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00:00Come on Fletchers.
00:02We're heading into our fifth year of farming in the stunning Peak District.
00:07Here we go.
00:08They're coming!
00:10That's it, that's it. We've got to go.
00:12And we're making big plans from our new HQ.
00:16Being back at the farm 24-7, it just feels like the best feeling.
00:20In a caravan.
00:21It's pretty bougie.
00:23Alongside our four kids, who are each carving their own path as young farmers too.
00:28If any of my Jacobs give birth, I've got to do it.
00:33This year we introduce new breeds to the farm.
00:37I'm going to get a new flock of hens. I'm not even telling Kelvin. I'm just doing it.
00:42Come here, piggies!
00:44I forgot how much I love pigs.
00:46They're really cute.
00:48And continue our journey into arable farming.
00:51It's my wife, that.
00:53We've grown in confidence as farmers.
00:56I will not be defeated.
01:00Embracing the fun and chaos.
01:02Why could I not just have five minutes to eat?
01:05And together, we're working hard to live our life to the full.
01:09That was really good.
01:10You know what this called for?
01:11What?
01:11A brood.
01:13A brood?
01:29As autumn arrives on our farm, so does our new temporary home.
01:34Looks good, doesn't it?
01:34It looks so good.
01:36Over a year ago, we had a fire in the farmhouse, which forced us to move into rented accommodation
01:41as we waited for the insurance claim to be signed on.
01:44Dealing with the fire and everything, it takes so much longer than you could ever have imagined.
01:51And...
01:51It's a full-time job.
01:52It is a full-time job trying to go through the whole process, the surveys, everything that needs to be
01:56done.
01:58As well as then, we've not even started the point of clearing the house out and actually making a start
02:02on that building work.
02:03So, this just feels, although it's temporary, it just feels like it will help us make those steps a bit
02:11more efficiently.
02:12As we finally have the green light to start rebuilding our home, this lodge will be the new HQ until
02:18it's ready for us to all move back into.
02:20It feels like it's been so long since, like, we've lived here now.
02:27It feels like a bit of a weight is lifting, but just the thought of being back at the farm
02:3224-7 is...
02:35It just feels like the best feeling.
02:38The renovation will take months, which we can now oversee from our cosy lodge.
02:43I mean, they're just buzzing off that mountain of mud, so...
02:47So, you don't need to get your kids Christmas presents.
02:50Just get a pile of mud or sand, and away you go.
02:54This is what kids should be.
02:55I know, but I don't want them going in there like that.
02:57Well, they just won't go in there.
02:58Where are they going to live?
02:59Well, I don't know. We'll have to just get a kennel or something.
03:06And after a few days of unpacking, we do let the kids move in with us.
03:10And it doesn't take long for us to settle in.
03:12Right, who wants porridge?
03:14Me!
03:15And once the four kids are fed, there's no more commute to feed our animals either.
03:20Calvin is in his element on the farm.
03:23He never wants to come inside, so he's loving it.
03:26And now we're all back on the farm full-time, we're plotting for our biggest year yet.
03:31This year, to help us achieve our plans to expand, we've recruited a farmhand.
03:37Look at this for these two little shepherds.
03:38This is the new team!
03:41We've kind of worked out that we don't necessarily have to do every job together.
03:46So it's helping where we can kind of go off and do jobs separately, which means more gets
03:52done on the farm.
03:53And local lad Josh has quickly become part of the Fletcher family, giving us more time
03:58to grow our ever-expanding farming business.
04:02Every year is different from the weather, from the livestock we've got, so it's ever-evolving,
04:07but that's the exciting thing.
04:09Done!
04:10Oh, Getty!
04:11What a system!
04:12We've got ideas for the farm, we've got ambitions for the farm, and I think there's a lot of opportunity,
04:17and I'm really, really excited for what's to come.
04:20Who wants a hot chocolate?
04:32This week on our farm, I give Marnie an advance
04:36so she can expand her flock ahead of topping season.
04:39Right, I'll do you a deal.
04:41If any of my Jacobs give birth, I've got to do it.
04:46OK, I'm taking the responsibility of my sheep, and you're taking the responsibility of us.
04:53Deal.
04:54Hugo, the vet, is called in for a pregnancy test, but this time it's not for the cows.
04:59Here's the patient.
05:00Yeah, not my usual age today, no.
05:04But it'd be good to know, because we're all guessing, and it'd be good to just know if it's a
05:09yes or a no.
05:10And me and the boys take a break from farming to make our own dirt track.
05:15When you come onto a corner, you're a bit unsure, just ease off first,
05:17and then if you need to slow down more, then break, OK?
05:20Go, that's it, keep going.
05:22Daddy's here, keep going.
05:24Good boy.
05:35This year, we plan to expand our herd of pedigree Lincoln red cattle.
05:39Our small herd of five is soon to be six.
05:42And as we plan to grow in numbers, my first task of the day is separating the men from the
05:48boys, quite literally.
05:50We're getting the cows in today.
05:54And we've kind of let them run together as a group for the past couple of months, really,
05:59since obviously little Ezra was born.
06:02And it's just time.
06:03We've had a little bit of an issue with Sonic and with Ray.
06:07They have been seen starting to suck up Cherry, which is no good.
06:12Obviously, she's trying to raise Ezra, and all that milk is needed for Ezra, really.
06:16So if it's being taken elsewhere, it's not good.
