0:00:02 > 0:00:06# Come join us down on the farm today
0:00:06 > 0:00:10# Learn about nature along the way
0:00:10 > 0:00:12# From seeds to crops and field to plants
0:00:12 > 0:00:15# So much to do down on the farm
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# Summer, autumn, winter, spring
0:00:17 > 0:00:19# Ploughing, planting, harvesting
0:00:19 > 0:00:23# With JB and Storm to lead the way
0:00:25 > 0:00:28# Come join us down on the farm today. #
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Cock-a-doodle-doo!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Hello, I'm JB and welcome to Down on the Farm.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Now it's winter, it's time for farmers to make sure that all
0:00:37 > 0:00:41their machinery is working perfectly for the year ahead.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45So while I help out on this farm, let's find out what Storm's up to.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Cock-a-doodle-doo!
0:00:51 > 0:00:53It's early in the morning,
0:00:53 > 0:00:57and I've been asked to meet Farmer Kevin here in this field.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00But what could he be doing at this time of day?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Here comes Farmer Kevin now.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Morning, Storm.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13- Would you like to help me pick some parsnips today?- Picking parsnips?
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Yes, please! Parsnips are a root vegetable.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19They're grown, harvested and mainly eaten in winter.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24Because they grow underground they get lots of goodness from the soil.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28This means they're very healthy to eat and full of vitamins and iron.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Now, Kevin, why are you up so early harvesting parsnips?
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Winter's our busiest time. We work long hours to
0:01:34 > 0:01:37make sure we get the parsnips harvested.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39How will you harvest that many parsnips?
0:01:39 > 0:01:42With this big parsnip harvester.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46- Do you think I might be able to help?- I'm sure you could, yeah.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50This combine harvester has special machinery fitted to it which
0:01:50 > 0:01:51harvests the parsnips.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55A rotary blade digs the parsnips out of the ground.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59The mud is shaken off and then the parsnips are collected and
0:01:59 > 0:02:02sorted on top of the combine harvester.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09So this is what all the hard work was for.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Look at all the parsnips we've collected!
0:02:13 > 0:02:15So what part of the parsnip is it that we eat?
0:02:15 > 0:02:18The whole root, from top to bottom. In the winter
0:02:18 > 0:02:22they're sweeter because the starch is turned to sugar.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- They're tastiest in the winter? - Yes, a lot tastier.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Now we've collected all these parsnips, where do they go?
0:02:29 > 0:02:32They go back to the factory to be washed and packed.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Well, let's go take a look.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39The parsnips are off-loaded into the factory where they are washed.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42'The workers separate the different sizes and shapes.'
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- You have to be pretty fast, don't you?- Yes.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49They are then wrapped in plastic,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51ready to go to the markets and shops.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55A parsnip that has been harvested can be in the shops in as
0:02:55 > 0:02:56little as five hours.
0:02:56 > 0:03:01Parsnips that look misshapen, also known as "wonky parsnips",
0:03:01 > 0:03:04get turned into tasty crisps, so nothing goes to waste.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07It was well worth getting up early just to see how
0:03:07 > 0:03:11parsnips are harvested. I can't wait to cook some,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15but in the meantime, do you fancy trying some parsnip crisps?
0:03:15 > 0:03:16Sounds good to me.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19While we enjoy these tasty vegetable treats,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22why don't you find out what else happens in winter?
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Beep, beep!
0:03:24 > 0:03:29For wild creatures, food is much harder to find in winter.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33They have to make the most of every chance they get.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Often it is us, their human neighbours,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38who provide those chances.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Birds need to eat a lot to stay warm at this time of year,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and many of them rely on food we give them.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Larger birds like greenfinches and nuthatches
0:03:48 > 0:03:53will jealously guard such a valuable supply.
