- 4 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
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. Go, 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 broom.
01:13A broom?
01:21This week on our farm, we visit a local farmer's market to get some ideas as we make plans to
01:28host our own.
01:29Oh, well, I'm actually after one of these soaked gingerbread man.
01:34And I really want this, like, is it raspberry?
01:38Yes.
01:39Yeah, how much is it?
01:40That's £3.50.
01:42£3.50.
01:45When the boss is out for the day, I take delivery of our new range of blankets.
01:50Shall we have a sneak peek?
01:52Shall we do it before Liz gets here?
01:54Come on.
01:56It's only me she's going to shout, that.
01:58Oh, that is nice.
02:00And we say goodbye to one of the biggest and best-loved characters on the farm.
02:07I just feel really anxious, really.
02:10Just talking about it there was one thing, and then loading him in and getting him in for the final
02:15time is a bit surreal, but...
02:38When it comes to rearing livestock, Liz and I have realised it's better to focus our efforts on a few
02:44key animals.
02:45And for us, that's sheep, cattle and pigs.
02:52And now we're back living on the farm full-time, we're finally in a position to reintroduce the most characterful
02:59creature.
02:59Of them all.
03:01We've now had pigs on the farm for over 12 months now.
03:07And they were a firm favourite.
03:09So it's great to have them back here.
03:12They're a mixed breed.
03:13Oxford sandy and black, which we've had before, with a saddleback.
03:17So black with a white band across them.
03:21So let's have a look.
03:23Making pigs profitable isn't easy, as we learn with our last drove, who lost money at market.
03:29Yeah, I kind of feel a little bit dejected.
03:36It's just a shame.
03:37And it's not just ours.
03:38Collectively, the price that they all go for is just so low.
03:42You think to yourself, just, how's anyone making any money at this?
03:47But we also learned that producing and selling our own products was the most rewarding and profitable.
03:53So we're doing it again.
03:55Hello, is it Debra?
03:57Hiya, Debra, Kelvin.
03:58Nice to meet you.
03:58Nice to meet you.
03:59How are you doing?
03:59You OK?
04:02Debra and Sid have been breeding award-winning pigs for over 50 years.
04:09Sid's got me into this, really.
04:10Right, right.
04:11Are you to blame then, Sid?
04:12Yeah.
04:12Totally.
04:13I'm always to blame.
04:14Oh, really?
04:15No, I love it, actually.
04:16It is fun.
04:17Shall we get him in, then?
04:18OK.
04:18Have a look.
04:21Today, they're delivering 12 piglets for us to rear.
04:28All right.
04:29Yeah, yeah.
04:37Oh, very cute.
04:39Look at these.
04:41What is it about?
04:41Pigs are looking mischievous.
04:43Very cute.
04:44They're little tails, isn't it?
04:45Yeah.
04:48Oh.
04:50Oh, they're lovely, aren't they?
04:52They're absolutely beautiful.
04:55I can't wait for the kids to see these.
04:57You might have turned me into a...
04:59Saddleback man.
05:03Well, I'm very pleased with the place that you've put them in.
05:06Yeah, it looks fantastic.
05:07They'll be cosy there.
05:08Yeah, they'll be very cosy.
05:10Well done, you.
05:12With Sid's seal of approval, the piglets can now settle into the barn.
05:17Then, we'll turn them out into the forest where they can roam free and forage.
05:22They're really cute.
05:24I like the tiniest one.
05:26Tiniest one is the best one.
05:29Jerry, Bob, Bethany, Penelope.
05:34I need to call one of them Jerry.
05:39I've just missed the noises, like, oink.
05:43Yeah.
05:43I've also missed, like, just looking at...
05:46Oh, hey, oink.
05:48No, we don't bite.
05:50That's what I've meant to tell everyone.
05:55Safe to say, Marnie is happy.
05:57And I can't wait for the boys to see them.
06:00Especially the twins, who've never been old enough to get hands-on with them.
06:04Well, I think Max will be scared.
06:08Mateus will be like, get a hold one.
06:11Milo would be like, oh, now can we go play something else?
06:16But anyway, I'm really excited about these pigs.
06:20Milo, could you go and empty that and put fresh in?
06:23Oh!
06:25Oh, my God, look at the pigs.
06:28I wasn't expecting that.
06:30What do you think, guys?
06:32Oh!
06:33Do you know that?
06:34Because every time I go, they don't bite.
06:37Oh, my God, that's hilarious.
06:39We've known our pigs for so long.
06:40I forgot how little they are.
06:42They're beautiful, aren't they?
06:43I forgot how much I love pigs.
06:48What do we think, guys?
06:50I want to go in.
06:51No.
06:52You want to go in?
06:52We can go in with them.
06:53Boys, come here.
06:54As Marnie predicted, Mateus is keen to get stuck in.
06:58These are a cross.
07:00Even though they look saddleback.
07:02Yeah.
07:03It's an Oxford Sandin black sow and a saddleback male.
07:09I feel like I've forgotten all my knowledge on pigs.
07:12How many is there?
07:13Ten?
07:13Twelve.
07:14Twelve.
07:15Ooh!
07:17I love three pigs!
07:23How good is it to have pigs bark on the farm?
07:25Great.
07:27I've missed them.
07:28I've missed the Sandin black.
07:30I've missed how cute they are.
07:32Pigs certainly bring a lot of character to the farm.
