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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?
11:01O-F-E-E-E.
11:02Ezra.
11:03Yeah!
11:04Ezra!
11:06George Ezra.
11:08Green, green, green.
11:09Blue, blue sky...
11:11Say that or die.
11:14Ezra is now officially a member of the Fletcher Farming family.
11:26And once he finds his feet, we may even have a future show winner on our hands.
11:44Do you want to do some painting?
11:45Yeah.
11:47Me too.
11:51Living in the Peak District, we've certainly got used to seeing our fair share of rain.
11:56But this year, it has been scarce.
11:59So today's welcome downpour is giving Liz the excuse to get creative undercover with her kids.
12:08Right, here you go, Marnie.
12:11So, what's my favourite thing to do?
12:14Paint.
12:14And what do we like to do on a rainy day?
12:16Paint.
12:17Paint.
12:18Right, how brave are you feeling?
12:19Do you want to go big or little?
12:22Big.
12:23Big.
12:24Let's find you.
12:25See if I've got any bigger ones.
12:27Or do you want to go super creative, do like two, and then we'll put it on the wall like that.
12:33But it's all one picture.
12:35Or do you want to just do one picture?
12:36I'll just do one picture.
12:39Right, is that okay there?
12:42Bit too long.
12:43Too low?
12:44Yeah.
12:46Well, I'll tell you what, you use that one and I'll use that one because I'm going to go and get a daddy canvas.
12:54Now, I'm not showing off.
12:55Well, mine's a little bit bigger than yours.
12:59A little bit.
13:03Today's activity isn't just about occupying the children, as Liz is using it to create some of her own unique artwork.
13:10So, I've got a spot in the holiday cottage where I was going to put a TV.
13:16But the cottage became such a tranquil vibe.
13:20I thought, I'm not going to put any TVs in the bedroom, so I've got this spot, which I've looked at for ages and thought, what can I put there?
13:28And I could put a mirror there.
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, but there's something about the farm where I absolutely love it.
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 because 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, oh, 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.
14:41I 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.
15:03You're doing so good.
15:06So is that good enough to go into the cottage?
15:09That is stunning.
15:10Well, absolutely go in the cottage.
15:14Mine 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?
15:34Oh.
15:36Oh.
15:36Each year, we look to learn and gain a better understanding of how best to utilise every acre of our farmland.
15:56And by committing nine acres to growing oats, means we have less farmland to graze our animals.
16:01We started taking this fencing up last year, believe it or not.
16:06You get halfway into it and then something else takes your priority.
16:09Yeah.
16:10So, I've invited a couple of grazing experts, Rob and Justin, to help me understand how I can move from the traditional system,
16:18where livestock graze one field at a time, to something a little more ingenious.
16:24So, I've been looking forward to having you guys here.
16:27I can't tell you how much, because there's something about grass, isn't there?
16:30And with us growing some spring goats this year, we're not limited somewhat, but, you know, our pasture has decreased.
16:40So, we've got the same amount of sheep, but less ground to graze.
16:44So, we just need to make sure that we're maximising the productivity of the grass.
16:48You want these ewes to produce as much milk as possible.
16:51On this set-stock system here now, they aren't getting a fresh bite.
16:55They're all following each other around, and they're just getting a nibble of what's left behind.
17:01Yeah.
17:01And I'm looking over my shoulder over there, and I'm seeing some really good sheep bite in that area there that hasn't been grazed.
17:10Yeah.
17:10As an example...
17:11Of what it could be.
17:12Of what it could and should be.
17:15Yeah.
17:15Now, if they were going into that, I guarantee you, your ewes will give more milk, and they'll put more live weight gain on the lambs.
17:22Yeah.
17:22And that's what it's about.
17:24You know, you're doing it because you want to see your stock do better.
17:27The guys want to help me introduce a rotational grazing system that divides each field into sections using electric fences.
17:36That way, the sheep only graze one area at a time.
17:40And then every few days, you move them onto a new section of delicious, fresh grass.
17:46It's all about grazing, resting, recovery, and then grazing and doing that whole cycle.