06:19So Crowther, our bull, will remain with the two females, one of which has got a cat for four, Ezra,
06:25and either one is due in probably another four or five weeks.
06:29And then as regards to Ezra, whilst he's here, we've got the scales here, we'll actually try and get him
06:34in the way, if we can, and get him weighed.
06:37Separating the herd can be tricky.
06:39But luckily for me, I've got my two best apprentices on the job, Milo and Marnie.
06:45It's Friday day, it's Saturday, Sunday, what?
06:50We're going to get the cows in, OK?
06:53We're going to separate them.
06:53So we're going to go up there, call them in, and then we're going to walk down,
06:58and hopefully they're going to follow us into the shed.
07:02Come on, girls.
07:04Come on.
07:10Big arms.
07:13That's job number one ticked off.
07:15But before we get ahead of ourselves with celebrations,
07:18we still need to separate Ray and Sonic from the other cattle.
07:22Come on, Sonic.
07:23This way.
07:24Goodbye.
07:28Goodbye, that way.
07:29Go on.
07:30No, no, you can have some in a minute.
07:31Go on.
07:32Go on.
07:34Go on.
07:34Keep going.
07:35Goodbye.
07:39Right, one down, one to go.
07:43He's going to get an altar.
07:45I mean, he was very good on the altar, so hopefully...
07:58Is it time to celebrate?
08:01I think it is.
08:02Kids, come here.
08:03Let's sit down, because that's how excited I am.
08:06We just brought the cows down from the top field.
08:08Yeah.
08:09Just us.
08:10The hardest thing is, they're not like sheep.
08:12These cows are big animals.
08:13They can be quite scary.
08:15And not once did you two panic.
08:18You stayed calm.
08:19Milo, especially, when you stood on the corner and the bull came right next to you.
08:23And, Marnie, you just led from the back, perfectly.
08:28Absolutely brilliant.
08:29Brilliant.
08:30Well done.
08:31That was really, really good.
08:32You know what this calls for?
08:34What?
08:34Are we going to get a hot chocolate?
08:35A brew.
08:37Once again, the kids have risen to the challenge.
08:39Give it time, I'll make proper farmers out of them yet.
08:43As a parent, first and foremost, their safety is priority.
08:46But with any farm kid, you've got to just let them explore and give them that responsibility.
08:53And dare I say it, let them be a little bit daring.
08:56Let them kind of step into the unknown.
08:59We never quite give the kids the credit they deserve.
09:02They are so capable.
09:04I think since we've been living here, what has it been, four years now, it's three quarters of Milo's life.
09:11It's over half of Marnie's life.
09:14And the twins, it's almost all they've ever known.
09:16I just think they're better for it.
09:18They're better at assessing their own risk.
09:20They're better at allowing themselves to be a little bit vulnerable, but, you know, carrying out tasks.
09:27And, yeah, no, it's great to see.
09:29And I think those are great life lessons, so.
09:33Just one final job remaining.
09:35Weigh Ezra.
09:36Right, let's get a little Ezra in.
09:39He's in.
09:48So?
09:4990.
09:5090 kilo.
09:52He's heavier than Daddy.
09:54We know what he weighed when he was born and what he weighs now.
09:57So we can work out how much weight he's put on every day of his life.
10:00We've weighed in.
10:02That's the main thing.
10:04Let's weigh me at night.
10:06Shall I weigh you two?
10:07Yeah, let's weigh me.
10:10Come on.
10:11In.
10:12Dad, you think she's for that easy.
10:14Get in.
10:15Come on.
10:18Right.
10:1925.
10:22Out.
10:23Out.
10:28Next.
10:29Get it.
10:29Go on.
10:3020.
10:33Wait.
10:34I don't know if that means recalibrating.
10:36I'm sure you're more than 20 kg, Milo Fletcher.
10:39Which means you would not be ready for market.
10:41We've got to feed you up.
10:44Right, guys, job's done.
10:47You know what that means, don't you?
10:48What?
10:49It's time for a treat.
10:50It's time for a treat.
10:51Come on, because you've worked hard.
10:54Come on.
10:55You've worked hard so you can have a treat.
10:57I love you, Dad.
10:58I love you too, lad.
10:59Oh, Ginger's come for a treat as well.
11:01Oi.
11:02Ginger thinks she's having hot chocolate.
11:04Sorry, mate.
11:20Growing up on the farm has given our four kids
11:22the space and freedom to find adventure and fun
11:25around every corner.
11:30And never far from the action is Ginger,
11:32the world's most unlikely farm dog.
11:35Ginger was the first animal we ever owned.
11:38She came into our lives way before we even dreamed
11:40of owning sheep and cows.
11:42And today, we'll be finding out if it's her turn
11:45to add to our ever-growing number of livestock.
11:48We are scanning Ginger to see if she's pregnant with pups.
11:52So I've always said that I would let Ginger have one litter
11:56and she was in season.
11:57I found the perfect dog.
11:59So we've bred her with a miniature poodle
12:02and that was an experience in itself.
12:04And I said, look, if it doesn't work,
12:05I'm not doing that again.
12:07But we've got Hugo come in
12:09and we're going to find out if it has worked.
12:11But yeah, today is a big day.
12:13So scanning a different kind of animal
12:16and a little fur baby.