07:35They're also the most stubborn of animals,
07:37but raving them to produce good meat
07:39means we can build up our reputation as organic suppliers.
07:45But for now, we just need to concentrate on settling them in.
07:49They're just so unique.
07:53They're full of mischief.
07:54They're full of intrigue.
07:56It's so inquisitive and...
07:57Yeah.
07:57Whee!
07:58I'm glad to have pigs back on the farm.
08:01This is...
08:01That's it.
08:02We're back into pigs again.
08:03We've got to be...
08:04Twelve pigs.
08:06Four kids.
08:06Twelve pigs.
08:08It writes itself, doesn't it?
08:11Oi, oi!
08:12Come on, here, piggy!
08:33The well-being of our animals always comes first.
08:36And with more of them on the farm than ever before,
08:39it's vital we keep a close eye on every single one.
08:45So while Liz and I check on our flock and herd,
08:48Marnie's in the barn casting a careful eye over her Jacob lamps.
08:54She needs to fatten up her Jacobs
08:56so that she can ensure getting the best return on her investment.
09:00My Jacobs are looking a bit, I guess, like, too slim.
09:05They need to get a bit fatter
09:08so then I can do my Marnie lamb shop.
09:12So we've got one Clint and we've got my five Jacobs.
09:18So I've got 21 Jacobs all together.
09:22Some in the big field and some there
09:25because these are the ones that I'll be selling for lamb burgers
09:30or just lamb or anything else.
09:34So I'll be making the money
09:35and making Marnie's lamb shop.
09:40So that's going to be good.
09:43Marnie thinks her meat boxes will produce more profit than my Clint's.
09:47But time will tell whose lamb will fetch the best price.
09:50And judging by her confidence,
09:52she already reckons it's in the bag.
09:56Obviously, mine's going to be the best
09:58and then we'll count our money up
09:59and then see who's got the most,
10:02which is going to be me, obviously.
10:04Then what I'm going to do,
10:06I'm just going to be like, pay me, girl.
10:09The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in this one
10:11and her first lambs will hopefully deliver her her first profit.
10:20This year, we've had two new Lincoln Red cattle born on the farm
10:24and the latest arrival, Elizabeth, is just two weeks old
10:28and hasn't got off to the best of starts.
10:31Last week, I was with the calf and when she was born, she was quite chesty
10:36and she didn't get milked straight away.
10:38Slow start.
10:39And I was worried that she's not had that colostrum immediately or enough colostrum.
10:43But she's doing well.
10:44She's feeding off her mum.
10:46She's gaining weight.
10:48However, this wheezyness, she's still got.
10:50When you stand next to her, you can kind of hear that wheezing.
10:54So, I need to find out what to treat her with.
10:57She could have a bout of pneumonia
10:59or an underlying infection that needs nipping in the bud.
11:03So, to ensure we choose the right treatment,
11:05I get on the phone to our vet, Hugo.
11:08Everything all right?
11:09Yeah, good.
11:10You know that heifer calf, Hugo, she's still wheezing a little bit.
11:13So, I was going to maybe give her something.
11:16And just here, I've got some alamycin,
11:20some bioxamil and some loxicom.
11:23So, I was wondering if maybe the loxicom,
11:24I was wondering if maybe that would be good for her.
11:27I'd give it one and a half mil of loxicom
11:29and six mil of alamycin.
11:32All right, OK.
11:33One and a half and six.
11:34Are they both intramuscular?
11:36No, loxicoms under the skin.
11:37Loxicoms.
11:38All right, OK.
11:39I've never injected a cow before.
11:40So, on the alamycin, intramuscular,
11:43I can go on the rear end, on the bum?
11:46Yeah.
11:46And then on the under the skin, should I go on the neck?
11:49Yeah, neck or over the ribs, yeah.
11:51Over the ribs, OK.
11:53Yeah.
11:53Cool.
11:54All right.
11:55Then there should be an improvement in 12 hours
11:57to let me know if not.
11:59All right.
11:59OK, brilliant.
12:00Thanks, Hugo.
12:02See you.
12:02Cheers, bye-bye.
12:03Bye.
12:06Right.
12:07So, it's a first today.
12:08We've never injected our cows before.
12:11Thankfully, it's only a little calf.
12:13We've got to be quick.
12:14So, if we can get everything rigged up here,
12:16we'll walk down, we'll try and catch her while she's napping.
12:19If you can be there holding the syringes,
12:22but with some feed as well,
12:23so if they do come up,
12:23we can just put some feed out for her.
12:26Three years ago, I couldn't even look at a needle,
12:29never mind inject an animal.
12:31And now, watching and working with our vets
12:34has given me the confidence to do this.
12:37So, we need one and a half mil of loxicon
12:39that's subcutaneous over the ribs, under the skin,
12:42and we need six mil of allomycin, which is intramuscular.
12:46As Liz and I prepare the medicine,
12:48we're also making sure every dose is carefully recorded.
12:51So, you have a medical book,
12:52so every time you administer medicine to an animal,
12:56you make it, you're legally obliged to make a note of it.
13:00So, I'll put it on my phone,
13:01and then we have, like, a bit of a record book.
13:03So, on the day, the animal, its tag number,
13:05and what you gave it,
13:06and I always write why I gave it.
13:08So, every animal has a full, kind of, medical history log,
13:12really, if you like.
13:15Let's have a look at that.
