invited a couple of grazing experts Rob and Justin to help me
16:15understand how I can move from the traditional system where livestock graze
16:19one field at a time to something a little more ingenious.
16:24So I've been looking forward to having you guys here I can't tell you how much
16:28because there's something about grass isn't there and with us growing some
16:32spring goats this year we're not limited somewhat but you know our pasture
16:38has decreased so we've got the same amount of sheep but less ground to graze so we
16:44just need to make sure that we're maximizing the productivity of the grass.
16:47You want these youths to produce as much milk as possible on this set stock system
16:52you know they aren't getting a fresh bite they're all following each other
16:57around and they're just getting a nibble of what's left behind here and I'm
17:01looking over my shoulder over there and I'm seeing some really good sheep bite in
17:07that area there that hasn't been grazed. Yeah as an example of what it could be
17:12what it could and should be yeah now if they were going into that I guarantee you
17:18your youth will give more milk and they'll put more lightweight gain on the
17:21lambs yeah and that's what it's about you know you're you're doing it because you
17:26want to see your stock do better. The guys want to help me introduce a
17:30rotational grazing system that divides each field into sections using electric
17:34fences. That way the sheep only graze one area at a time and then every few
17:41days you move them onto a new section of delicious fresh grass. It's all about
17:47grazing, resting, recovery and then grazing and doing that whole cycle. Should I keep
17:53the cows separate for now or bring them together with the sheep? Keep them
17:57together yeah. I can't wait for this. And just when I thought things couldn't get
18:01any more exciting Justin has got one more trick up his sleeve to make sure our
18:06livestock only eat the best grass. There's your four centimetres. Oh right oh wow we
18:13got all right. So when you throw that golf ball into it yeah and you can see it
18:17easy you take the stock out. If you've lost it you leave them in. I love that.
18:24There you go. Is that the test? Yes golf ball. So all that science all that talk about
18:28different species. That's what they call golf ball grazing. Golf ball grazing. There you go.
18:33Wow. Golf. So I'll lob this in. Well I couldn't even chip it in couldn't I?
18:40I could get my club out do a nice little chip there and if I can see my golf ball then get
18:45them out. Yeah. If I can't see it keep them in. Yeah. I love that. Keep it simple. So I can I can keep this golf ball can I?
18:52Use more than welcome to keep it. I think people would call me the grass man. Yeah the grass man
18:56that's what I'm going to be. You've got to walk the talk. Yeah I've got the talk I've
19:01certainly got that. You look after that golf ball. I will do I will yes absolutely I can't wait to get
19:07started. Rob and Justin have promised to come back in a couple of days to help me
19:12with a first install. So I've got my golf ball. Golf ball grazing. Never heard of that before.
19:20So excited yeah. This is just amazing. I mean I think this is key for us and and ultimately you
19:26know the animals are going to benefit the most. They're going to get the best grass and enable them
19:30to to produce more milk and produce better lambs and the lambs will thrive. Who'd have thought grass
19:36could be almost as sexy but it's interesting. I can't wait to start throwing my golf ball out.
19:45If I can see it get them out. If I can't see it keep them in. I mean
19:51it's the simple things that they excite me.
19:54Patayus please put your shoes on.
20:09Back in the barn Liz is cajoling kids whilst having a clear out and in amongst the cow muck, hay and
20:15random toys we always find our breakfast too. Eggs. After introducing our new cockerel Albie to the flock we
20:23were hoping the hens would stop laying their eggs in random spots around the farm. But even though
20:29Albie has failed to tempt the ladies back to the hen house there's still a chance that these new eggs
20:34could be fertilized. Liz. Yeah. What's that? On the tractor. On the tractor? Yeah that's where they're laying.
20:44So this is my way to laying. It's loads. Yeah but have you seen her sitting on them? Yeah. You've seen her sitting on the eggs?
20:55I saw her sat them before yeah. So I don't know which eggs she was sat on me because obviously there's quite a few.
