[bloomer]

ok

you all win, its pathetic...

they all need to be shot.

although next week we do get to see poultry so I have to watch at least one more episode!!!

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

Does anyone else find this programme annoying?, I don't know why I watch it.

[robert waddell]

you watch it to see what you are missing

[Helencus]

Thing is I bet most folk on here were nearly as clueless when they started. We've all gotta start somewhere but it's funny to watch. Bit too much apprentice v x factor but better than some of the other crap on tv.

[knightquest]

Am I missing something here? I appreciate what you all say about the tasks and running a smallholding but these people are hopefully going to run a fully functioning farm. Supposedly not a hobby farm but one that makes money. They have little or no previous experience either. For my money, farmers these days either have to be born to it or go to agricultural college to find out what's what.

As someone who is running a business (not for kicks but to provide for my family) I know that advertising and marketing is vital and the bottom line is everything. You need to know the business from top to bottom and these taks give an indication of what might be in stall for them.
My feeling is that whoever wins may well become a smallholder after the year is over. Hopefully they will be welcome on here 

Tonights show (and it is only a show) highlighted how pressure can put a strain on a relationship. For my money, if the fireman doesn't remove the chip from his shoulder and his good lady doesn't stop sniping at him then they have had their last chance but that's just me 

Di and I run our business, are married and live together and share lots of the same interests. Been doing it for eight years and married for twenty years. This farm for the winning couple could just as easily break them as make 'em.

Good luck to them I say. Not sure I would have the energy myself but I'll keep watching 'cos frankly, it is just a show after all.

Ian

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

I think the programme is misleading and although it shows how hard 'farming' is at times it really is just a tv programme.  They were asked to run a market stall, but the produce suddenly appeared from no-where, they had not had to grow it or produce it, if only it were that easy.  When it showed their individual plots, there was barely anything growing and some just had a few pigs running around.

It would have been better to have filmed the programme over the course of a  year, more like the victorian farm programme, where how they planted, tended their crops and ultimately harvested them and either sold them or added value before selling decided who should succeed in getting the rent free farm for a year.

[Mo]

Well, regardless of what I thought of it before, they lost me last night.
Judged by the money taken??
One couple dumped a load of food in the bin and bought in pop and crisps. One couple left unattended produce on the stall. One couple openly admitted they didn't want to do the business side of things.
Did any of them actually 'do' anything with the free produce they were given?
I would have been interested to hear their net profits, or should I say losses.
As for the bickering couple who felt they were 'so lucky', they were only kept in to keep the programme going.

Perhaps the prize is too great. Perhaps the offer should have been a smaller holding.

[Fowgill Farm]

See i already said the fireman & Jordan were the entertainment! 

[chriso]

I keep watching but getting more disapointed with it. I was hoping to learn a thing or two about how to look after the animals or to grow enough produce to sell some or make something from them. They got 1/2 an acre each and have left them standing after ploughing them. Going shopping for produce to sell just does not seem right. 

[bloomer]

its also against the rules of most farmers markets i believe!!!

[TheGirlsMum]

Can anybody explain to my how the couple who spent an extra £270 on mutton burgers plus their bread rolls having onlt taken £230 then be the winners???
I'm going to have to see if I can find some where on BBC or Jimmy Doherty's web sites to find some answers. I thought the whole idea was to sell what they produced.

P.S. agree about the fireman's chip on his shoulder but why didn't she just leave him to do what he wanted to do and get on with some food prep?

Must walk away from this one and remember it's only a tv programme

[robert waddell]

the winner will have been picked out already (jimmy)
it is a bit confusing making a loss that turns out to be a winner
then again it may just be an illusion

[Frieslandfilly]

I have this one recorded! Looks like I will have to sit down with a cup of coffee and be entertained, will be back with my thoughts later

[Sandy]

I missed most but may watch all a bit later, when I put it on it was so much like the Aprentice!!!!! I could not quite get my head around what they were doing, surely they could have had a go at marketing some other smallholders or farmers stuff, real farm produce, after all, thats what I would buy in a farmers market. I used to make the day I worked in Melton Mowbry, Market day, just to have a cup pa and a sausage sarnie!!!!! I think there are a lot of programmes that follow a similar winning format, love these reality things but not too sure if its quite what I expected, they should all be helping other farmers and seeing how they get on!!! Anyway, its just TV after all!!!!

[OhLaLa]

Can anybody explain to my how the couple who spent an extra £270 on mutton burgers plus their bread rolls having only taken £230 then be the winners???

Yup, we ripped that one apart too. He even used the word 'profit' !! Methinks Jimmy and co need some maths lessons.

I knew they wouldn't chuck a couple out this week as they needed to keep the numbers up due to the couple who had to leave due to illness. So obvious.

And as for the farmers market farce with one day to do it all : Sourcing packaging, preparing/cooking their stock - and as for the printed mini posters one lot managed to get done in a day.... they even managed to fit in a walk around said market. And the list goes on....

I must get myself one of those time travel machines next time I'm in the agricultural merchants.....