12:18We've taken advice from professional dog breeders
12:21and today, our vet Hugo has agreed to downsize
12:24the kitty usually brings for our herd
12:26to carry out the pregnancy test on Ginger.
12:31Hello, Hugo.
12:32Hi, Liz.
12:33OK?
12:33Yeah.
12:35You good?
12:36Yes.
12:37Here's the patient.
12:38Yeah, not my usual...
12:39Not your usual farm animal.
12:40...patient today, no.
12:41But it'd be good to know,
12:43cos we're all guessing,
12:44and it'd be good to just know if it's a yes or a no.
12:47Yeah.
12:48There's been a few symptoms or signs
12:49that I think she's been behaving differently.
12:51So what's she been doing?
12:53Eating a lot, then off the food.
12:55Very clingy.
12:56Right.
12:57I think she's getting wider.
12:58A bit wider.
12:59It does seem a bit wider.
13:00A bit of nest building, maybe.
13:02Hugo's using an ultrasound to scan Ginger's tummy
13:05to see if she's in pup.
13:07It's a slightly different scanner
13:08to the one he uses on the cows,
13:10and thankfully for Ginger,
13:12this one works on the outside.
13:15So you can see a puppy floating about.
13:17Black fluid there.
13:20Oh, my God, Ginger.
13:21So that is a cross-section through a puppy.
13:24This is just a two-dimensional picture,
13:26so it's taking a slice up through a bit.
13:28So that black is uterine fluid.
13:31And the bit in the middle is the puppy?
13:32Walls of the uterus,
13:34and that's a puppy.
13:35So you can see ribs, legs.
13:38Oh, my God, I saw that moving.
13:41I can literally see it moving.
13:43Yeah, well, that's two separate pups on that side,
13:47at least four.
13:48That would be about right, though,
13:49an average sort of litter size is five or six, so.
13:53Oh, Hugo, I think that's the best news you've ever given me.
13:56Is it? Better than the cows.
13:58Well, it's a close one, but she's just...
14:01She's our baby.
14:02Oh, my God, you're having pups.
14:03Well, you thought she was.
14:05One thing we're very much accustomed to around here
14:08is positive pregnancy tests.
14:10And it's lovely to think of a litter of miniature gingers
14:13arriving on the farm.
14:15Oh, Hugo, thank you.
14:17Really appreciate you coming.
14:19Yeah, no problem.
14:20Please, it's good news.
14:22Very happy, it's good news.
14:24Do you want to buy one?
14:24Stop shaking as much now.
14:26No, don't start trying to sell them to me.
14:28I get this all the time.
14:30I'll ring the wife.
14:31She'll want one.
14:33No, she's the one who'll say no.
14:34No, it's me, I'm the one who you talk round.
14:38Wait till you see him, Hugo, you'll definitely want one.
14:41Probably, yeah.
14:43All right.
14:43Right, thank you.
14:45See you later.
14:45See you later.
14:46As if we don't already have enough on our plates,
14:49we now have an expectant dog to attend to.
14:52Oh, I'm just so excited for her.
14:56Oh, it's going to be so amazing
14:58to just have little pups running around.
15:00Oh, well done, Ginger.
15:05The kids are going to love it.
15:08Go and do what you love doing.
15:09Go on, go on, go.
15:10Come on, should we go?
15:12Let's go.
15:12Come on, go, go, go, go.
15:30Of all the new ventures on our farm,
15:32our first foray into arable farming
15:34has been one of the most exciting.
15:37In the past, this farm did produce a number of crops,
15:40but for the last 20 years, nothing has grown here until now.
15:45With a few tonnes of seed, some serious kit
15:48and help from our agronomist, Ben.
15:50We're good.
15:51We're happy.
15:52We're smiling.
15:52We're smiling.
15:53Let's get combining.
15:54We've watched this nine acres transform into a field of oats.
15:59Today, we find out if the hard graft has paid off.
16:03So now we're off to the mill,
16:06to the millers with our oats.
16:09We've got a sample.
16:11The truck's already gone with a truckload of oats.
16:14Not quite as many as we were first hoping.
16:16So we're on there today to get the news,
16:19just to see how well they have done.
16:22So fingers crossed.
16:23You know, this is months and months of hard work,
16:28months and months of preparation.
16:30But, yeah, today we'll find out whether the oats are good enough
16:33and where they will go next.
16:35Will they end up as animal feed
16:38or will they end up on our kitchen table as porridge?
16:43So, yeah, I'm excited.
16:44The mill we're heading to is still family-owned
16:47and it's been running for more than 350 years.
16:51It's one of the only few left in the country that handles oats
16:54and it just so happens to be right here on our doorstep.
16:58So hopefully it might even be a little bit of a science lesson for me today.
17:01It might be like being back at school,
17:03understanding how they grade it
17:04and what makes a good crop and what doesn't.
17:08There's a lot riding on this in a sense of, you know,
17:10we were bold enough to do it in the first place
17:14and then kind of even braver to think that we could get some porridge oats.
17:19It's a little nerve-wracking as to what the outcome of today is,
17:22but it goes without saying this is not...
17:25This is just the beginning of our arable journey.
17:29Regardless of the result, we will not be deterred.
17:32This sample batch of oats will be tested to see
17:35if they've made the grade for human consumption
17:37or whether they're destined for the feed troughs.
17:40Hi, James.
17:40Morning.
17:42Nice to see you.
17:43You brought me a present.