13:17Yeah, good.
13:19One and a half and six.
13:23Come on.
13:25All right, just make a nice line.
13:30Come on.
13:33Go on, these are...
13:36Bring her out here, Kelvin,
13:37and then we'll just sort it, then,
13:39without having the cow nudging us.
13:41All farmers learn how to carry out basic medical procedures
13:44so animals can be treated quickly and safely.
13:48And I want Elizabeth to feel calm
13:50whilst we administer the injection,
13:52as Hugo advised.
13:54Right, you come and stand at the front.
13:56Come and get your knee under her.
13:57And don't let her go forward.
14:02So, there, ribs.
14:04You pull the skin up, you tent it.
14:06Pull back, make sure it's in.
14:13So, that's one.
14:14In.
14:16It's OK.
14:17Shh, shh, shh, shh.
14:23Tell me when you're done.
14:24Good girl.
14:25Done.
14:26Yeah, I'll swap.
14:28There we go.
14:30Yeah, give me that thing.
14:32Good girl.
14:34Go on.
14:36Good girl.
14:37Injections administered
14:38and another first chalked up for me.
14:41We'll now keep a close eye on Elizabeth
14:43and hope she responds well to the treatment.
14:46We'll come back later on.
14:48Listen up for that wheezing
14:50and just kind of a, you know,
14:51hopefully she's got a bit of a spring in her step
14:53and she looks a bit better, so.
15:01It's a new day
15:03and a new list of jobs on the farm.
15:07To me, to you.
15:09Left a bit around.
15:10Well, do you know the Chukka brothers?
15:12I can't say.
15:13I've heard of them, but I want to know.
15:14You've heard of them?
15:15Yeah, but I couldn't tell you what they do
15:16or what they say or where they're from.
15:19I didn't know whether that,
15:20they'd be a bit too,
15:22you'd be a bit too young to know who they were.
15:26Today, Josh is helping me lift and shift
15:28some of our stuff to make way for a special delivery.
15:31We're just having a bit of a move around,
15:33trying to free up some space.
15:36Despite having loads of shed space,
15:37it's surprising how much you run out of space.
15:41Every barn, storeroom and garage on the farm
15:44changes its use every time Liz and I get a new idea.
15:48And today, our plan is to upgrade our product packing room
15:51from the old tack room to this garage.
15:54Do you want to come round with a pallet and a skid steer
15:56and I'll move the rest of it?
15:57Yeah.
15:58Cool.
15:59But first, I've got to find a new home for this lot.
16:06This is my scooter.
16:07I got this when I was 16.
16:08I was so eager to drive and get on the roads
16:12and get some independence.
16:14The first chance I had,
16:16couldn't wait till I was 17.
16:18So when I was 16, I did my CBT.
16:20So I was a moped kid.
16:2225 years I've had this.
16:2525 years and it's done 1,630 miles.
16:31Is this my helmet still in here?
16:36I mean, you can just imagine it, can't you?
16:44How was that guy?
16:47How was that guy?
16:49The good old days.
16:50Right, where's it going now?
16:54Let's get it up that way into the workshop.
16:57Garage cleared in time for the delivery of new stock.
17:01These are Liz's new colours.
17:04And she's that excited to see these,
17:06she's not here to take delivery,
17:07so I'm here to take delivery.
17:08How's it going, all right?
17:09All right, you?
17:10Yeah, not too bad.
17:11Five different colours, aren't you?
17:13Yeah, five different colours, yeah.
17:15How you doing, you all right?
17:16How's it going?
17:17Ten to a box or eight to a box?
17:19Can't remember.
17:20We'll have a look.
17:21We'll have a look.
17:21OK.
17:22Oh, there's peppermint there.
17:24What started as an experiment
17:26to see if anything could be made
17:27from the wool we share each year
17:29is turning into an essential part
17:31of our farm's business.
17:33Last one.
17:34What are you on here?
17:36First orange.
17:38Burnt orange.
17:39Last one.
17:40It's exciting.
17:42Showing how much we've grown, really.
17:44We're just kind of keeping up the demand,
17:46which is always good, whatever you're doing.
17:48Just like the farm, we're growing.
17:50This is growing and we're growing.
17:53Excellent.
17:54Well, thanks, guys.
17:55All right.
17:56See you, lad.
17:58Well, that's it.
18:00Shall we have a sneak peek?
18:01Shall we do it before Liz gets here?
18:04Come on.
18:06It's only me she's going to shout at.
18:08Oh, that is nice.
18:10Bronze mist.
18:11Let's have a look at bronze mist.
18:14Do I like that?
18:15I think I do like that, actually.
18:17Yeah, I do.
18:18She's done well here, Liz.
18:20I didn't get a look in for the colours this time round.
18:22I've got a little nice feminine touch.
18:24I do know what works, colours-wise.
18:27And Liz knows that, but I've just not been consulted.
18:30But Liz is very good at this, I must admit.
18:32Liz has worked hard with the mill in Oldham to develop this new range.
18:37Liz knows I've looked at these colours before and she's going to go mad.
18:40Liz is getting her hair done.
18:42We're very busy at the minute.
18:44We've got a lot going on.
18:45Liz is going to get her hair done.
18:46Which she tells me, Kelvin, I never get my hair done.
18:49I get a haircut probably three, four times a year, max.
18:52Anyway, she's not here.
18:54She's at the hairdressers.
