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00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:07Oh, can 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 goals, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands and rolling hills as their playground.
00:38This 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?
00:57Kelvin, we've got enough to do, we're not creating a farm band song.
01:00And we're excited about what our next chapter might hold.
01:04I can't think of something that would beat this for me.
01:06This is my version of a happy, full life.
01:09Right, let's get some cup of tea then.
01:11This 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.
01:31Wolf king.
01:32Wolf king.
01:33Wolf king.
01:34Wolf king.
01:35We'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, couldn't I?
01:45No.
01:46Come on, could I?
01:47Liz's creative flair reaches new heights.
01:50Am I, have I gone delusional?
01:53Or is that amazing?
01:56My 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, the caravan life chose us.
02:24At the start of this year, we made our first foray into arable farming by sowing our first
02:29crop.
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.
02:49You alright mate?
02:50I'm good, how are you?
02:51Is 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.
03:00So, 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 trend?
03:19Yeah, well, 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, the 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
03:34in the ground here.
03:36I 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.
04:19I 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,
04:28and you've got a secondary growth problem, and that's why you've got...
04:31Green stalks coming through.
04:32Green stalks coming through.
04:33So your straw, in particular, is going to be really green, which will just get mouldy.
04:37It means coming in with a tractor next week to give it a spray off.
04:40Yeah, yeah, just, it'll be, yeah, just a light, not a high dose rate, just a small one,
04:45just to help it get over the line.
04:48Who'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.
04:59Yeah.
05:00To mitigate this secondary growth.
05:01Just get the green out, yeah.
05:02So we're going to harvest a week on Monday.
05:05Yes.
05:06On the Monday.
05:07I'm happy.
05:08You seem happy.
05:09Yeah.
05:10I'm always happy.
05:11You 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,
05:22they'll grade it.
05:23Yeah.
05:24And at that point, and they say it's good enough for porridge.
05:27I'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?
05:37Yeah, come on harvest day if you want, yeah.
05:38You don't have to.
05:39Would you normally come on harvest day?
05:41Normally, but this isn't normal.
05:43This isn't normal, isn't it?
05:47I love it.
05:48I 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.
06:05Right.
06:06Well, until then.
06:07Until then.
06:08Brilliant.
06:09We've come a long way, but we're not at the finish line yet.
06:14And there's one more hurdle ahead.
06:17Once 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.
06:26Yes.
06:43Well, you tell Milo what it is.
06:45You close.
06:47With the kids all back from school, Liz and I are keen to introduce them
06:51to the farm's new arrival.
06:54Open your eyes.
06:59What do we think, guys?
07:00What is it?
07:01Wait.
07:02Wait.
07:03Can we guess if it's a boy or a girl?
07:05Yep.
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?
07:14Well, 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.
07:36Oh, good one.
07:37Wolf King.
07:38Wolf King.
07:39You want Wolf King as well?
07:40Okay.
07:41Marnie.
07:42Okay.
07:43Oliver.
07:44Oh.
07:45Oliver.
07:46That's a nice name.
07:47What made you think of that?
07:48I don't know.
07:49I was just looking at him and he just gave me a new vibe.
07:50I was like thinking before it was Milo's girl.
07:51I was like, what name?
07:52And then I looked at him and then I'm like, oh, it's Oliver.
07:53I think he's in our lunch.
07:54What about you, Maximus?
07:55What about you, Maximus?
07:56What name have you got?
07:57I've got, um, Spin.
07:58Spin.
07:59Okay.
08:00Mummy, what would you like for him to be called?
08:02Barry.
08:03Barry?
08:04Barry?
08:05Why Barry?
08:06Barry the ball.
08:07Baza?
08:08No way!
08:09No way!
08:10No way!
08:11No way!
08:12No way!
08:13No way!
08:14No way!
08:15No way!
08:16He gave me a no vibe.
08:17He gave me a no vibe.
08:18I was like thinking before it was Milo's girl.
08:19I was like, what name?
08:20And then I looked at him and then I'm like, oh, it's Oliver.
08:21I think he's in our lunch.
08:22Baza?
08:23Baza?
08:24No way!
08:25Daddy turned!
08:26I like Barry!
08:27Your turn, Daddy!
08:28Okay.
08:29Are you Googling names?
08:30Have you done a list?
08:31No, I'm trying to...
08:32I was waiting back from the society.
08:34Oh, right.
08:35To 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
08:45all 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.