17:44I couldn't bear in gifts, yeah, yeah.
17:46Right.
17:47Let's see what you've got.
17:48Managing director James will determine the fate of this year's crop.
17:52I didn't know how much to bring, so obviously this is...
17:56This is soon.
17:57So you should have about, I would think, 20 kilos in here.
18:02Right, OK.
18:02So you've done well to carry that across the yard.
18:05Yeah.
18:05And now we have to test them.
18:07So we have to see whether inside these oats
18:10we've got enough groat, which is the bit that humans can eat,
18:15and not too much of the husk,
18:17which is the outside bit that the animals eat.
18:19And depending on the proportion,
18:21that determines whether or not we can make porridge from it
18:23or whether we'll have to make animal food from it.
18:26But either way, it'll be good for somebody.
18:28OK, good.
18:28Right, then.
18:29Fingers crossed.
18:30Right, so let's take a closer look,
18:32and if you scoop some into the tray,
18:33then we can have a closer look.
18:37And then what we're looking for inside each of these grains
18:41is the inside bit, which is the groat.
18:44This is not a terribly promising start,
18:46because I can't find one in there.
18:49But here you go, this one's a bit juicier.
18:52So inside there, if you can see,
18:55these are the two components of an oat.
18:57So you've got the outer husk.
18:59That's what protects it from the elements when it's growing.
19:01And then this bit on the inside, we call that the groat.
19:04That's the really nutritious bit.
19:06That's the bit that humans can digest.
19:08That's where all the health benefits are.
19:09So what we're looking for in order to make porridge
19:11is we need loads of these
19:13and not too many of these.
19:15Right.
19:17To judge the quality, weight is everything.
19:19And there's a benchmark figure we're looking for.
19:22If we fill the measuring tube
19:24and the weight reaches 550 grams or above,
19:27it passes.
19:28Anything less is a fail.
19:30If we've got no groat and loads of husk,
19:34then we can only...
19:35Then we can't mill it into porridge,
19:36so we have to send it to our friends down the road
19:38and then we'll turn it into animal feed.
19:40OK.
19:42A jeopardy.
19:43OK, the nervous one.
19:45Let's do this on here, then.
19:47Yeah.
19:47If you press the zero button there,
19:49just to check that it's at zero.
19:56So you're almost there.
19:57Is that at the top?
20:00I'll put a little bit more in.
20:01A little bit more, just to see.
20:04Just to help.
20:06You know.
20:07Right, so...
20:09I think we're...
20:1055 or 550 grams, it'll be.
20:13That's your magic number.
20:15Oh, we're way off.
20:18380.
20:19380.
20:21So that tells me
20:23these oats here have grown well in the field,
20:26they look well,
20:27but they haven't absorbed enough moisture
20:29in order to swell,
20:31so the inside of the grain hasn't swollen up
20:34to make a really meaty groat for porridge.
20:37Right.
20:37So it was a really long, hot, dry summer, wasn't it?
20:40Yeah.
20:41So, unfortunately,
20:43at the right part of that growing cycle,
20:46you just wouldn't have had enough rain up on the field.
20:48Wow.
20:49And it's the difference, then,
20:50between whether or not that groat forms
20:53into something that can be edible or milled or can't.
20:59So, unfortunately...
21:00It's not made great.
21:01It's not going to make the great for porridge.
21:02With rainfall down,
21:04so is quality-grade oat production,
21:06and that's an issue
21:07that's impacted many arable farmers this year.
21:10But it's not all lost
21:11because there's still nutritional value in here.
21:14It's just that the human stomach
21:16can't digest that outer husk.
21:18Yeah.
21:18But if you've got a bigger stomach
21:19or you're a rumen,
21:21so you've got multiple stomachs,
21:22like a cow,
21:23then all is not lost
21:25because you can digest it
21:26and it is nutritious.
21:27So I'm going to have the best-fed cows around then?
21:30Well, they'll be happy cows.
21:33When you think of all the effort
21:34that you've put into it as well...
21:36Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:36...then, you know,
21:37if we can get it back to your animals especially,
21:39then you'll get a really good feeling
21:42knowing that you've contributed to it.
21:44Well, I'll be telling them that
21:46when I'm seeing them in the shed
21:47and they're eating away.
21:48I'll be saying,
21:48Listen, do you realise how well-fed you are?
21:51The time and effort I put into this.
21:54Well, the other way is up.
21:56Nothing ventured, nothing gained
21:58and, like you say, year one,
21:59hopefully the first of many.
22:01Old expression,
22:02rain makes grain.
22:03Oh, OK.
22:04Simple stuff,
22:05but if you don't have the rain,
22:07you don't get the grain.
22:08Rain makes grain.
22:11OK.
22:11And drought makes now.
22:12And drought makes now.
22:15I love it.
22:16Rain makes grain,
22:17drought makes now.
22:18Well, we've made now.
22:20However,
22:21we've got some great animal feed,
22:23so...
22:23You never really make now, do you?
22:29You know what?
22:30I feel...
22:30I still feel quite...
22:32Quite optimistic, really.
22:34Yeah, you know,
22:36a little bit disappointed
22:38that we didn't quite kind of make grade,
22:39but now I've got an understanding
22:40of what it takes to make grade
22:42and what it means...
22:44What it actually means
22:45when you don't make grade.
22:46We still grew a great crop.
22:48It just didn't quite have the...
22:51The oomph.