17:52Should I keep the cows separate for now or bring them together with the sheep?
17:56Keep them together, yeah.
17:57I can't wait for this.
18:00And just when I thought things couldn't get any more exciting, Justin has got one more trick up his sleeve to make sure our livestock only eat the best grass.
18:09There's your four centimetres.
18:12Oh, right.
18:12Oh, wow.
18:13We got...
18:13Oh, right.
18:13So, when you throw that golf ball into it, and you can see it easy, you take the stock out.
18:20If you've lost it, you leave them in.
18:23I love that.
18:24There you go.
18:25Is that the test?
18:26Yeah.
18:26It's golf ball.
18:27So, all that science, all that talk about different species.
18:30That's what they call golf ball grazing.
18:32Golf ball grazing.
18:33There you go.
18:34Wow.
18:35Golf.
18:35So, I'll lock this in.
18:37Well, I could even chip it in, couldn't I?
18:38Oh, you're one uptight.
18:40I could get my club out, do a nice little chip there.
18:43And if I can see my golf ball, then get them out.
18:45Yeah.
18:46If I can't see it, keep them in.
18:48Yeah.
18:48I love that.
18:49Keep it simple.
18:50So, I can keep this golf ball, can I?
18:52You're more than welcome to keep it.
18:54I think people will call me the grass man.
18:55Yeah.
18:56The grass man, that's what I'm going to be.
18:58You've got to walk the talk.
18:59Yeah, yeah, exactly.
19:00I've got the talk.
19:01I've certainly got that.
19:03You'll look after that golf ball.
19:04I will do.
19:05I will, yes, absolutely.
19:06I can't wait to get started.
19:09Rob and Justin have promised to come back in a couple of days to help me with a first install.
19:13So, I've got my golf ball.
19:15Golf ball grazing.
19:16Never heard of that before.
19:20So excited, yeah.
19:21This is just amazing.
19:22I mean, I think this is key for us.
19:25And ultimately, you know, the animals are going to benefit the most.
19:28They're going to get the best grass and enable them to produce more milk and produce better lambs.
19:34And the lambs will thrive.
19:36Who'd have thought grass could be?
19:38Almost as sexy, but it's interesting.
19:41I can't wait to start throwing my golf ball out.
19:43If I can see it, get them out.
19:48If I can't see it, keep them in.
19:49I mean, it's the simple things that, they excite me.
20:04Patayas, please put your shoes on.
20:09Back in the barn, Liz is cajoling kids whilst having a clear-out.
20:13And in amongst the cow muck, hay and random toys, we always find our breakfast too.
20:19Eggs.
20:20After introducing our new cockerel, Albie, to the flock, we were hoping the hens would stop
20:25laying their eggs in random spots around the farm.
20:28But, even though Albie has failed to tempt the ladies back to the hen house, there's still a chance that these new eggs could be fertilised.
20:37Liz?
20:38Yeah?
20:40What's that?
20:40I'm going to see you on the tractor.
20:42On the tractor?
20:43Yeah, that's where they're laying.
20:49So this is where they're laying.
20:50It's loads.
20:52Yeah, but have you seen her sitting on them?
20:54Yeah.
20:55You've seen her sitting on the eggs?
20:56I saw her sat them before, yeah.
20:58So I don't know which eggs she was sat on me, because obviously there's quite a few.
21:01Three, six, nine, twelve.
21:04There's a cockerel amongst them.
21:06So some of them might have been fertilised?
21:08Possibly.
21:09Possibly.
21:10This could be potential chicks.
21:13So what's the process now?
21:14Normally I would take them and have it for my breakfast, but what do we do now?
21:19Well, don't touch them.
21:20Will you just leave them for me?
21:21Well, I need to...
21:21I need the tractor.
21:23Oh, no.
21:24Put them on the side.
21:26She can go back to them.
21:27Oh, all right, then.
21:29Keep them in this Hessian sack.
21:32Right, those are the eggs.
21:34It looks like my scrambled eggs are unhauled,
21:36while Liz finds out if these fresh new eggs have been fertilised by Alba.