21:00Three, six, nine, twelve. There's a cockerel amongst them. So some of them might have been fertilized? Possibly. Possibly.
21:09This could be potential chicks. So what's the process now? Normally I would take them and have it for my breakfast but
21:18what do we do now? Well don't touch them. Will you just leave them for me? Well I need to, I need the tractor.
21:23Oh no. Put them on the side. She can go back to them. Keep them in this hessian sack.
21:32Right, those are the eggs. It looks like my scrambled eggs are on hold while Liz finds out if these fresh
21:38new eggs have been fertilized by Albie. I've bought this little contraption that can help you know if
21:45the egg is fertilized. So what you do is this is like a light, they call it candling and what you do is
21:51you put the egg on there and if the egg is fertilized it would show almost like a spider's
21:57web shape inside the egg. Something like that. I'm not an expert on this hen, chicken, did the egg come
22:04first, did the chicken come first situation. Yeah, but I'm slowly getting there. So you just, all you have to
22:09do is put this light on and you get the egg and you put it on. Our leghorns are renowned for not being
22:18brooding but if any of these eggs are fertilized we can put them in an incubator and in just 21 days
22:25we'll have chicks on the farm. However, after testing them so far it's bad news and with one to go
22:32it's not looking good. That's not a fertilized egg. So you can almost see like that will be the yolk
22:39there and the rest would technically be the white part of the egg. If that was fertilized you would
22:48see like a spider's web in there almost like it's growing but that's not. So that's unfertilized eggs.
23:00So I don't know what to do from here now. You've got to have chicks on the farm, we just have to.
23:07We want more hens to lay more eggs. And I could just go out and buy some hens but that's not the
23:11fun of it is it? That's not the fun. We need to think of Plan B. Liz and I have always applied the
23:17trial and error approach with farming and I'm hoping with a bit of planning we'll have chicks on the farm
23:23before summer's out. While Liz continues the egg check, Marnie and Milo are tagging along with me
23:31for some general farm maintenance. Dad, what are we doing? Well, good question. So you know this time
23:41of year we always try and clear the troughs out. So we've got a couple of jobs. So what is a trough?
23:45What? It's that there but what's its purpose? What's it for? It drinks all the sheep so all the
23:51sheep have water. Exactly. But the troughs need some maintenance. Getting the kids involved in jobs
23:59like this is one of my favourite things. It teaches them practical skills and gives them a real feel
24:05for what farm life is all about. Come and have a look at this. Where have you seen this system before?
24:11I'll give you a clue. You go there to do what? Toilet. In the toilet. Do you know how it works?
24:20No. Yeah. So this floats. When you flush the water goes down to there. So if it goes down
24:26it automatically opens the tap and more water comes in. So as water's being drunk it's being filled up.
24:32Can I just say this? If we push it down it's like where the flush is. Is that going down? That button?
24:43Yeah. So this is just basically the on off button. So as the water disappears this will open the tap
24:50and it'll start to fill up. But if we want to empty this. Can you come and see the tap here. The little
24:56hole. The plug. See here. And as soon as it starts to come through.
25:00It got all the way up. Well done. Look at it. It's going everywhere.
25:07So what's that sense in? It's got my boots are waterproof. It is a good job your boots are
25:11waterproof. Yeah. We can now put our hand in and start giving it a scrub. Who wants a scrubbing brush?
25:16Me. You've got one each. So there's yours. Dad I don't think this is ever going to come off.
25:22It will do. We'll be scrubbing for the rest of our lives if you want it to actually. Dad why do you just
25:30get to stand there and we have to do the cleaning? Because I'm the boss. What does Miss Hannigan say?
25:36I want it as clean as the top of the Christ building. Yes. So come on get scrubbing.
25:42It's a hard knock life kids. My workers are doing well.
25:46He's going to do what most good foremen's doing now and sit back and watch.