22:52I don't ever have any regrets.
22:54We took the leap
22:54and we came up a little bit short,
22:57but overall,
22:57it was a success.
22:58I can't help...
22:59I honestly can't help
23:00but look back and think,
23:02what a successful crop.
23:04What a great attempt that was.
23:05I'm already thinking ahead.
23:09Yeah, I'm not deterred.
23:25As the summer draws to a close,
23:27tupping or breeding season
23:28will soon be upon us.
23:31Alongside our clins,
23:32Marnie's Jacobs are doing so well,
23:34I've decided to make a little investment
23:36in the flock's future.
23:39Big moment, Marnie.
23:40Okay.
23:41Big moment.
23:43Good Jacobs are hard to find,
23:45but I've been keeping my eye on the markets
23:47and I've got a surprise for Marnie
23:49to help her achieve her dream
23:51of expanding her flock.
23:54So, obviously,
23:55Daddy's been looking around
23:56because I wanted to get you
23:57the best Jacobs we could get.
23:59Yeah?
23:59Yeah.
24:00Well, let's make this clear.
24:01You did say I'll get you about
24:03the maximum of sheep
24:04that I could get you
24:06is about, like,
24:08five, ten more
24:09and you've gone up
24:10buying me about...
24:12I don't know.
24:12Well, I was looking...
24:13Is there about 20 in there?
24:14I was looking for some good...
24:15I was looking for some good ones.
24:17Is there some of my sheep in there?
24:19Yeah, so there...
24:20I've just spotted some of my sheep.
24:21I've got one you, but...
24:22No, no, one of your ewes is in there
24:23because she was a bit poorly.
24:25So I brought her in...
24:26Yeah.
24:26..and your five lambs are in there,
24:28but the rest are all your new
24:30Jacob shearlings
24:31and there's 20 of them.
24:34So, do you want to go and see them?
24:35Yeah.
24:36Yeah, are you excited?
24:37Yeah.
24:37Yeah?
24:38Yeah.
24:39The news I haven't broken to Marnie yet
24:42is that she now owes me money
24:44for buying her more stock.
24:46But I'll break that to her
24:47once she's had a good look
24:48at her new breeding ewes.
24:51There's another one of your little lambs.
24:52But this one...
24:53This one looks a nice one.
24:56There we go.
24:57Let's let's pull it out of here.
24:59Let's have a good look at her.
25:00There she is.
25:01She's got some nice markings.
25:02What you always look for in a Jacob,
25:04you want all this bit to be white.
25:06But the markings are really lovely.
25:09But she feels good,
25:10so she's got good feet.
25:11She's lovely, isn't she?
25:13Yeah, really nice.
25:15It's gorgeous.
25:16Beautiful.
25:17Mm-hmm.
25:19So when you feel them here,
25:23you can feel along the back.
25:25You feel the top,
25:26and then you feel the ribs here.
25:28It's really hard,
25:29because you've got to dig in with sheep,
25:31because their fur,
25:32you probably look at their fur
25:33and you're like,
25:34right, that's a good one.
25:35But then you've got to feel.
25:37You've got to get your hands on.
25:38The fur makes it look.
25:39It can be deceiving.
25:41So you happy?
25:42Yeah.
25:43Flock approved.
25:44Time to get down to business.
25:47So the deal was,
25:48you had five lambs, didn't you?
25:50Yeah, I had five lambs.
25:51Plus the,
25:51I think you had one or two other lambs
25:53from my cleanse
25:54when your viper got in early.
25:56Yeah, the mixed breed.
25:57So you were going to sell those lambs,
25:58and that was going to pay some more sheep.
26:00Well, you've not done it yet.
26:01So in the meantime,
26:02Daddy said that I'd give you an advance.
26:04So what's an advance?
26:05Can you remember?
26:06An advance, I think it's kind of like,
26:09I'll give you like some money
26:11so then I can buy you some sheep
26:14so then you can like
26:15breed lambs off them
26:17and then sell those lambs.
26:18Yeah, so the advance means
26:19I'll give you the money up front
26:21and then you pay the lamb.
26:22Yeah.
26:22Because time's ticking.
26:24We've only got,
26:26we want a tup
26:27towards the end of November.
26:29Now these are shearlings,
26:31which means
26:33they've never had lambs before.
26:34It's their first time.
26:35Oh.
26:36Okay.
26:36So when Viper meets them
26:38this year,
26:39they're going to be thinking,
26:40what's going on?
26:40God, it's so weird.
26:41How many girlfriends
26:42does Viper mean?
26:43I bet the other girls are like,
26:45oh, why's Viper with those girls?
26:48So with the three ewes
26:49that you've already got,
26:51you've now got...
26:52Got 23.
26:53You've got 23 females.
26:55That's smart.
26:5623 females.
26:58Right.
26:58You know when we do lamb in season?
27:00Yes.
27:00I'll do you a deal.
27:02When I come back from school,
27:04I'm straight at the farm
27:05and if any of my Jacobs
27:08give birth,
27:10I've got to do it.
27:11Okay, I'm taking the responsibility
27:13of my sheep
27:15and you're taking the responsibility of us.
27:18Deal.
27:19Deal.
27:20Thank goodness.
27:21Between us,
27:22we've got over 70 breeding ewes.
27:25So between us,
27:26we could have
27:28about 140 lambs.
27:31You've got to pay me back.