21:42I've bought this little contraption that can help you know if the egg is fertilised.
21:47So what you do is, this is like a light, they call it candling,
21:50and what you do is you put the egg on there,
21:52and if the egg is fertilised,
21:54it would show almost like a spider's web shape inside the egg,
22:00something like that.
22:00I'm not an expert on this hen, chicken,
22:03did the egg come first, did the chicken come first situation.
22:06Yeah, but I'm slowly getting there.
22:08So you just, all you have to do is put this light on.
22:13And you get the egg and you put it on.
22:16Our leghorns are renowned for not being brooding,
22:19but if any of these eggs are fertilised,
22:21we can pop them in an incubator,
22:23and in just 21 days, we'll have chicks on the farm.
22:27However, after testing them, so far it's bad news,
22:30and with one to go, it's not looking good.
22:33That's not a fertilised egg.
22:35So you can almost see, like, that'll be the yolk there,
22:39and the rest would technically be the white part of the egg.
22:45If that was fertilised, you would see, like, a spider's web in there,
22:52almost like it's growing.
22:53But that's not...
22:56So that's unfertilised eggs.
23:01So I don't know what to do from here now.
23:04You've got to have chicks on the farm.
23:05We just have to...
23:07We want more hens to lay more eggs.
23:09And I could just go out and buy some hens,
23:11but that's not the fun of it, is it?
23:12That's not the fun.
23:14We need to think of plumpy.
23:15Liz and I have always applied the trial-and-error approach with farming.
23:20And I'm hoping, with a bit of planning,
23:22we'll have chicks on the farm before summer's out.
23:27While Liz continues the egg check,
23:29Marnie and Milo are tagging along with me
23:31for some general farm maintenance.
23:35Dad, what are we doing?
23:37Well, good question.
23:40So, you know, this time of year,
23:41we always try and clear the troughs out.
23:43So we've got a couple of jobs.
23:44So what is a trough?
23:45That.
23:46It's that there, but what's its purpose?
23:48What's it for?
23:49It's like, it drinks all the sheep,
23:51so all the sheep have water.
23:53Exactly.
23:54But the troughs need some maintenance.
23:58Getting the kids involved in jobs like this
24:00is one of my favourite things.
24:02It teaches them practical skills
24:03and gives them a real feel for what farm life is all about.
24:07Come and have a look at this.
24:09Where have you seen this system before?
24:11I'll give you a clue.
24:12You go there to do well.
24:14Toilet.
24:16In the toilet.
24:18Do you know how it works?
24:20No.
24:20Yeah.
24:21So this floats...
24:21When you flush,
24:23the water goes down to there.
24:25So if it goes down,
24:26it automatically opens the tap
24:28and more water comes in.
24:30So as water's being drunk,
24:32it's being filled up.
24:32Wait, Dad, can I just say this?
24:34If we push it down,
24:36it's like where the flush is,
24:39is that going down,
24:42that button?
24:43Yeah.
24:43So this is just basically the on-off button.
24:46So as the water disappears,
24:48this will open the tap
24:50and it will start to fill up.
24:52But if we want to empty this,
24:54can you come and see the tap here,
24:55the little hole,
24:57the plug?
24:57Let's see here.
24:59And as soon as it starts to come through,
25:01it's got all the way out!
25:03Well done.
25:04Look at it,
25:05it's going over here.
25:07So how's that sense in?
25:08It's got my boots are waterproof.
25:10It is a good job
25:11your boots are waterproof, yeah.
25:13We can now put our hand in
25:14and start giving it a scrub.
25:16Who wants a scrubbing brush?
25:17Me.
25:17You've got one each.
25:19So there's yours.
25:20Dad, I don't think this is ever going to come off.
25:22It will do.
25:25We'll be scrubbing for the rest of our lives
25:27if you want it to, actually.
25:29Dad, why do you just get to stand there
25:31and we have to do the cleaning?
25:33Cos I'm the boss.
25:34What does Miss Hannigan say?