18:55Her blankets have arrived.
18:57It's her new colours.
18:57She's been very excited and I'm getting first looks at them.
19:02Yeah, so when Liz arrives here now,
19:05she says, have you seen the colours?
19:06I said, no, I've not had a look.
19:08I'll have to act all surprised.
19:10But we know that I've had a look.
19:13All we've got to do now is sell them.
19:27This morning, I took delivery of our new range of blankets,
19:31made from the wool we sheared from our flock.
19:33Are you ready?
19:34Yeah.
19:37Don't want your hair getting wet, do we?
19:38Absolutely not.
19:40It's like the air just is three hours.
19:41You can't ruin it with the rain now.
19:43While Liz was at the hairdressers,
19:45I did have a sneaky peek at the new colours
19:47and was going to feign surprise,
19:49but can't hold my own water.
19:52Wow.
19:53So?
19:54That is some delivery.
19:57I've already had a look.
19:58Have you?
19:58Yeah.
19:59What do you think?
20:00Good names, aren't they?
20:01Orchid smoke, peppermint, bronze mist.
20:05Shall we have, do you want a look?
20:07Yeah.
20:07Do you like them?
20:08They're very good, yeah.
20:09That is a gorgeous colour.
20:12It doesn't feel like an orchid smoke now I've looked at it, does it?
20:15That's more of an orchid blush.
20:17I've had these dyed to a specific colour that only we have.
20:22Yeah.
20:23It's exclusive.
20:24I'm so happy.
20:26Well, yeah, it's gone from the sheep to the mill
20:28to me finding little pieces of colours and string
20:31and then they've dyed the wool,
20:33cleaned it, spun it, yeah.
20:35What a process.
20:37All this started when we realised
20:39that the money you make from selling your wool
20:41barely covers the cost of shearing the sheep.
20:44But now, we found a way to turn it into a whole new product.
20:48This one, I was a bit, at first, I was a bit like...
20:53I don't know, but I really like it.
20:55Also, not a bronze mist, really, is it?
20:57No, you have to be careful with browns.
21:00Sometimes it can look like a...
21:01I've got the right brown.
21:02I know the good brown.
21:03I once had a brown car.
21:06And I thought, do you remember that Cavalier?
21:07And I thought it was just gorgeous brown,
21:09but people used to be like, ooh,
21:11but you have to be careful with brown.
21:13Anyway, but I do like it.
21:14I would have had a nice, bold colour.
21:16I'll tell you what, I'll do this season's colours,
21:19you do next season's colours, and we'll see yourselves out.
21:22Yours will be like Ferrari red.
21:23Yeah, Lamborghini yellow.
21:24Lamborghini yellow, Porsche grey.
21:26I see Martin green.
21:27That's what I mean, yours will be car.
21:29Porsche grey.
21:30Kelvin's got such a woman's touch when it comes to things.
21:33You are, haven't you?
21:34I have got a woman's touch.
21:35You have got a woman's touch,
21:36and I actually think it's because your mum has got...
21:40Her house is like a show home,
21:42and I think that you've just been brought up with that.
21:45That's why you're tidy, you're neat,
21:46you've got that nice...
21:47Woman's touch.
21:48Woman's touch, yeah.
21:49Yeah.
21:50I am so happy with them all.
21:52They look...
21:53You've done well.
21:54Yeah, it's good.
21:55You've got to sell it now.
21:58Yeah, that's the ad bit.
21:59And like everything we do on the farm,
22:01that job is down to us two.
22:04So we're like Ant and Dec.
22:05One doesn't come without the other.
22:07We even stand on the same side as Ant and Dec.
22:09I'm the little one.
22:09Oh, no, Ant and Dec.
22:11I don't know which one's which, do you?
22:12Really?
22:13I hope people don't say which one's Kelvin.
22:15He's always on that side.
22:16He is always on that side.
22:17I guess in many online shops,
22:19you would have a proper photography done.
22:21Liz will take the pictures on her iPhone.
22:24We'll upload those on the internet,
22:25and that'll be the...
22:27We are the farmer,
22:29the buyer,
22:31the designer,
22:33the photographer,
22:35the website,
22:36and the delivery team.
22:38Just us.
22:40Behind every
22:41good man,
22:42successful man,
22:43there is a
22:44strong,
22:46anchored woman.
22:47Spending all your money on blankets.
22:50Listen, I didn't think I was marrying into this.
22:52I thought I was marrying into being on holidays in the Bahamas.
22:54I didn't realise I was going to have to work so much.
22:57So, listen,
22:58you made a bed,
22:59you got to lie in it.
22:59Why are you marrying into that?
23:00You're marrying...
23:02Because I thought you were, you know,
23:03going to be a successful actor.
23:04I didn't think you were going to choose part of me.
23:06You only married a little bit actor from Emmerdale.
23:08You weren't marrying into...
23:10I could see us doing a market, so...
23:11I'd love to.
23:13Could do it, couldn't we?
23:14Get a little banner in the background.
23:16And just like that,
23:17we've conjured up our next idea.
23:20With Marnie's landboxes and our blankets,
23:22a small market on the farm could be great.
23:25I can't wait to get them photographed,
23:27get them up on the website,
23:29and see how we go.
23:30Just tell me how good they are.
23:31They're good.
23:31You've done well.
23:32I'm proud of you.
23:33Right.
23:34Good moment.