27:31I want to keep...
27:32I'm still a child, Dad.
27:34Bit by bit,
27:35you're going to pay me back, okay?
27:36Is that a deal?
27:36So you need to start thinking about
27:38your lamb shop.
27:39One pound a sheep.
27:41You need to start thinking about your lamb shop
27:43and how you can pay me back.
27:44To help Marnie make the money she needs
27:46to pay me back,
27:47we've agreed to support her
27:48in setting up a pop-up shop
27:50on the farm
27:51so she can sell her lamb
27:52directly to customers.
27:54Right, you just walk these out
27:56but keep your lambs back.
27:58Keep them in the shed
27:58and get them fattened up
28:00so that Marnie can
28:00do a little pop-up shop
28:03and then put the rest.
28:05I want to grass
28:07for the next few weeks,
28:08get them in as good a condition as possible
28:10and then it's topping time.
28:11So we've got some busy few weeks coming up.
28:13You've got to get some rattle for Vipa.
28:16Got a lot of jobs.
28:17You know what?
28:17If you ever knew me at the farm,
28:19I can always miss a week of school.
28:23Nice try, Marnie.
28:25She's a few years away
28:26from being a full-time shepherdess
28:28but with 20 more breeding ewes to care for,
28:31she's certainly on the right track.
28:33Big moment.
28:34Marnie's flock
28:36about to meet my flock
28:37for the first time.
28:39Right, I reckon that's enough time.
28:41So you stay at the back,
28:42I'll go at the front, yeah?
28:42I love being at the back.
28:49Right, walk them out, darling.
29:06Look at them.
29:09Hey, they look good.
29:11They look good, don't they?
29:12They're such a gorgeous colour.
29:14Welcome to farming in the autumn.
29:15I bet they've never seen cows before,
29:17have they?
29:17Look at them all crowding out with cows.
29:20Oh, nice.
29:21They'll be happy out there
29:22after being in the pen.
29:24Right.
29:24Good work.
29:25Well done.
29:27Good luck with lambing.
29:28Cool, Mum.
29:31Well done, darling.
29:34We've got a big year ahead of you.
29:48Each new season brings a new raft of jobs
29:51for us to do on the farm.
29:52And when the good weather ends,
29:54the farm maintenance begins.
29:56And after four years of living here,
29:58one of the barns is starting to look
30:00more like a salvage yard.
30:09Oh, look.
30:13Look at that.
30:14So this is from our old house.
30:16We've never got round to putting these up.
30:19That's our wedding day.
30:21Marnie was the little baby.
30:25Mateus, come and look at this.
30:27This is Mummy and Daddy getting married.
30:29Oh, what do you think?
30:34Look at Mummy there.
30:35Why were you crying so much when we got married?
30:38Because I had a good life.
30:45With the farmhouse renovations starting soon,
30:48it's time to tackle Lizzie's hoarding habit
30:50and decide what items are staying and what's going.
30:53A lot of this here is what's been pulled out of the cottage
30:59when we renovated that and a lot of things that has been pulled out of the fire.
31:03And what we really need to do, this can't just become...
31:07These are barns.
31:08These are supposed to be working farm barns.
31:10They can't just become like a massive storage space
31:12because we need the space for the animals.
31:13So we have to start a clear out.
31:16Today, we're going to mark up what's to go
31:18and then when the skip comes, we can tip it.
31:21Things that I will actually do something with,
31:25we will put to one side.
31:27As Liz now has a workshop where she can restore and renovate pieces,
31:31it might help focus her mind on what we should keep.
31:34This is all the original wood from the cottage,
31:38the original doors, the skirting boards,
31:41things that I was like, don't get rid of that, I'll use it.
31:45Like, look at these doors.
31:47I feel like these doors are probably from the 18th century.
31:50I just can't bring myself to get rid of them.
31:54I mean, I've got a slab of granite here.
31:57The things I could do with that, I can't part with that.
32:01I could make a table with that, butcher's block, anything.
32:05I have to do that thing where you touch it
32:07and you say to yourself, how much do I love this?
32:10Am I realistically going to do anything with you
32:12or do you need to go?
32:16We'll see how far we get.
32:18Thankfully, the kids are being more decisive
32:20and are getting stuck into sorting,
32:22but Liz is, well, taking a more methodical approach.
32:26When I'm in something like this,
32:28it looks like just complete mess to Kelvin.
32:30To me, I'm like, oh, this is a...
32:32I mean, there's a table there.
32:34There's a nice feature for over a window there.
32:37There's a, you know, I could make something out of that.
32:39And Kelvin's just like,
32:42Liz, you're not, though, are you?
32:44Yeah, and I didn't think I was a secret hoarder,
32:47but there's something about really old stuff that I love.
32:52Yeah, like a set of stairs there.
32:55Might need them.
32:59It feels wrong to throw things away
33:01that are part of the history of everything,
33:04but the reality is some of this is so rotten.
33:08Like, a lot of the wood out of the cottage
33:11had really bad woodworm,
33:13and it just, like, it can't be used.
33:15So a lot of this is just not reusable.
33:21Liz, these look quite delicate and ornate.
33:24You can actually go, then.
33:26We have to keep stuff like that.
33:28To do what with it?
33:29You just never know when stuff like that could come in handy.
33:32I like it. It's cute.
33:34Get that other one. Save it.
33:35Seems I'm just as bad as Liz for not letting go.