25:36I want it as clean as the top of the Christ building.
25:39Yeah, so come on, get scrubbing.
25:42It's a hard-knock life, kids.
25:45My workers are doing well.
25:47I'm going to do what most good foremen's doing now
25:50and sit back and watch.
25:54Milo just likes to mess as usual.
25:56Marnie's actually quite productive.
26:02Milo means well, but...
26:05He's only six, though.
26:07Just getting him involved, that's the main thing.
26:08You've got to make it fun.
26:09You've got to make it fun.
26:13I try and...
26:13Liz tells me I'm too much of a schoolteacher at times.
26:17And I try and make everything a class.
26:21And I'm probably not the best at explaining things,
26:22but I love to learn.
26:25It's looking good, though, that trough.
26:28And the good news is...
26:29This is looking good, but there's still another four left.
26:34How have you ended up like that?
26:36It's farming.
26:39You said it, Milo.
26:40With a trough cleaned,
26:41that's one more job we can tick off
26:43our ever-growing to-do list.
26:45I know Mummy's not here and the twins are not here,
26:47but come on, let's do it.
26:49Are we ready?
26:49Team...
26:51Team Splatchers!
27:10With the summer in full swing,
27:13everything is thriving on the farm.
27:15Come on!
27:16The lambs are looking healthy and strong,
27:21Ezra is starting to find his feet,
27:23and the kids are out and about helping in their own way.
27:26Like these.
27:28And between it all,
27:29Liz has managed to find some time
27:31to complete her artwork for the cottage.
27:34At home, in the middle of the night,
27:36when I've had these nice creative moments,
27:40I've finished my picture.
27:41It's not perfect,
27:43but it's just absolutely...
27:46Like, I could cry,
27:47it's ridiculous,
27:48but I could cry,
27:49because I feel like it's a masterpiece.
27:52Just to, you know,
27:53just to blow my own trumpet.
27:55But I'm just so proud of it.
27:58Like, I'm so proud of it.
28:00I think this is amazing.
28:01Oh!
28:02Am I...
28:11Have I gone delusional?
28:13Or is that amazing?
28:15Oh, my God!
28:17Because my excitement over this is just sky high.
28:20I've got to get out of the house more.
28:22I'm going to get Kelvin to put it up here.
28:24It's just going to look immense.
28:30Honestly, my bank transactions to Hobbycraft now
28:33are about to explode.
28:35I've been called to the cottage
28:37and told to bring my tools,
28:39and I can't wait to see the finished piece.
28:44What do you think?
28:45It will certainly offer intrigue
28:47where people will come here for a lovely weekend away
28:49and they'll think,
28:50Oh, that's a nice...
28:51And as they get closer,
28:55they'll start thinking,
28:56Who's done this?
29:00I think as they glance in,
29:01look, you walk in,
29:02they think,
29:02Yeah, oh, lovely.
29:04You know what, babe?
29:04When you get closer,
29:06it actually gets better,
29:07because then you can see the detail.
29:08Yeah, exactly.
29:10Anyway, come on.
29:11Get this on the wall.
29:12I'm excited.
29:13People are coming soon.
29:14Got, like, 20 minutes.
29:16It wouldn't surprise me
29:17if Liz started doing more of that
29:20and she became a bit of a...
29:22It became a thing
29:23and she became an artist
29:23and she was up in the Tate Modern.
29:27But a change of things have happened.
29:30Haven't they?
29:32Did Banksy ever think
29:33that they would end up
29:34where they are now?
29:36I'm going to start somewhere.
29:37I'll get a stand at the next country fair
29:40selling art.
29:46Where's my dog?
29:46Which way is that?
29:47And that's...
29:48Goes that way, yeah.
29:49Yeah.
29:56Dare I?
29:58Sign it.
29:59Right, you ready?
30:00I'm just going to do it.
30:00It's really tiny.
30:07Ella.
30:08Right, let's have a look
30:09at the final touches.
30:10It's lovely to add to the cottage
30:13with a personal touch
30:14from our very own
30:15in-house abstract artist.