09:09Let's see what he weighs here.
09:1215.
09:13You're good.
09:14While the kids are distracted, me and Liz have got a plan.
09:19Shall we just name it Kelvin instead of asking kids all the 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, we'll be laughter.
09:28Who's going to name it?
09:29Me, I've got a name.
09:30You already?
09:31When I met us, I met me.
09:32Beginning with E.
09:33I like Ezra.
09:34Ezra?
09:35Ezra.
09:36Ezra.
09:37That is quite a cool name.
09:38Ezra the bull.
09:39We've got Sonic, Ray, Ralph, Ezra.
09:41That's a strong crew, that.
09:43What name would you go for?
09:44The only thing that sticks out for E is...
09:59Emmerdale.
10:01I'm not calling the cab.
10:04Emmerdale.
10:05People will be shouting, get over it.
10:07You left ten years ago.
10:09Ezra is a much better name.
10:11Does he look like an Ezra?
10:13He does look a bit.
10:14Ezra-ish.
10:15He's very pretty.
10:16He is very good looking.
10:17Ezra.
10:18Let's lecture Ezra.
10:19All right, we'll go with that.
10:20Well, Ezra it is.
10:21Let's hope the kids agree.
10:22Guys, we've thought of a name.
10:23The names that you suggested were all fantastic names.
10:26Spin, Wolf King and...
10:27Oliver.
10:28Oliver.
10:29Great names.
10:30However, I've just had an email back from the Breed Society, the Lincoln Red Society.
10:31And because in 2025, the letter is actually E. So the name has to start with an E. But...
10:32I know what it is.
10:33Mummy's actually thought of one.
10:34What name begins with E?
10:35That's really cool.
10:36Ezra!
10:37Ezra!
10:38Ezra!
10:39Yeah!
10:40Ezra!
10:41Ezra!
10:42Ezra!
10:43Yeah!
10:44George Ezra!
10:45Yeah!
10:46Green, green, green grass.
10:47Blue, blue sky!
10:48No!
10:49No!
10:50No!
10:51No!
10:52No!
10:53Ezra!
10:54Yeah!
10:55Go, go, go.
10:56No!
10:57No!
10:58No!
10:59No!
11:00No!
11:01No!
11:02No!
11:03No!
11:04No!
11:05No!
11:06No!
11:07No!
11:08No!
11:09No!
11:10No!
11:11Ezra 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.
11:41Do you want to do some painting?
11:46Me 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?
12:13Paint!
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?
12:29Do 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.
12:37Right, is that okay there?
12:42A bit too low.
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 get a daddy canvas.
12:51Now, I'm not showing off.
12:57Well, 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, but the cottage became such a tranquil vibe.
13:21I thought, I'm not going to put any TVs in the bedroom.
13:24So, 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 stuff 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.
14:51I actually like mine.
14:56I'm very proud of myself.
14:58That is brilliant.
14:59Lovely blending.
15:02I'm going to paint.
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.
15:12Mine 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.
15:34Each year, we look to learn and gain a better understanding
15:51of how best to utilise every acre of our farmland.
15:56And by committing nine acres to growing oats
15:58means we have less farmland to graze our animals.
16:01We started taking this trenching 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,
16:15to help me understand how I can move from the traditional system,
16:18where livestock graze one field at a time,
16:20to 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,
16:30isn't there?
16:30And with us growing some spring goats this year,
16:34we'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
17:06in 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,
17:20and they'll get more lightweight 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
17:31that 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,
18:03Justin has got one more trick up his sleeve to make sure our livestock only eat the best grass.
18:09There's your four centimetres.
18:11Oh, right. Oh, wow.
18:13We got... Oh, right.
18:13So when you throw that golf ball into it, and you can see it easy, you take the stock out.
18:19If you've lost it, you leave them in.
18:23I love that.
18:24There you go.
18:25Is that the test?
18:26Yes.
18:26Golf 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 guy.
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 would call me the grass man.
18:55Yeah.
18:56The grass man, that's what I'm going to be.
18:57You've got to walk the talk.
18:59Oh, yeah, 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 would have thought grass could be?
19:38Almost as sexy, but it's interesting.
19:40I can't wait to start throwing my golf ball out.
19:43If I can see it, get them out.
19:47If I can't see it, keep them in.
19:49I mean, it's the simple things that excite me.
20:03Matthias, 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 laying 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?
20:38What's that?
20:40On the field of tractor.