33:41I can be quite brutal.
33:43But at the same time, you don't want to...
33:45You know, you can look at certain things quite fondly
33:48and think, oh, yeah, I could not use these for more than a sixth one.
33:52We've never used them.
33:53I don't know how we've come out having them,
33:54but I think they're really cute.
33:57I do recall us having some cakes on there at an event once.
34:01But...
34:02I'm brutal, but I'm not that brutal.
34:05Oh, Kelvin, look.
34:06This is where all your clothes are.
34:07Oh.
34:12I'm not just saying it, but I've been looking for that.
34:16I look well in that jumper.
34:20Blimey.
34:22Could do with a wash.
34:23Why is my clothes here?
34:24There's all sorts in here.
34:26Well, looks like I won't have to keep borrowing clothes from the scarecrows any more.
34:31And amongst my wardrobe are a few more sentimental blasts from the past.
34:36Oh, these are all your old books, Liz.
34:40Wow.
34:41Liz's parents kept books that they had in their childhood.
34:45Mr Skinny!
34:46They then read them to their children.
34:48This one.
34:49The Green Book of Bedtime Stories.
34:52Oh, I remember them as well.
34:55Look at this, Kelvin.
34:56We've had a good find there, haven't we?
34:581997.
34:59Yeah.
35:01My first professional show.
35:03Wow.
35:04It's a dog's life?
35:06No, it was a famous five.
35:08But the title is a dog's life, yeah.
35:10Oh, right, OK.
35:11Because we had a real dog in the show.
35:12It looks like those are for the keep pile.
35:15Knick-knacks aside, we're finally making progress.
35:18Right, done.
35:20Keep pile, get rid of pile.
35:22We actually kept more than I thought we were going to keep.
35:25That's a persuade Kelvin to get rid.
35:27Job done.
35:28Well, half done.
35:31Half done.
35:32Up-a-tea time.
35:48With a farmhouse to rebuild, a barn to host new events, and 120 acres to manage, Liz and I have
35:55decided it's time to bring in an extra pair of hands to help with the livestock.
36:00Right, come on, guys.
36:02We're going to do some testing on the top.
36:06So, top M-O-T.
36:07That's what they call it, isn't it, Josh?
36:09Yeah.
36:11Local lad Josh is joining our family farm full-time.
36:14And as an experienced farmhand, he's not afraid of getting stuck in.
36:19Kelvin's not here today.
36:20He's working elsewhere.
36:21So, it's just me and Josh today.
36:23And this is where Josh is really great around the farm.
36:25Because we are, we can't, me and Kelvin can't do every job together.
36:29Like when we first started at the farm.
36:31It's now too big for us to be doing that.
36:33So, we really need to be designated on certain jobs.
36:37And that's why we've now got Josh in.
36:38So, that I'm on one job, Kelvin's on another, and Josh is on something else.
36:42But this is something that we, it is a three-man job.
36:45So, we'll do this together with the vet.
36:47So, Josh's job was to hold the sheep.
36:49The vet's job was to use the tool that makes him do what he needs to do.
36:56And my job was to catch it.
36:59Let's not be coy about this, Liz.
37:01Today's MOT is basically a virility test.
37:04To ensure each tub is ready to serve our herd of use.
37:09Vet Dragos is tasked with collecting a sample that can be then examined under microscope.
37:15So, this is what we are doing.
37:18We are testing the tub now.
37:20So, we are checking that he is working.
37:23Sometimes, because, you know, it can be stressful.
37:27Especially when you have so many people around.
37:29Yeah, yeah.
37:30It might be intimidating.
37:31And they're not going to give us a sample.
37:35And sometimes, you might have to come again and do it again.
37:39But hopefully, this time, we're going to be more successful than this time.
37:43This is part of getting ready for Tup.
37:46We've got a big winter coming up this year with a lot more use than normal.
37:49And the Tups need to serve them all.
37:51So, this is part of it where we basically, they use a tool that, in a polite way, hits the
38:00sheep's...
38:01Then I will do this.
38:03It's hard to say when you're a lady.
38:05Hits the sheep's gene spot.
38:08Makes them ejaculate.
38:11And then we can test their semen to see if they will be good enough to serve the ewes that
38:15we've got.
38:17And it's just good to know, because if you don't get the lambs, if you do get a lot of
38:20barren sheep,
38:21if they don't, as Kelvin would say, if you can't fill a pram, you've lost your season.
38:26So, it is really important.
38:27It's a really...
38:29It's really important that we know what standard the Tups are up to.
38:33So, what happens is, once we've got their semen from them,
38:37the vet will check it there and then, and we'll be able to get instant results.
38:40You will basically see the swimmers.
38:44I used to be a fashion buyer.
38:46I often think to myself, I should just go back into it.
38:49Just sit in a nice office with nice outfits on, buying clothes.
38:55Instead, I'm catching the sheep's sperm.
38:59By testing the new shearling tuck,
39:01we can see how his fertility stacks up against our more experienced spatula, Viper.
39:06That looks like it's moving quicker.
39:09Thicker, thicker, denser.
39:12Yeah.
39:14You can tell he's...
39:16He's definitely going to do the job.
39:17So, in there, you see, it's almost like...
39:19It looks like a liquid of, like, little...
39:21Like, waves of swirming round, which is basically the sperm, isn't it?
39:26Yeah.