25:54Milo just likes to mess as usual. Marnie's actually quite quite productive.
26:02Milo means well but he's only six though. Just getting him involved that's the main thing. You've got to make it fun.
26:09Liz tells me I'm too much of a school teacher at times. And try and make everything a class.
26:21And I'm probably not the best at explaining things but I love to learn.
26:25It's looking good though that trough. And the good news is
26:31this is looking good but there's still another four left. How have you ended up like that?
26:35It's farming. You said it Milo. With a trough cleaned, that's one more job we can tick off our
26:43ever-growing to-do list. I know Mummy's not here and the twins are not here but come on let's do it.
26:49Are we ready? Team Splatchers!
27:02With the summer in full swing, everything is thriving on the farm. Come on!
27:18The lambs are looking healthy and strong, Ezra is starting to find his feet
27:23and the kids are out and about helping in their own way.
27:26Like these, oops! And between it all Liz has managed to find some time to complete her artwork
27:32for the cottage. At home in the middle of the night when I've had these nice creative moments
27:39I've finished my picture. It's not perfect but it's just absolutely
27:45like I could cry. It's ridiculous but I could cry because I feel like it's a masterpiece.
27:52Just, you know, just to blow my own trumpet. But I'm just so proud of it. I'm so proud of it.
27:59I think this is amazing.
28:10Am I, have I gone delusional or is that amazing?
28:17Because my excitement over this is just sky high. I've got to get out of the house more.
28:21I'm going to get Kelvin to put it up here. It's just going to look immense. Honestly, my bank
28:32transactions to hobby craft now are about to explode. I've been called to the cottage and told
28:37to bring my tools and I can't wait to see the finished piece.
28:41What do you think? It will certainly offer intrigue where people will come here for a lovely weekend
28:49away and they'll think, oh, that's nice. And as they get closer they'll start thinking,
28:57who's done this? I think as a glancing look you walk in they think, yeah, oh lovely. You know what,
29:04babe, when you get closer it actually gets better because then you can see the detail. Yeah, exactly.
29:09Anyway, come on, get this on the wall. I'm excited. People are coming soon. I've got like 20 minutes.
29:16It wouldn't surprise me if Liz started doing more of that and she became a bit of a,
29:22it became a thing and she became an artist and she was up in the Tate Modern.
29:27But change of things have happened, haven't they? Did Banksy ever think that they would end up
29:33where they are now? I'm going to start somewhere. I'll get a stand at the next country fair,
29:40selling art. Where's my doctor? Which way is that? And that's... It goes that way, yeah. Yeah.
29:49Dare I. Sign it. Right, you ready? I'm just going to do it really tiny.
30:08Well, let's have a look at the final touches. It's lovely to add to the cottage with a personal
30:14touch from our very own in-house abstract artist. See, it just makes that area better. It does.
30:23It actually looks good. What are you calling it? Have you got a name for it? Because every artist
30:29will have a name, won't they, for that? I might call it everything happens for a reason. That
30:35happened for a reason. I don't know what I was doing. It just happened. Everything happens for a reason.
30:40It wasn't planned. It just works in that little space. That little space for so long has just been
30:46bugging me. And now it's just complete. This room is complete. I love it. I can't stop looking at it.
30:56Right, we need to go. People are checking in.
31:10It's been several months since the fire in the farmhouse and we miss being here more each day.
31:18So, as we await the green light to start the renovations, we've decided to find a temporary
31:22home to live in on the farm, rather than continue renting down the road. With the twins in tow,
31:29we're off to Ellesmere to see a man about a caravan. A rather posh caravan.
31:37Hello. Nice to meet you. I'm Liz. Adrian. Adrian, Kelvin. Hi, Kelvin. Nice to meet you.
31:42This is Maximus and Mateus. Hi, Maximus. Hi, Mateus. Let's go and have a look. Yeah, yeah.