20:42On the tractor?
20:43Yeah.
20:43That's where they're laying.
20:49So this is more where they're laying.
20:50Whoa!
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 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.
21:09This 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, just leave them for me.
21:20Well I need to, I need the tractor.
21:23Oh no.
21:24Put them on the side, so you can go back to them.
21:27Oh alright 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, and if the egg is fertilised,
21:54it would show almost like a spider's web shape inside the egg, something like that.
22:00I'm not an expert on this hen, chicken, did 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 leg hones are renowned for not being brooding,
22:19but if any of these eggs are fertilised,
22:21we can put 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.
22:33Gosh, that's not a fertilised egg.
22:36So 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.
22:58So 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?
23:46What?
23:46It's that there, but what's its purpose?
23:48What's it for?
23:49It, 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 what?
24:15Toilet.
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?
24:57See here?
24:59And as soon as it starts to come through...
25:01Well done.
25:04Look at it, it's going over here.
25:07So how's that sense, Ian?
25:08It's got my boots are waterproof.
25:10It is a good job your 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.
25:18So 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?
25:33Because 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...
26:03He's only six, though.
26:07Just getting him involved, that's the main thing.
26:08You've got to make it fun.
26:11You've got to make it fun.
26:13I try and...
26:13Liz tells me I'm too much of a schoolteacher at times.
26:16And, um, try and make everything a class.
26:21And I'm probably not the best at explaining things,
26:22but I want them to learn.
26:25It's looking good, though, that trough.
26:28And the good news is...
26:30This 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 our 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?
26:52Team...
26:53Let's do it!
26:54Let's do it!
27:10With the summer in full swing,
27:13everything is thriving on the farm.
27:15Come on!
27:18The 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,
27:39I've finished my picture.
27:41It's not perfect,
27:43but it's just absolutely...
27:46Like, I could cry, it's ridiculous,
27:48but I could cry because I feel like it's a masterpiece.
27:50LAUGHTER
27:51Just, you know, just to blow my own trumpet.
27:54But I'm just so proud of it.
27:58I'm so proud of it.
28:00I think this is amazing.
28:02Oh!
28:10Am I...
28:10Have I gone delusional or is that amazing?
28:14Oh, my God!
28:17Because my excitement over this is just sky high.
28:20I've got to get out of the house more.
28:21I'm going to get Kelvin to put it up here.
28:26Oh!
28:26It'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 and told to bring my tools,
28:39and I can't wait to see the finished piece.
28:41Oh!
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, oh, that's a nice...
28:51LAUGHTER
28:52And as they get closer, they'll start thinking...
28:56Who's done this?
28:58LAUGHTER
28:59I think as they glance in, look, you walk in, they think,
29:02yeah, oh, lovely.
29:04You know what, babe?
29:04When you get closer, it actually gets better
29:06because then you can see the detail.
29:08Yeah, exactly!
29:10Anyway, come on, get this on the wall.
29:12I'm excited.
29:13People are coming soon.
29:14Got, like, 20 minutes.
29:15It 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
29:22and she became an artist
29:23and she was up in the Tate Modern.
29:26BUZZER
29:26But stranger things have happened.
29:30Haven't they?
29:32Did Banksy ever think that they would end up
29:34where they are now?
29:36I'll get a stand at the next country fair,
29:40selling art.
29:41Where's my daughter?
29:46Which way is that?
29:47And that's...
29:48It goes 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 at 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?
30:26Have you got a name for it?
30:28Because every artist
30:29don't 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.
30:38Everything 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...
30:48It'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.
30:58It'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.
31:27With 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.
31:50What a fancy one.
31:55We 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 goodness.
32:06Oh, wow.
32:08Oh, kids, look.
32:09There's two little beds here
32:10for you two.
32:11This more, that for my clothes.
32:14Just...
32:15It'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 how long
32:30a 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 could
32:38absolutely take us back
32:40to the farm
32:41so that we're there full time.
32:42I...
32:43Say it, say it.
32:48Take a deep breath.
32:49I agree with her
32:50and she was right.
32:52Oh, my God.
32:53It's just...
32:54It'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 us a real spring
33:13in our inner 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 bit
33:22of excitement now.
33:23The twins love it.
33:25I love it.
33:26Marnie and Milo will love it.
33:28You love it.
33:29We didn't choose the caravan life.
33:32The caravan life chose us.
33:35Once we've finished rebuilding the house
33:36for the fire,
33:38you can actually move back in
33:39with the kids.