30:19See, it just makes that area better.
30:21It does.
30:23It actually looks good.
30:25What are you calling it?
30:27Have you got a name for it?
30:28Because every artist
30:29will have a name, won't they, for that?
30:31I might call it
30:32Everything Happens For A Reason.
30:35That happened for a reason.
30:37I don't know what I was doing.
30:38It just happened.
30:39Everything Happens For A Reason.
30:40It wasn't planned.
30:42It just works in that little space.
30:44That little space for so long
30:45has just been bugging me.
30:47And now...
30:49It's just complete.
30:50This room is complete.
30:53I love it.
30:54I can't stop looking at it.
30:56Right, we need to go.
30:57People are checking in.
31:12It's been several months
31:13since the fire in the farmhouse
31:14and we miss being here
31:16more each day.
31:18So, as we await the green light
31:19to start the renovations,
31:21we've decided to find
31:22a temporary home
31:23to live in on the farm
31:24rather than continue
31:25renting down the road.
31:28With the twins in tow,
31:29we're off to Ellesmere
31:30to see a man about a caravan.
31:33A rather posh caravan.
31:37Hello.
31:38Nice to meet you.
31:38I'm Liz.
31:39Adrian.
31:40Adrian, Kelvin.
31:41Hi, Kelvin.
31:41Nice to meet you.
31:42This is Maximus and Matthias.
31:43Hi, Maximus.
31:44Hi, Matthias.
31:46Let's go and have a look.
31:47Yeah, yeah.
31:47Can't wait.
31:49Get my caravan after all.
31:51Or fancy one.
31:52We could be living in this
31:56for several months,
31:57so the space really has to be right
31:59for us as a family.
32:02Oh, wow.
32:04Look at this.
32:05Oh, my God.
32:06Oh, wow.
32:07Oh, kids, look.
32:09There's two little beds here
32:10for you two.
32:11They smell that for my clothes.
32:14Just...
32:14It's got everything.
32:16A home has got.
32:18When we had the fire,
32:20Kelvin was like,
32:21babe, don't worry,
32:21I'll just get us a caravan.
32:22And I had visions
32:23of me showering
32:25over the toilet
32:26for the next two years.
32:28And I know
32:29how long a renovation will take.
32:31They never just take
32:33a couple of months.
32:33They always take forever.
32:35I really, really love it.
32:37And I think this
32:38could absolutely
32:39take us back to the farm
32:41so that we're there full time.
32:42I...
32:43Say it, say it.
32:48Take a deep breath.
32:48I agree with her.
32:51And she was right.
32:52Oh, my God.
32:54It's just...
32:55It's just music to my ears.
32:58You're not just a pretty fair.
32:59I'm not, am I?
33:03It's been a long time
33:05since we've had the fire
33:06in a sense of, you know,
33:07it's just been doom and gloom.
33:09It's been heartbreaking.
33:10But this is a real...
33:12It gives a real spring
33:13in a step, really,
33:14where we can start to think,
33:15actually, you know,
33:17things can come good
33:19and there's light
33:20at the end of the tunnel
33:20and there's a real
33:22bit of excitement now.
33:23The twins love it.
33:25I love it.
33:26Marnie and Milo
33:27will love it.
33:28You love it.
33:31We didn't choose
33:31the caravan life.
33:32The caravan life chose us.
33:35Once we've finished
33:35rebuilding the house
33:36for the fire,
33:38you can actually
33:38move back in
33:39with the kids.
33:41I could say it
33:42on my own.
33:42Oh, my dream.
33:43What a dream that would be.
33:45Because what?
33:45Because saying...
33:46Shave, shave work.
33:48Shave work.
33:48Shave work, you're sure, Shave.
33:49You're on.
33:50Oh, we can't.
33:51You're on.
33:52Finally,
33:53we've found a solution
33:54that will get us
33:55back on home turf
33:56and I can't wait.
33:57One of the things I'm most
34:18looking forward to
34:19about being back on the farm
34:20is being able to
34:21fall out of bed
34:22and onto my quad
34:24to do the rounds
34:24of the flock.