23:46After months of incredible weather on the farm,
23:49autumn is upon us.
23:50And it arrived with a fanfare last night.
23:55Storm season is sweeping through the whole country,
23:59causing major floods and devastation.
24:01And our farm hasn't escaped the impact of the changing weather.
24:06Gosh, it's hard to believe that the wind can blow that down, isn't it?
24:11Well, we're very lucky,
24:12because another ten feet would have been in the lodge.
24:15It would have been wholeness again.
24:17We've had every element now.
24:19We've had fire, flood.
24:20Now the wind has just missed the lodge,
24:23which must mean that our luck is finally on the way up.
24:28I don't know what has gone on this year,
24:29but we've definitely been put to the test.
24:33We'd better have a walk around there and see what else there is,
24:36see what other damage there is.
24:37Yeah.
24:38Because we're so high up, when it is windy, it's really windy.
24:41I've just seen that at the top of the paddock as well,
24:43we've got a massive tree that's come down,
24:45that's gone right over some fencing,
24:47so should we have a look at that?
24:48Looking nothing got hurt there, really, isn't it?
24:51I know, yeah.
24:52Well, we'll see.
24:53We might get up there and find the sheep underneath it.
24:55Don't say that.
24:58Thankfully, our new home has escaped the impact of the fallen tree.
25:01But with livestock out in the fields,
25:03we have to be sure they are all safe
25:05and assess the full extent of the storm damage.
25:10I talk about Kelvin farming trainers.
25:12I've made the biggest mistake today.
25:14White joggers are my favourite boots.
25:16I don't know what I was thinking.
25:18Not my usual attire, but it's so cold.
25:21I've got two sets of thermals on, thick socks, joggers.
25:25This wasn't the morning task we had planned,
25:27but in farming, weather always dictates
25:30what's on the top of our priority list.
25:33Massive, isn't it?
25:35Wow.
25:36Yeah, we've got trees on this farm that have been here for decades.
25:40And these here along the line,
25:42like, look at the size of them.
25:44And this one's down, it's just...
25:47You can see the bottom roots are...
25:50Huge, aren't they?
25:51Yeah.
25:52That's been at least 50 years, I would have thought.
25:57Yeah.
25:58We have a mix of ancient and modern woodland on our land.
26:02And it's just devastating to think that a tree
26:04that's been here longer than we've been alive
26:06could succumb to the wind.
26:09I'd like to ask my dad about the aerodynamics
26:11because I cannot get my head around how the wind can blow that down.
26:15I thought the wind would go round and through the branches.
26:18The power to blow an actual tree down is crazy, isn't it?
26:23The elements will always be stronger than us.
26:29So far, there's two trees that are down.
26:32It's not taking out this tree.
26:34The tree with a pair of buttocks.
26:37Like my little peaching bum, that.
26:40It's actually my favourite tree, this.
26:42What are your favourite trees in the farm?
26:45I don't know what's my favourite tree, but this is my favourite spot.
26:48But then I do say that about a few spots round here.
26:50But the view here is just like a postcard.
26:55Even when it's a bit grey like today.
26:57It might not look cold.
26:58It's absolutely freezing, isn't it?
27:01It is cold, but we've not even started
27:03because when it snows, then it feels like winter, doesn't it?
27:07It is cold, but still very green.
27:10I forgot how cold it gets.
27:11We've had such a good summer.
27:15With autumn well and truly upon us,
27:18we'll have to make sure that any damaged fencing is fixed
27:21as we're planning to keep the sheep and cattle out all winter if we can.
27:26Wow, look at that.
27:27What a random spot to come out.
27:31Even our hedgerows haven't escaped the ravages of the storm.
27:35Quite a bit of clearing up today.
27:37Quite a bit of mess.
27:38Thankfully, the fence has not come down here,
27:41so I'll have to get the chainsaw and just clear this out.
27:44Luckily, the hedge looks salvageable
27:46and the fallen trees will be chopped and stored for firewood.
27:50Or maybe Liz's next creative project.
27:53Right, come on then, let's get the tools, get what you need.
27:56What is it?
27:56You can get a crescent on that.
28:13The top of the repair list is fixing the fencing,
28:16and as well as those damaged in the storm,
28:18there's a few other sections that need our attention.
28:21So I've enlisted the help of my little apprentice, Milo.
28:25Think you could lift one of these?
28:28Quite heavy, isn't it?
28:29But it should be all right.
28:31Can you lift this one?
28:35This six, this one, this last one.
28:38The last one.
28:40You're always snacking on something, aren't you?
28:43Where'd you find them?
28:44I didn't even know there was a biscuit stash.
28:45Oh, you know where the stable secret hang out?
28:49Yeah.
28:50I'll have to try and find that secret stash myself.
28:54But in the meantime, we've got work to do.
28:58So, Milo, you can see these fence posts.
29:01See how it's rotten?
29:01You know these normally?
29:02Yeah.
29:03Are this big?
29:04Yeah.
29:04And what we do, we hammer them into the ground,
29:07so they go about that much into the ground.
29:10But what happens is, this has probably been here for about 20 years.
29:14And all the time, it rots.
29:17So, look, that's not connected to anything.
29:20And that makes a fence coming out.
29:21So what we need to do is put a new one in next to it.
29:24How?
29:24How, Dad?
29:25How?
29:26Well, I'm going to show you now.
29:27Squeeze out.