31:47Hey, can't wait. Get my caravan after all. Or fancy one.
31:52We could be living in this for several months, so the space really has to be right for us as a family.
32:02Oh, wow. Look at this. Oh, my goodness. Oh, wow.
32:08Oh, kids, look. There's two little beds here for you two.
32:11They smell that for my clothes. Just... It's got everything a home has got.
32:19When we had the fire, Kelvin was like,
32:21babe, don't worry, I'll just get us a caravan. And I had visions of me showering over the toilet
32:27for the next two years. And I know how long a renovation will take. They never just take a couple
32:33of months. They always take forever. I really, really love it. And I think this could absolutely
32:40take us back to the farm so that we're there full time. I...
32:46Say it, say it. Take a deep breath. I agree with her. And she was right.
32:52Oh, my God. It's just... It's just music to my ears.
32:58You're not just a pretty fairy. I'm not, am I?
33:03It's been a long time since we've had the fire, in a sense of, you know, it's just been
33:08doom and gloom. It's been heartbreaking. But this is a real... It gives a real spring in a step,
33:14really, where we can start to think, actually, you know, things can come good. And there's light
33:20at the end of the tunnel. And there's a real bit of excitement now.
33:23The twins love it. I love it. Marnie and Milo will love it. You love it.
33:29We didn't choose the caravan life. The caravan life chose us.
33:35Well, once we've finished rebuilding the house for the fire, you can actually move back in
33:39with the kids. I could say it on my own. Audrey, that would be...
33:45What's what? They could say...
33:47Shift. Shift work. Shift work. You're short shift. You're on.
33:49We can't. You're on.
33:51Finally, we've found a solution that will get us back on home turf, and I can't wait.
34:17One of the things I'm most looking forward to about being back on the farm,
34:20is being able to fall out of bed and onto my quad to do the rounds of the flock.
34:25At the moment, the flock are grazing on the top field, which has the best grass.
34:30And to ensure they are well-fed all summer,
34:33I'm introducing a new system called paddock grazing.
34:38We take a field like this, we subdivide it up into various paddocks with electric fencing,
34:43and that then keeps the animals grazing in that area. And then when they move off,
34:47they're given a chance to recover and regrow. And in doing so, you get better grass coming through.
34:55Animals are eating better grass, so they're growing better. It's a complete mobile system,
35:01and you then put it and drop it into another field. You'll see that our cows and our sheep and the
35:07lambs grazing together. And our animals will be looking best they've ever looked.
35:15And what a day to do it.
35:16The new system is a huge change for the farm and the animals.
35:22So grazing experts Rob and Justin are back again to make sure we get off to a good start.
35:27Well, guys, good to see you again. Yeah, and you? How are you?
35:32The day has come, has it? Yeah, it's nice. Nice weather for it. That's good.
35:36I was thinking of getting this excited about grass. I was thinking, is there a name for that?
35:42And it almost slipped out grass geeks. Would you be offended at that? No, no, no, that's good.
35:46Because I feel like I'm going to become a grass geek. Yeah.
35:49I'm going to be so obsessed with it. Grass geek's good. Yeah. Yeah, we'll go with that.
35:52That's the spirit, Rob. And we're lucky to have plenty of acres of grazing grass to choose from.
35:57How many areas have you gone? We've got a few. We've got, that's an eight acre field up there,
36:04but middle blocks, we've got this ten acre. So you could get four, you'd have four, you know,
36:09four divisions there, two here, and then potentially could have another four. Yeah, so you've got ten,
36:17and if you say two and a half days in each one, you've almost got a 25-day rotation. Yeah.
36:23Is that what you're thinking, two to three days in each one? Yeah, probably.
36:26We're going to set up electric fences in our front field first and divide it into two paddocks.