34:25At the moment,
34:26the flock are grazing
34:27on the top field,
34:29which has the best grass
34:30and to ensure
34:31they are well fed
34:32all summer,
34:33I'm introducing
34:34a new system
34:35called paddock grazing.
34:37We take a field
34:39like this,
34:39we subdivide it up
34:40into various paddocks
34:41with electric fencing
34:42and that then
34:43keeps the animals
34:45grazing in that area
34:46and then when they move off,
34:48that area then
34:49is given a chance
34:49to recover
34:50and regrow
34:51and in doing so
34:53you get better grass
34:54coming through.
34:56Animals are eating
34:56better grass
34:57so they're growing
34:58better.
35:00It's a complete
35:00mobile system
35:01and you then
35:02put it
35:03and drop it
35:03into another field.
35:05You'll see that
35:05our cows
35:06and our sheep
35:07and the lambs
35:08grazing together
35:09and our animals
35:11will be looking
35:12the best they've ever
35:13looked.
35:15And what a day
35:15to do it.
35:18The new system
35:19is a huge change
35:20for the farm
35:21and the animals.
35:22So grazing experts
35:24Rob and Justin
35:24are back again
35:25to make sure
35:26we get off
35:27to a good start.
35:30Hello guys,
35:30good to see you again.
35:31Yeah, and you?
35:32How are you?
35:32The day has come,
35:33has it?
35:33Yeah, nice.
35:34Nice weather for it.
35:35That's good.
35:36I was thinking of
35:37getting this excited
35:39about grass
35:40I was thinking
35:40is there a name
35:41for that
35:42and it almost
35:43slipped out grass geeks.
35:44Would you be offended
35:45at that?
35:45No, no, no,
35:46that's good.
35:47Because I feel like
35:47I'm going to become
35:48a grass geek.
35:48Yeah.
35:49I'm going to be so
35:49obsessed with it.
35:50Grass geek's good.
35:51Yeah.
35:51Yeah, we'll go with that.
35:52That's the spirit Rob
35:53and we're lucky
35:55to have plenty of acres
35:56of grazing grass
35:56to choose from.
35:58How many areas
35:59have you got?
36:00We've got a few.
36:01We've got,
36:02that's an 8 acre field
36:03up there
36:04but middle blocks
36:05we've got this 10 acre.
36:06So you can get
36:07four,
36:08you'd have four,
36:09you know,
36:09four.
36:10Four divisions there.
36:10Two here
36:11and then potentially
36:13could have another
36:14four.
36:15Yeah, so you've got 10
36:17and if you say
36:17two and a half days
36:19in each one
36:19you've almost got
36:20a 25 day rotation.
36:22Yeah.
36:23Is that what you're thinking?
36:24Two to three days
36:25in each one?
36:25Yeah, probably.
36:27We're going to set up
36:28electric fences
36:29in our front field first
36:31and divide it
36:32into two paddocks.
36:33I'm going to be
36:34taking as many notes
36:35today as possible.
36:36So no doubt
36:37I'll probably ring Rob
36:38again at some point
36:38next week
36:39or maybe this afternoon
36:40I don't know
36:41but I'll try and learn
36:42as much as I can today
36:43and hopefully a lot of it
36:45will absorb.
36:46So that's the anchor post
36:47that goes in.
36:48Yeah.
36:49Yeah, it just gives it
36:50a bit extra strength
36:51in the ground
36:52so that as we're
36:53tensioning the wire up
36:54it's in deep enough
36:56just to make sure
36:57it's sturdy
36:58and stays in place.
36:59So if you put a post
37:01about every 8 metres
37:028 metres
37:04or 8 paces
37:061, 2, 3, 4
37:097, 8
37:12first one
37:13it's looking good
37:23quite therapeutic
37:25actually
37:25simple
37:28but effective
37:29and what's even better
37:31is that the grazing system
37:33won't cost much
37:33to run either.
37:35This is a solar energiser
37:37leave them outside
37:38let them get exposed
37:39to sunlight
37:40all year round
37:41and you will keep
37:42the battery charged.