29:28I truly value these father and son moments with Milo,
29:32and just how naturally inquisitive he is
29:34when helping out around the farm.
29:36So whilst I've got his attention,
29:38I'm hoping I can teach him a thing or two here.
29:41Because this is old fencing.
29:42This was in another field.
29:44But Daddy pulled this fencing up,
29:46and now we're going to use this
29:49so we don't have to get new fencing.
29:51It's called recycling, Milo.
29:52Do you know about recycling?
29:54Yeah.
29:55Recycling is when you borrow something
29:58and then you put it in the dump,
30:01and then somebody might go into the dump and borrow it.
30:05Kind of, yeah.
30:06So let's say this was in a field.
30:08Yeah.
30:09It was part of a fence.
30:10And then we thought we don't need it anymore.
30:12So what we'd do is we'd take it out,
30:14and now we're going to use it as fencing there.
30:17So we're recycling it.
30:18Oh, yeah, we're recycling it.
30:20Yeah.
30:21What's this called?
30:22No.
30:24A rocket?
30:26Well, what am I doing?
30:28Lifting it.
30:29Kind of.
30:30So it's a post-knocker?
30:31A post-knocker.
30:32Yeah.
30:33And what we're doing...
30:36So we put it in a little bit,
30:37and now we need to get a spirit level.
30:38Go and get that spirit level.
30:42This is to tell whether something's level.
30:44So if this is perfectly straight,
30:46that bubble will be in between those two lines.
30:49There it is.
30:50Check.
30:51Does that look pretty straight to you?
30:53Yeah, but it's a bit there.
30:57Well, lath, it's not absolutely perfect, is it?
31:01But I reckon...
31:02It'll be all right.
31:03I reckon it'll be all right.
31:04Yeah, good lad.
31:05Good lad.
31:05With Milo's seal of approval,
31:07I think we're off to a good start.
31:09Right, the next job is to take this post off.
31:12So now get me those blue pliers.
31:16This, Dad.
31:17That's the one, mate.
31:23Here, we're going to take these staples out, if we can.
31:28There's one.
31:29Are you collecting these so the sheep don't get them?
31:31At this rate, we'll be finished in no time.
31:35Right, we always start...
31:36At the bottom.
31:37And these are the nails that we've pulled out of the old fence post.
31:40So we're going to use them again,
31:41and we're going to hammer them into this new post.
31:44We put this in there,
31:45and we give it a hammer in.
31:52That first one's in.
31:53Right, you can do this next one.
31:55So two at the top.
31:56I want you to...
31:57There, go.
31:57I'll get it in first.
32:08Good.
32:09There we go.
32:11We're going to pick up our tools,
32:13pick the old post up,
32:15and then head back,
32:16and then I think that is time for a cup of tea.
32:20I think that's a job well done.
32:23Woo!
32:24Kiss.
32:25I love you, lad.
32:26Me too.
32:27Well done.
32:28You did well there, mate.
32:29Good little work of you.
32:50The day has arrived for me to say goodbye
32:53to our first ever calf,
32:56Sonic,
32:57who's heading off on his final journey.
33:00I was bedding the trailer up,
33:01because this morning,
33:04we're taking Sonic
33:06to, er,
33:07well, there's no best way of saying it,
33:09I guess,
33:09to slaughter, really.
33:10We've finished, er,
33:12Sonic is going.
33:15So, yeah,
33:15bittersweet, really.
33:16It's a bit of a weird one.
33:18I was thinking about this last night,
33:19and I woke up this morning feeling a bit...
33:23It's different to a sheep.
33:25I think it makes it even more difficult,
33:27because we've got only...
33:29We've only got seven cows,
33:31and he was our first.
33:33You know,
33:34his tag number is 001.
33:37It's our first...
33:41cow, if you like, yeah, so...
33:43So, yeah,
33:44I guess we'll always remember this one.
33:45We'll always remember Sonic.
33:48I guess they say,
33:49the first is always the hardest,
33:50and then...
33:52Who knows?
33:53Being our first calf,
33:55Sonic will always be part of the fabric of the farm,
33:57which makes today especially emotional.
34:01So, what we've done
34:02is kind of been on a special diet.
34:04Whilst he's been inside,
34:05we just want to make sure
34:06he's got enough covering on him,
34:08and, er,
34:10you know,
34:10these native breeds
34:11are pretty,
34:11pretty slow growing.
34:15He's just
34:16approaching two years old,
34:18and what we did, obviously,
34:19for the last...
34:20The night before you take him,
34:22you don't really want to feed him.
34:23You want to make sure
34:24that his rumen's empty,
34:25and it just makes it easy
34:26for the butcher and everything, so...
34:30I have to switch my practical head on,
34:32as this is the reality
34:34of farming livestock.
34:36Yeah, there's a lot of pride.
34:38You know, we've reared him,
34:39and he's had a great life.
34:42He's...
34:43We feel like we've done really well with him.
34:45He's in fantastic condition.
34:46He's a show winner.
34:48You know, we've experienced a lot with him.
34:50Being our first calf,
34:53taking him to the Cheshire show
34:55and performing so well.
34:57We've got, you know,
34:58so many amazing memories from him,
35:00and so it's a...
35:01You know, it's a privilege, then,
35:02when you get to see the full...
35:05The full circle, really.
35:06And, yeah, it'll be a real...