36:33I'm going to be taking as many notes today as possible. No doubt I'll probably ring Rob again
36:38at some point next week or maybe this afternoon, I don't know, but I'll try and learn as much as I can
36:43today and hopefully a lot of it will absorb. So that's the anchor post that goes in. Yeah. Yeah, it just gives it a bit
36:50extra strength in the ground so that as we're tensioning the wire up, it's in deep enough just
36:56to make sure it's sturdy and stays in place. So if you put a post about every eight metres,
37:02eight metres or eight pieces. One, two, three, four, seven, eight. First one.
37:13It's looking good. Quite therapeutic, actually. Simple, but effective.
37:29And what's even better is that the grazing system won't cost much to run either.
37:35This is a solar energiser. Leave them outside, let them get exposed to sunlight
37:40all year round and you will keep the battery charged. You'll need at least 48 hours if you can
37:46in sunlight before you turn sheep in. OK. Just to get him powered up.
37:50The fence is set at a level that will shock and not harm the animals. It purely acts as a deterrent.
37:57How many volts are we at in the minute? Eight. Aye, aye, aye.
38:05So I'll get these bales out. Yeah. And then give it another week of growth. Yeah.
38:12Fine by the weekend, I would have thought, if you wanted to. The grazing paddocks are ready.
38:20And in a few days time, the grass will be too. Ready for all our sheep and cattle
38:24to move in and start munching. Right. Well, guys, thank you for that.
38:31I feel like my grass knowledge is improving. Yeah, good. More and more I speak to you.
38:36So we'll get the sheep on. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to send you loads of pictures.
38:39Yep. How's it looking? How's it looking? You'll be getting bored of me.
38:44And then hopefully I'll get the hang of it. You will. Yeah, that's it. And you'll become a grass geek.
38:49A grass geek. A lot of grass geek, yeah. Right then, well, I'll...
38:53Thanks a lot. Good luck. Good luck.
38:54I'm sending you some pictures, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
38:56Looking forward to it.
38:57The sun's up, the farm is buzzing, and today marks an important step in our arable journey.
39:17Contractors have arrived to treat the crop, ensuring only the finest grains will make it into the harvest.
39:23There's a slight predicament. Basically, there's new crop within this crop that's not ripened,
39:28that's not ready, so it's somewhat contaminated, this crop, so you kind of have to get rid of that.
39:32So that's what we've got today, spray her on, getting rid of that.
39:35It does mean that the countdown is on. In a matter of days, we're going to be harvesting.
39:39And while all that's going on, with our new grazing system in place, Liz and I have decided that young Ezra should be the first to enjoy the fresh growth with his mum, Cherry.
39:49The grass is looking good. They're going to get the first bite together.
39:57In the sun. This is a great day to be out. They're going to be hopping about.
40:00And that's when our grazing strategy will start. Every three days, they'll get a fresh bite.
40:07You love a strategy, don't you? I love a strategy. I love a bit of order.
40:10It sounds easy when you say it like that, but as we well know, moving cows is never easy.
40:17Come on then, Ezra. Come on, lad. Cherry, make sure you get your little calf. Don't leave him.
40:24Come on. Come on. Come on in. Come on. Come on on the trailer. Come on, he's following.
40:37Yeah, they've been in the shed waiting for Cherry to deliver the calf. And they've not been in the trailer a lot, so it's quite... they're not used to it.
40:49Oh, maybe if the calf comes. Oh, look at him. Yeah, come on. He's confident.
40:54Come on up there. Come on. Come on, lad. Come on. Oh, look at him. Come on.
41:02She's coming. Come on. Come on.
41:07But just like the others, Ezra is not playing ball.
41:11They knew that they were going to the grass, the juiciest grass.
41:14They would not be bothered. They'd be skipping in. Oh, no.
41:20Kelvin! We've got a problem.
41:25No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Go that way. That way, calf. Go on. Go on, back in. No, no, no. That way. Go on.
41:33This is Friday today and it feels like a Monday.
41:36It's definitely time for Plan B.