33:41I could say I'm at home.
33:42Oh, Audrey.
33:44Audrey, that would be...
33:45I could swap.
33:45I could say...
33:46Shift, shift work.
33:47Shift work.
33:48You're short, shift.
33:49You're on.
33:50You're on weekend.
33:51You're on.
33:51Finally,
33:53we've found a solution
33:54that will get us back on home turf
33:56and I can't wait.
34:16One of the things
34:17I'm most looking forward to
34:19about being back on the farm
34:20is being able to fall out of bed
34:22and onto my quad
34:24to do the rounds of the flock.
34:26At 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 all summer,
34:33I'm introducing a new system
34:35called paddock grazing.
34:37We take a field like this,
34:39we subdivide it up
34:40into various paddocks
34:41with electric fencing
34:42and that then
34:43keeps the animals grazing
34:45in that area
34:46and then when they move off,
34:48that area then is given
34:49a chance to recover
34:50and regrow
34:51and in doing so,
34:53you get better grass
34:54coming through.
34:56Animals are eating better grass
34:57so they're growing better.
35:00It's a complete mobile system
35:01and you then put it
35:03and drop it
35:03into another field.
35:05You'll see that our cows
35:06and our sheep
35:07and the lambs
35:08grazing together
35:09and our animals
35:11will be looking
35:12best they've ever looked.
35:14And what a day to do it.
35:16The new system
35:19is a huge change
35:20for the farm
35:20and 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, it's nice.
35:34It's got this 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 obsessed
35:50with it.
35:50Grass geek's good.
35:51Yeah.
35:51Yeah, we'll go with that.
35:52That's the spirit, Rob.
35:54And we're lucky
35:54to have plenty of acres
35:56of grazing grass
35:56to choose from.
35:57How many areas
35:59have you got?
36:00We've got a few.
36:01We've got,
36:02that's an eight acre field
36:03up there,
36:04but middle blocks
36:05we've got this ten acre.
36:06So you could get four,
36:08you'd have four,
36:09you know,
36:09four divisions there.
36:10Two here.
36:12And then potentially
36:13could have another four.
36:15Yeah, so you've got ten
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 taking
36:34as many notes today
36:35as possible.
36:36No doubt
36:37I'll probably ring Rob again
36:38at some point next 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 tensioning
36:53the 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 eight metres
37:02eight metres
37:04or eight paces
37:06one, two, three, four
37:09seven, eight
37:12first one.
37:13It's looking good.
37:24Quite therapeutic actually.
37:27Simple
37:28but effective.
37:30And what's even better
37:31is that the grazing system
37:33won't cost much
37:33to run either.
37:34This is a solar energizer.
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 at least
37:4448 hours
37:45if you can
37:46in sunlight
37:47before you turn sheep in.
37:48OK.
37:49Just to get him powered 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
37:57are we at at the minute?
37:59Eight.
38:01Aye, aye, aye.
38:03Hee, hee, hee.
38:05So I'll get these bales out.
38:07Yeah.
38:08And then give it another
38:09week of growth.
38:11Yeah.
38:12You'll be fine by 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 our sheep
38:24and cattle
38:24to move in
38:25and start munching.
38:28Right, well guys
38:29thank you for that.
38:31I feel like my grass
38:32knowledge is
38:33is improving
38:34the more and more
38:35I speak to you
38:36so we'll get the sheep on
38:37we'll see how it goes
38:38I'm going to send you
38:39loads of pictures
38:39how's it looking
38:41how's it looking
38:41you'll be getting bored of me
38:43and then hopefully
38:44I'll get the hang of it.
38:46You will.
38:47That's it.
38:47And you'll become
38:48a grass geek.
38:49A grass geek.
38:50Fellow grass geek
38:51right then
38:52well I'll
38:52thanks a lot
38:53good luck
38:54I'm sending you some
38:54little pictures
38:55yeah
38:55looking forward to it.
39:10The sun's up
39:11the farm is buzzing
39:12and today marks
39:14an important step
39:15in our arable journey.
39:17Contractors have arrived
39:18to treat the crop
39:19ensuring only the finest
39:20grains will make it
39:21into the harvest.
39:23There's a slight predicament
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.
39:33So 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.
39:40And 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.
39:52The 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.
40:04Every three days
40:05they'll get a fresh bite.
40:07You 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.
40:17Come on then Ezra.
40:19Come on lad.