39:27But in that one, the difference with him to Viper...
39:30Viper's a bit older.
39:31He is our shearling tuck, which means this will be his first time.
39:35And his sperm there is denser, there's more of it.
39:39So, if Viper had a lot of sperm, he must have even more.
39:44So, all in all, very, very successful.
39:48That was fascinating, wasn't it, Josh?
39:49Yeah.
39:50It is really fascinating.
39:52It's interesting, you're right.
39:54And it just, it's taking care of your stock, basically.
39:57And knowing where you're at.
39:59And predicting the season that you've got coming.
40:03It's all really happening.
40:05I would ring Kelvin to tell him the good news, but he's on a set at the minute with the
40:08Thomas Brothers playing Deal or No Deal.
40:10So, he'll be stood there with the box, waiting to lift the lid.
40:14So, while he's got a nice, cushy job, we're doing the important stuff, aren't we?
40:21So, all in all, Josh, good result.
40:23Good news.
40:24Now, we've just got to get ready for topping.
40:37Thanks to a nice dry spell, I can finally get round to tidying up the verges, and it's given me
40:42an idea.
40:44While Liz and Marnit are on feeding duties, I'm going to take my mower to tackle a very different job.
40:50Cutting a racetrack for the boys and their bikes.
40:53Right, are we ready, guys?
40:59So, track, track-wise.
41:03Oh, Dad, so I thought up there.
41:06So, I'm going to go up there.
41:07And then, go near the fence, go like that, all the way, and then, you come, when you come there,
41:15you go near the truck, and then you come around.
41:19OK, so you want some fast bits.
41:21Yeah.
41:21Some slow bits.
41:23Yeah, and some deep bits.
41:24Right.
41:24My dad's cutting a track so we can ride our bikes.
41:30Because if we didn't have a track, we'd be like, ah, oh, ah.
41:33I'm really looking forward to it.
41:37Racing and motorbikes have always been a part of my life.
41:40So, watching Milo get as excited on his mini-motor cross and being lucky enough to create him space to
41:47practise on the farm is a real treat.
41:50We have a track.
41:52We have a track.
41:53We have a track.
42:20He's doing good.
42:48He's doing good, isn't he?
42:49So, sometimes, when you just, when you come onto a corner, you're a bit unsure, just ease off first, and
42:54then if you need to slow down more, then brake, OK?
42:56Getting going on two wheels is something we've encouraged all the kids to do from a young age.
43:01It was mine.
43:02It was always the first to ride bikes, the first to have a little motorbike.
43:07She was really, really keen.
43:09Yeah, Milo was a bit reluctant initially, but I'd say this last year, we've really kind of found his confidence
43:14and his love.
43:16His love for bikes, and I just love that, because I was exactly the same.
43:20But, yeah, to see him passionate and just loving to get on the bike, it's great to see.
43:25We've got no excuse now.
43:27You know, we've got literally a track in the back garden, and I just want him to ride it as
43:31much as possible and just enjoy it.
43:33Right, Mateus, are you having a go, kid?
43:35And when Milo comes past her, then you go.
43:40Yeah, just go steady there, kiddie, yeah?
43:42And follow the line.
43:43Go.
43:44Feet up.
43:45Feet up.
43:46Keep going.
43:46Feet up.
43:47Go.
43:47That's it.
43:48Keep going.
43:48Daddy's here.
43:49Keep going.
43:51Good boy.
43:54Go, Mateus.
43:56Good lad.
43:58Oh, where's he going?
44:03Excellent, Mateus.
44:04Stick to the track, kid.
44:07Amazing.
44:08High five.
44:09High five.
44:11Go, Mateus.
44:15They might not be herding cattle yet, but give them a bike and they'll tear up a field just the
44:20same.
44:21Proving farm kids grow up knowing how to handle horsepower of every kind.
44:26Twins, they've skipped stabilisers.
44:28They've just gone straight.
44:30They've just gone from walking to straight to their little electric bikes.
44:35Good little setup.
44:36I wish I had this when I was a kid.
44:39I'd have absolutely loved this.
44:41I'm like the big kid, aren't I?
44:43I'm just glad the kids are enjoying it because secretly, it's just for me this.
44:48Let's not beat around the bush.
44:51This is my dream.
44:52I'm living out my childhood dream here that I didn't quite get to live out as a kid.
44:57And the kids are just coming along for the ride, whether they like it or not.
45:00Thankfully, they actually like it.
45:02So, did you enjoy that, guys?
45:04Yeah.
45:06What was your favourite bit?
45:07Having fun.
45:09Hmm.
45:18Next time on our farm, things get competitive when Liz and I try our hand at traditional ploughing.
45:25They said mine was straighter than yours.
45:27No.
45:28He said the same to me.
45:29He said you'll definitely be better than your husband.
45:31My growing sheep expertise is starting to impress.
45:34That was really interesting, Calvin.
45:36It's not like I was an audience with then.
45:39Really?
45:41I mean, I can carry on if you want.
45:42No, it's all right.
45:43Let's just get the sheep in.
45:44And a surprise arrival gets off to a shaky start.
45:48Without sounding too dramatic, it's...
45:50You know, there's a massive danger that a calf's not at the colostrum in the time frame it is.
45:54You could just nosedive and, you know, we'd lose the calf.
45:57That's how serious it is, really.
45:58So...
45:59...
46:27...
46:28You
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