35:10..appreciation of when you do have the meat,
35:13and not only do we sell that meat,
35:15but we're selling it to people, you know,
35:17with care and love for that animal,
35:19and that's what you want.
35:21You want to have a connection with your food.
35:22You want to honour your food
35:23and honour the work that's gone into that
35:25and honour the life that's provided that food.
35:31Come on, mate.
35:32Come on, lad.
35:33Good lad.
35:35Come on.
35:36Good lad.
35:37Come on.
35:40Good boy.
35:44I just feel really anxious, really.
35:47Just talking about it there was one thing,
35:49and then loading him in and getting him in
35:51for the final time is a bit surreal, but...
35:55Right, I'll hit the road.
35:58Paperwork.
35:59Check.
36:00Yeah, cool, right.
36:02Look, you know how to get on.
36:03Yeah, I've got a loss.
36:04See you later on, mate.
36:05See you later.
36:09See you later.
36:10See you later.
36:29With Sonic leaving the weather, it's been a rollercoaster
36:33a few days for our herd.
36:36And Liz and I are back in the fields checking up on her.
36:40First signs tell us she's still not 100%,
36:42but I won't know for sure until I can get in for a closer look.
36:47Oh, she still seems weak on her feet, doesn't she?
36:51Oh, she still seems weak on her feet, doesn't she?
36:53Let's see if she feeds.
36:56What are you going to feed, then?
36:59Can you hear it?
37:00Her stomach does still look like it's pulling in, doesn't it?
37:04Yeah, I can still hear her a little bit.
37:06I can just still hear her wheezing a little bit.
37:08It's almost like she's got a shallow breath.
37:12What do you think?
37:13I just can't get close enough to hear.
37:15You can see her belly's, like, still struggling.
37:19She doesn't seem very sturdy on her feet,
37:21which she should be by now, really.
37:24Elizabeth has had a course of injections
37:26to treat the slight chest infection.
37:30And thankfully, once we get closer,
37:33her breathing's definitely sounding better than it was.
37:37It's obviously improved a lot.
37:39It has improved, but it's still there.
37:41Well, I think let's keep her here for another day.
37:45We'll listen out again.
37:47We'll come back in a bit.
37:49Yeah.
37:50Still plenty of grass, isn't there?
37:52That's all I've had before.
37:54She's not out of the woods yet.
37:55And if she doesn't improve over the next 24 hours,
37:58we'll check in with our vet.
38:09Being part of the farming community,
38:12me and Liz have realised that to survive as small farmers,
38:15you have to diversify and find clever ways to make products
38:18or sell your goods direct to customers.
38:23As we start warming to the idea of hosting our own farmers' market,
38:27we're all headed out on a recce to gather intel
38:30on the realities of running one.
38:34Abbey Lees Farm in High Lees, Cheshire,
38:36are established producers of organic eggs and potatoes.
38:40But like us, they've diversified and now generate an extra income stream
38:44which not only supports their farm, but other producers too.
38:53Wait, farm shop bacon sandwich.
38:54I think that would be a good start.
38:56Right.
38:57Daddy's going to go and get a bacon sandwich.
38:59With ketchup.
38:59With ketchup.
39:01Come on.
39:04Once a month, local suppliers of meat, fresh produce
39:08and natural beauty products get together to sell their wares.
39:12We've got the whole family with us, including the dog.
39:14And we're just going to see, not only just have a good day out,
39:17but we're going to see how the logistics work here.
39:19As we're always adapted on the farm,
39:22things like this are really good to see
39:23because we would love to do something like a farmer's market at our farm.
39:27So it's good to see what local producers they've got here,
39:31how it works, what they do, how they set it up.
39:34And, yeah, it's interesting, it's fascinating
39:37and clearly very popular because it is so busy.
39:41I've already spotted some goods here
39:42that I'd like to bring back to the cottage,
39:43so I hope Kilmer's brought his cash.
39:49Right, Marnie and Milo have got a fiver each to spend.
39:56I like this store, hold on.
39:59Kids happy with pocket money in hand.
40:01Is it a toy?
40:02It's just made out of beeswax.
40:04Ooh!
40:05I do the rounds to see what kind of stalls this market has to offer.
40:10Well, I've never tried Dexter before.
40:12I usually do one animal for this market
40:14and usually sold out to be about half past 11.
40:16Really? Yeah.
40:17Right, OK.
40:18They are only small.
40:19They're all grass-fed.
40:20We cut it all up and backpacks and everything.
40:23Oh, right.
40:24Oh, good, good.
40:24Right, what shall we go for then?
40:26Let's have a bit of Dexter.
40:27We'll take a minute, a minute-steak then.
40:29Yeah.
40:29All right, we'll get them two then.
40:31It'll do.
40:32Those?
40:32Yeah, those two, please.
40:33Thanks very much.
40:35It's amazing to support the farmer to keep running.
40:38You can't just have a nosey and walk off
40:40and leave them with a full stall.
40:41People actually come because they're intentionally to buy stuff.
40:44So that's what they need, to keep running.
40:47Our fridge will be stocked up, that's for sure.
40:48All right.
40:51It's really good.
40:52Thank you very much.
40:53That's great, that.
40:54Well, nice to meet you anyway, and I guess, yeah, we'll be in touch if we get the thingy.
40:58Yeah, yeah.
40:59Oh, well, I'm actually after one of these soaked gingerbread man,
41:04and I really want this, like, is it raspberry?
