Do you have an Ag Lab in your tree? TV programme

[kerryb]

I have just watched this week's episode and found it really fascinating.  It seems to be less about the big things of running a farm and more about the day to day things, although lambing is pretty big I know 

The home remedies were fascinating especially about the alkanet and the old crafts needed in order to run the farm, ie the Blacksmith, the basket maker etc.

This is proving to be an enlightening programme for many reasons.

Kerry

[DudleyWinchurch]

I liked this tongue in cheek comment on the program from another site I visit

'The people on The Victorian Farm are far too competent and enjoying themselves far too much.

When do we get to vote one of them out?'

 

DebbieG

Having just returned from a trip to Dublin I can tell you that you need to go to Ireland for that.  RTE have "Farm Factor" and the contestants compete upon various farming tasks/skills.

... and before, I get accused of stereotyping, I'm not joking     
and I am of Irish descent

[IgorStrav]

I am enjoying the programme very much too.

Many of my rellies were Ag Labs and I have been most interested to see the very labour-intensive activities they would have been involved in.  We don't appreciate how lucky we are in this age of central heating and plenty of jumpers and socks.....let alone hot water.............do we!

I have been wondering just how well I would have got on with it all. 

[kerryb]

I agree

We live in an age where if we want something we go online and buy it or we go to the supermarket and buy it.

How would we manage where if we want a fence for instance, we have to go to the woods and get the wood then saw it, and go to the blacksmith to get the hinges etc etc.  I don't think I would manage. 

Kerry

[mike175]

We do indeed live in privileged times, in the western world at least, but I daresay many in the third world would relate much more closely to the people in the programme.

The sad thing is that our generation seems to have benefitted greatly from all our ancestors' efforts to struggle out of those hard "Ag Lab" times, but we seem to have got so addicted to the good life that, instead of seeking to achieve even better for our children's generation, we're now collectively living on borrowed money which they will have to repay . . . where did it all go wrong . . . 

I wonder if there will be programmes in future reminiscing about the glorious days of the late 20th century?

[Old Bristolian]

Within its limitations (which I must say the BBC hasn't disguised or made light of) it is a very interesting programme - many of the aspects of life in the rural 1880s I really hadn't thought about.
Can I recommend to fellow Chatters the books of Richard Jefferies, written at the time that "Victorian Farm" is set? "Hodge & his Masters" which I am reading at the moment gives a great deal of valuable insight into the lives of ag labs as well as farmers & the other members of rural society - he mentions that preschool children of labourers would often be washed & fed in the morning and then sent out of doors to fend for themselves until evening (with possibly a piece of bread & lard for lunch) - no H&S rules then!

Steve

[mike175]

Thanks for the book reference, Steve, I must try "Hodge" for myself.

I remember hearing an old countryman on the radio reminiscing about his childhood in the 1930s, I think, and talking about pulling a turnip for his lunch from the field on his way to school . . . not sure how hungry I'd have to be to dine on raw turnip 

 Full marks to the BBC for an excellent series, and I also like the Adam Hart-Davis series that follows it on thursdays, also about the Victorians. Although that is a repeat, it was a smart move to put them together.

Mike.

[kerryb]

Thanks for the tip Steve, I will look out for them.

Kerry

[mike175]

Just read the first few pages of "Hodge" online at:
http://www.fullbooks.com/Hodge-and-His-Masters.html

Definitely going to put my Christmas book token towards a copy . . . I can't endure reading on the screen for very long . . . and I was brought up with a respect verging on reverence for books 

Mike.