40:21Cherry make sure
40:22you get your little calf
40:24don't leave him.
40:26Come on.
40:28Come on in.
40:29Come on.
40:32Come on on the trailer.
40:34Come on he's following.
40:35Come on.
40:35Yeah they've been in the shed
40:38waiting for
40:39Cherry to
40:41deliver the calf
40:43and they're
40:44they don't
40:45they've not been in the trailer
40:46a 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.
40:54Go on up there.
40:56Come on.
40:57Come on lad.
40:58Come on.
40:59Oh look at him.
41:01Come on.
41:03She's coming.
41:05Come on.
41:06Come on.
41:06But just like the others
41:08Ezra is not playing ball.
41:11They knew that they were going
41:12to the grass
41:12the juiciest grass
41:14they would not be bothered.
41:17They'd be skipping it.
41:19Oh no.
41:20Kelvin.
41:22We've got a problem.
41:24No no no no no no no.
41:26Go 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.
41:39We'll walk them down
41:40and move the trailer out.
41:41We're not going to get them
41:42in the trailer.
41:43We're going to have to walk
41:44the cattle through the farm.
41:46But before we do
41:47Cherry and Ruby
41:48can go back in the barn
41:49as there's a quick job
41:50we need to do
41:51before Ezra
41:51is free to roam.
41:54What we're doing here
41:54is just ear tagging the calf.
41:56this is its individual
41:57tag number
41:58to identify
41:59which herd it's from
42:00and its own unique number
42:02for its life.
42:03It'll have this
42:03for the rest of its days.
42:06So we've got 20 days
42:08to get this tag in.
42:09If it was a dairy animal
42:10it's got to be done
42:10within the first
42:11I think 36 hours
42:12but because this is
42:13a beef animal
42:14we've got up to 20 days
42:15but it's two days old now
42:17so...
42:18This is like a little trip
42:19to Claire's Accessories
42:20getting your ears pierced.
42:21It's a moment of
42:22ugh
42:23but then it's fine.
42:24Good boy.
42:28Very good boy.
42:29Oh look at the size
42:31of them tags on him.
42:33Tagged
42:33and ready to go.
42:35Right
42:35they look keen enough.
42:37I'll go in front then.
42:38Right
42:38go on then.
42:41Go on Ezra
42:42keep up
42:44go on
42:44keep up
42:45don't slow everybody up mate.
42:47Go on
42:47keep going
42:47no no
42:48that way
42:49that way
42:51go on.
42:52Cherry and Ruby
42:54are not hanging around
42:55leaving me
42:56to look after Ezra.
43:00Mum's not bothered is she?
43:04Come on mate.
43:06I feel like she's picking him up.
43:09What is he 50 kilo?
43:10It's a bit unorthodox but
43:22it's easier than pushing him.
43:24It's what they call a farmer's carry.
43:26Come on lad
43:27nearly there
43:27let's dig in.
43:30Oh 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.
43:44Has he really?
43:44Yeah.
43:46Has he really?
43:46Yeah.
43:48Oh
43:48I can't believe you weed on me.
43:50I thought I could smell something.
43:51I'm sure you've had worse.
43:56It's a fair old carry that.
43:5950 kilo
43:59I still got it on her.
44:00I don't even train anymore
44:02and
44:02it's just that
44:03farmer strength in me.
44:06Proper farmer strength
44:07just
44:07picked it up
44:08boom
44:08come on.
44:09Right it's going on
44:10stand back.
44:11Look at them.
44:13Oh.
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 in
44:22to being outdoors
44:23on 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.
44:37That was a great outcome.
44:40After the trailer issue
44:41it turned out good.
44:44And that's it now.
44:45The next
44:45honestly the change
44:46over the next few weeks
44:47watching him
44:49just grow and grow
44:51is just fascinating.
44:53What do you reckon lad?
44:56Oh.
44:58Look at her.
45:00I'll tell you what
45:01there's not
45:02there'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
45:10being out here.
45:13Next time on our farm
45:20Harvest Day finally arrives.
45:24If we got two tons per acre
45:26you'd be happy?
45:27Yeah.
45:28Would 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.
45:34And as wedding bells
45:35chime around the farm.
45:37What do we say
45:38when someone gets married?
45:39Liz and I take a moment
45:45to reflect
45:46on what we've achieved
45:47this year.
45:49Two little kids from old on
45:50just got together
45:51and built a farm.
45:53And 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.
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