37:43You'll need
37:44at least 48 hours
37:45if you can
37:46in sunlight
37:47before you turn sheep in
37:48just to get them
37:49powered up.
37:50The fence is set
37:51at a level
37:51that will shock
37:52and not harm the animals
37:54it purely acts
37:55as a deterrent.
37:57How many volts
37:58are we at the minute?
37:598.
38:01Aye, aye, aye
38:02So I'll get these
38:06bales out
38:06Yeah
38:08and give it another
38:09week of growth
38:10Yeah
38:11You'll be fine
38:13by the
38:13by the weekend
38:16I would have thought
38:16if you wanted to.
38:17The grazing paddocks
38:18are ready
38:19and in a few days time
38:21the grass will be too
38:22ready for all
38:23our sheep and cattle
38:24to move in
38:25and start munching.
38:28Right well guys
38:29thank you for that
38:30I feel like my grass
38:32knowledge is
38:33improving
38:34Yeah good
38:35the more and more
38:35I speak to you
38:36so we'll get the sheep
38:37on we'll see how it goes
38:38I'm going to send you
38:39loads of pictures
38:39Yep
38:40How's it looking
38:41how's it looking
38:41you'll be getting bored
38:43of me
38:43and then hopefully
38:44I'll get the hang of it
38:46You will
38:47Yeah
38:47that's it
38:47and you'll become
38:48a grass geek
38:49A grass geek
38:50fellow grass geek
38:51yeah
38:51Right then
38:52well I'll
38:52thanks a lot
38:53Good luck
38:54Sending us a lot of pictures
38:55Yeah
38:55Yeah
38:55Looking forward to it
38:56The sun's up
39:11the farm is buzzing
39:12and today marks
39:14an important step
39:15in our arable journey
39:16contractors have arrived
39:18to treat the crop
39:19ensuring only the finest
39:20grains will make it
39:21into the harvest
39:22There's a slight
39:24predicament
39:24basically there's new crop
39:26within this crop
39:27that's not ripened
39:28that's not ready
39:28so it's somewhat
39:29contaminated this crop
39:31so you kind of have
39:32to get rid of that
39:32so that's what we've got today
39:34sprayer on getting rid of that
39:35it does mean that
39:36the countdown is on
39:36in a matter of days
39:38we're going to be harvesting
39:39and while all that's going on
39:41with our new grazing system
39:43in place
39:43Liz and I have decided
39:45that young Ezra
39:45should be the first
39:47to enjoy the fresh growth
39:48with his mum Cherry
39:49The grass is looking good
39:53they're going to get
39:54the first bite
39:55together
39:56In the sun
39:57this is a great day
39:58to be out
39:59they're going to be
39:59hopping about
40:00and that's when
40:01our grazing strategy
40:02will start
40:03every three days
40:05they'll get a fresh bite
40:06You love a strategy
40:08don't you?