41:38We'll walk them down and move the trailer out. We're not going to get them in the trailer.
41:42We're going to have to walk the cattle through the farm.
41:46But before we do, Cherry and Ruby can go back in the barn,
41:49as there's a quick job we need to do before Ezra is free to roam.
41:54What we're doing here is just ear-tagging the calf.
41:56This is its individual tag number to identify which herd it's from
42:01and its own unique number for its life.
42:02It'll have this for the rest of its days.
42:05So we've got 20 days to get this tag in.
42:09If it was a dairy animal, it's got to be done within the first, I think, 36 hours.
42:12But because this is a beef animal, we've got up to 20 days.
42:15But it's two days old now, so...
42:18This is like a little trip to Claire's Accessories, getting your ears pierced.
42:22It's a moment of, ugh, but then it's fine.
42:27Good boy.
42:28Very good boy.
42:29Oh, look at the size of them tags on him.
42:33Tagged and ready to go.
42:35Right, did they look keen enough?
42:37I'll go in front then.
42:38Right, go on then.
42:41Go on, Ezra.
42:43Keep up, go on, keep up.
42:45Don't slow everybody up, mate.
42:47Go on, keep going.
42:48No, no, that way.
42:51That way.
42:51Come on.
42:52Go on.
42:53Cherry and Ruby are not hanging around,
42:56leaving me to look after Ezra.
42:58Mum's not bothered, is she?
43:04Come on, mate.
43:07I feel like she's picking him up.
43:09What is he, 50 kilo?
43:20It's a bit unorthodox, but it's easier than pushing him.
43:24It's what they call a farmer's carry.
43:26Come on, lad, nearly there.
43:28Let's dig in.
43:30Oh, my God.
43:39There you go.
43:39Ezra!
43:40Has he pooed up back in my neck?
43:42No, but you've weed on you.
43:43Has he really?
43:44Yeah.
43:45Has he really?
43:46Yeah.
43:49Can't believe you weed on me.
43:50I thought I could smell something.
43:55I'm sure you've had worse.
43:56It's a fair old carry, that.
43:59I still got it, Anna.
44:01I don't even train any more, and it's just that farmer strength in me.
44:06Proper farmer strength.
44:07Just picked it up, boom.
44:09Come on.
44:09Right, it's going on.
44:10Stand back.
44:11Look at them.
44:12The livestock can now enjoy three days of grazing the fresh green grass.
44:20And we can enjoy watching Ezra settle into being outdoors on the farm.
44:25What a lovely little thing he is.
44:26Look at him.
44:27Oh, look at him.
44:28What do you reckon, guys?
44:29Plenty of grass for you, eh?
44:31Look at him.
44:33What a cracker.
44:35Now it feels like a Friday.
44:38That was a great outcome.
44:39After the trailer issue, it turned out good.
44:44And that's it now.
44:44The next, honestly, the change over the next few weeks,
44:48watching him just grow and grow, he's just fascinating.
44:53What do you reckon, lad?
44:54Oh, look at her.
45:01I'll tell you what, there's not a better sight.
45:03Look at it.
45:05That makes me feel proud, that.
45:07We've come a long way, babe.
45:09Oh, he's going to love being out here.
45:19Next time on our farm, harvest day finally arrives.
45:24If we got two tonnes per acre, you'd be happy?
45:27Yeah.
45:27Yeah.
45:28Would you be doing a dance?
45:29I'd definitely be doing a dance.
45:31I'd be getting naked if it does three times.
45:34And as wedding bells chime around the farm...
45:37What do we say when someone gets married?
45:39Ooh-la-la!
45:44Liz and I take a moment to reflect on what we've achieved this year.
45:48Two little kids from old on, just got together.
45:51And built a farm.
45:53And built a little farm, yeah.
45:54Took a massive step.
45:56Never found in our lives, never done anything like this.
45:58And look at us here.
46:13Transcription by CastingWords
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