41:08Yes.
41:09Yeah, how much is it?
41:10That's £3.50.
41:12£3.50.
41:14I've just bought a little gingerbread man, and it's raspberry.
41:18When I go back home, I can pop in the shower and just have a wash.
41:24You need washing your body.
41:26If not, your body will get crumbled up.
41:32Is it all natural?
41:34No.
41:34All natural.
41:35Make one at home.
41:36You make it all?
41:38Wow.
41:38Let me smell.
41:40That one's nice.
41:41That one's nice as well.
41:42Which one would you recommend is the best, the yellow or the pink one?
41:46I like yellow.
41:47I'll take the yellow one.
41:48The yellow.
41:49Oh, yeah.
41:50Oh, I'm so happy.
41:52That is a crystal.
41:54That would be very nice to you.
41:56Feel it.
41:57It's cold.
41:58And if you hold it in your hand for a long time, it'll get warm.
42:01That means it's a real semi-pressure genstone.
42:04You can have that.
42:06Really?
42:07Oh, what do you say?
42:08You take care, don't you?
42:10See you.
42:17Janet and Tim have been running this farmer's market for over 20 years.
42:21And alongside hosting, they sell their own produce here too.
42:25So you bake all this, dear?
42:27We do a bit of baking.
42:28Wow.
42:29The farm is about the eggs.
42:30Yeah.
42:31We're organic free range.
42:32We have it for free.
42:33At this stage of the year, we've got the leg on.
42:35Leg on.
42:36We've got leg on.
42:37Well, do you know, Janet, my favourite cake is coffee and walnut.
42:39Right.
42:40So I'll take a slice of that, please.
42:42Take one of those.
42:43Yeah.
42:44If they've managed to get leg on chickens to lay eggs successfully, we can't wait to get
42:49their advice about setting up a market too.
42:52And so you do this once a month, but then for the rest of the month, are you just working
42:56to the next month?
42:57We do this on the farm once a month.
42:59Yes, I do other markets.
43:01Right.
43:01Other town centre markets.
43:03It's just good to get out with customers and it brings them back to the farm as well.
43:07It does, yeah.
43:08And it all works together.
43:09But it's a nice way to shop, isn't it?
43:11Not your typical supermarket.
43:13It's quite a community feeling, isn't it?
43:15Yeah.
43:16I've got stalls here that have been with me from the beginning.
43:18So what was in here before?
43:20This is the corn shed.
43:21Right.
43:25We've often thought whether we should do anything like this, haven't we, at our farm?
43:29Yeah, yeah.
43:30Maybe not to...
43:31This is a great idea.
43:32Yeah.
43:32What advice would you give?
43:34Any good advice?
43:36You're doing it for the community and you're doing it for the traders.
43:39But look for your local stalls, local farms.
43:42Yeah.
43:43You know, that's the crunch.
43:45Yeah.
43:45Keep it as local...
43:46Keep it in the community.
43:47Yeah.
43:47But you've got plenty of help with...
43:49Yeah.
43:49You'll all be all right brushing up, won't you?
43:51We're not scared of a bit of hard work.
44:22I know you don't.
44:23Come on, then.
44:24Let's get back.
44:26Right, guys.
44:26Thank you, guys.
44:27Thank you very much.
44:29Bye.
44:29Bye.
44:30Bye.
44:30Bye.
44:30It's great to see the farming and creative communities supporting each other in this
44:35way.
44:36And the kids have certainly had a fun day out, too.
44:39It was good, though, wasn't it?
44:40Yeah.
44:40It was actually really good.
44:42Give us some ideas.
44:43I've spent all my money.
44:46So I think, all in all, we've had a good do, haven't we?
44:49So often, you go and buy stuff, you don't know who's made it.
44:53You've met the person that's made that product.
44:55Do you think we could maybe do something like that at Half Art?
44:57Why don't we all have our own stall and see who does the best?
45:01Right.
45:01Food for thought.
45:02Better invite some family round to come and buy.
45:04Come on.
45:05Bye.
45:06Bye.
45:06Bye.
45:10Bye.
45:16Next time on our farm, while out searching for our next arable crop, I discover the hidden
45:22joy of growing vetch.
45:24That is just good soil.
45:25It's just getting your hands in it.
45:27If you know, you know.
45:28I'm going to take my shoes off in a minute.
45:30Our new cockerel finally gets some company and a chance to earn his keep.
45:35We'll see if he's a nervous wreck around the new girls, or we'll see if he's the alpha
45:40that he's supposed to be.
45:41And Milo joins me for an insight into tupping season.
45:46So there's 50 sheep all together.
45:4850 sheep?
45:4950 girls.
45:50And guess how many boys?
45:5110.
45:52One?
45:53One boy.
45:54To marry all of them girls?
45:57Yeah.
45:58Wow.
45:59That's really good.
46:00That's really good.
46:01That's really good.
46:03That's really good.
46:05That's really good.
46:05That's really good.
46:06That's really good.
46:06That's really good.
46:10That's really good.
46:14That's really good.
46:15That's really good.
46:16That's really good.
46:16That's really good.
46:17That's really good.
46:17That's really good.
46:18That's really good.
46:18That's really good.
46:18That's really good.
46:18That's really good.
46:19That's really good.
46:20That's really good.
46:21That's really good.
46:21That's really good.
46:21That's really good.
46:22That's really good.
Comments