40:08I love a strategy
40:09I love a bit of order
40:10It sounds easy
40:11when you say it like that
40:13but as we well know
40:14moving cows
40:15is never easy
40:16Come on then Ezra
40:18Come on lad
40:20Cherry make sure
40:22you get your little calf
40:24don't leave him
40:24Come on
40:27Come on him
40:29Come on
40:30Come on on the trailer
40:33Come on he's following
40:35Yeah they've been in the shed
40:38waiting for
40:39Cherry to deliver the calf
40:43and they've not been
40:45in the trailer a lot
40:46so it's quite
40:47they're not used to it
40:49Oh maybe if the calf comes
40:51Oh look at him
40:52Come on
40:53He's confident
40:54Come on up there
40:55Come on
40:56Come on lad
40:58Come on
40:59Oh look at him
41:01Come on
41:01She's coming
41:03Come on
41:05Come on
41:06But just like the others
41:08Ezra is not playing ball
41:10They knew that they were going to the grass
41:12the juiciest grass
41:15they would not be bothered
41:16they'd be skipping it
41:18Oh no
41:20Kelvin
41:20we've got a problem
41:23No no no no no no no
41:25go that way
41:26that way calf
41:27go on
41:28go on back in
41:29no no no
41:30that way
41:30go on
41:31This is Friday today
41:34and it feels like a Monday
41:36It's definitely time for plan B
41:38We'll walk them down
41:40and move the trailer out
41:41we'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
41:47Cherry and Ruby can go back in the barn
41:49as there's a quick job we need to do
41:51before Ezra is free to roam
41:52What we're doing here is just ear tagging the calf
41:56this is its individual tag number
41:58to identify which herd it's from
42:00and its own unique number for its life
42:03it'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
42:10it's got to be done within the first
42:11I think 36 hours
42:12but because this is a beef animal
42:14we've got up to 20 days
42:15but it's two days old now
42:17so erm
42:18This is like a little trip to Claire's Accessories
42:20getting your ears pierced
42:21It's a moment of
42:22but then it's fine
42:24Good boy
42:28Very good boy
42:29Oh look at the size of them tags on him
42:32Tagged and ready to go
42:34Right
42:35Did they look keen enough
42:37I'll go in front then
42:38Right
42:38Go on then
42:39Go on Ezra
42:42Keep up
42:44Go on
42:44Keep up
42:45Don't slow everybody up mate
42:46Go on
42:47Keep going
42:47No no
42:49That way
42:49That way
42:51Go on
42:52Cherry and Ruby
42:54are not hanging around
42:55Leaving me
42:56to look after Ezra
42:58Mum's not bothered
43:00Is she?
43:01Yeah
43:01Come on mate
43:05I feel like she's picking him up
43:08What is he, 50 kilo?
43:20It's a bit unorthodox
43:21but
43:22it's easier than pushing him
43:23It's what they call a farmer's carry
43:25Come on lad
43:27Nearly there
43:27Let's dig in
43:29Oh my god
43:31There you go
43:39Ezra
43:40Has he pooed up back in my neck?
43:42I know but you've weed on you
43:43Has he really?
43:44Yeah
43:44Has he really?
43:46Yeah
43:47I can't believe you weed on me
43:50I thought I could smell something
43:52I'm sure you've had worse
43:56It's a fair old carry that
43:5850 kilo
43:59I still got it on I
44:00I don't even train anymore
44:02It's just that
44:03Farmer strength in me
44:05Proper farmer strength
44:07Just picked it up
44:08Boom
44:09Come on
44:09Right it's going on
44:10Stand back
44:11Look at them
44:12Oh
44:14The livestock can now enjoy
44:16Three days of grazing
44:18The fresh green grass
44:19And we can enjoy
44:21Watching Ezra
44:21Settle into being outdoors
44:23On the farm
44:24What 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
44:31What a cracker
44:34Now it feels like a Friday
44:37That was a great outcome
44:39After the trailer issue
44:41It turned out good
44:43And that's it now
44:44The next
44:45Honestly the change
44:46Over the next few weeks
44:47Watching him
44:49Just grow and grow
44:51He's just fascinating
44:52What do you reckon lad?
44:56Oh
44:56Look at her
44:59I'll tell you what
45:01There's not
45:02There's not a better sight
45:03Look at it
45:04That makes me feel proud
45:06That
45:06We've come a long way babe
45:08Oh
45:09He's going to love
45:10Being out here
45:11Next time on our farm
45:20Harvest day finally arrives
45:23If we got two tons per acre
45:26You'd be happy
45:27Yeah
45:27Would you be doing a dance?
45:29I'd definitely be doing a dance
45:31I'd be getting naked
45:32If it does three times
45:32And as wedding bells chime
45:36Around the farm
45:36What do we say
45:38When someone gets married?
45:39Ooh la la
45:41Liz and I take a moment
45:45To reflect
45:46On what we've achieved
45:47This year
45:48Two little kids from old on
45:50Just got together
45:51And built a little farm
45:54Yeah
45:54Took a massive step
45:56Never found in our lives
45:57Never done anything like this
45:58So look at us here
45:59Thank you
46:29Thank you
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