0:03:53 > 0:03:54In the countryside,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57these gulls and red kites have worked out that following
0:03:57 > 0:04:01a farmer's plough is the best way to get a good meal in winter.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06To prepare for planting, ploughs turn over the soil.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10This unearths lots of worms which birds can't dig up on their
0:04:10 > 0:04:12own when the ground is frozen.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16They swoop in, and help themselves again and again.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18When we are not looking,
0:04:18 > 0:04:24sneaky foxes take the chance to rake through our bins for food scraps,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27while others find that it pays to be bold.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31This squirrel just pops into his local barber shop and demands
0:04:31 > 0:04:33some nuts.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35When he has had enough to eat,
0:04:35 > 0:04:39he even stashes some away in a pot plant for later.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Being around humans can help creatures in other ways, too.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47During long, dark winter nights small birds are in danger
0:04:47 > 0:04:51from hungry owls, so to feel safe,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55these pied wagtails have chosen to roost beside Heathrow Airport,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58which gives off light and heat all night long.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08In the spring, summer and autumn months, the weather is much
0:05:08 > 0:05:12warmer, so we can grow a lot of fruit and veg outside.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15But in the winter it's too cold, so we need something very
0:05:15 > 0:05:19special to keep the fruit and vegetables nice and warm.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20We need a...
0:05:20 > 0:05:23ALL: Polytunnel!
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Yes, we need a polytunnel like this one in Birmingham.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32The children at this school grow lots of plants and herbs. Hi guys!
0:05:32 > 0:05:33ALL: Hello, Storm!
0:05:33 > 0:05:38So, what does a polytunnel protect fruit and vegetables from?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40- Frost.- Birds.- Wind.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Absolutely.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46And it also traps the air inside, and it keeps it nice and warm.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- Does it feel warmer in here? - ALL: Yeah.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Yeah, it feels nice and warm, doesn't it?
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Now, what sorts of things are you growing in your polytunnel?
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- ALL: Peppers! Chillies! Basil! - Absolutely.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Lots of things that would grow in warmer weather,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04but the polytunnel acts like a greenhouse
0:06:04 > 0:06:06so we can grow them when it's cold.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Does anybody want to show me how to plant some seeds?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- ALL: Me! - Well, let's get planting!
0:06:13 > 0:06:17Today we're going to plant chillies and basil.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19First we need to sieve the soil.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Then we put the soil in the pots.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- So, now it's time to put some seeds in.- Yeah!- Yeah!
0:06:35 > 0:06:38You're doing a great job. Well done.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42'Then we cover the seeds with some more soil, and of course,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45'we need to give the seeds some water.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51'Now, off to the polytunnel.'
0:06:51 > 0:06:53It's nice and warm in here, isn't it?
0:06:53 > 0:06:58'These plants need to grow for a few months before they are
0:06:58 > 0:07:00'ready to be picked,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04'but there are some plants here that are ready to be picked now...'
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Let's get picking, guys!
0:07:07 > 0:07:14'..like these lettuce, garlic chives, peppers, and pak choi.'
0:07:17 > 0:07:18Thank you very much.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I've had a fantastic day learning about polytunnels and
0:07:22 > 0:07:26planting seeds, and I learned that even when it's cold outside
0:07:26 > 0:07:28we can still grow things inside.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30So while we continue picking,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33why don't you take a listen to our chilly poem? Brrr!
0:07:40 > 0:07:44When it's cold, the air tickles my nose
0:07:44 > 0:07:46and freezes my toes.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49I stamp to keep warm.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55The crisp, crunching sound of my boots on the ground
0:07:55 > 0:07:58makes me stomp even more.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02I'm an ice dragon now,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04ferocious and loud.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08I let out a roar! Roaaar!
0:08:10 > 0:08:12ALL: Roaaar!
0:08:13 > 0:08:15And my breath billows white.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21I scream with delight at the magical sight.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27Moo!
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Living in the countryside, I often get woken by the sound of
0:08:31 > 0:08:35"cock-a-doodle-doo!" which is made by one of my favourite animals.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Do you know what it is? That's right.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43I'm here to find out more about chickens.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- Hi, Kirsty.- Hi, JB. Welcome to our farm.- Thanks.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49You've got some lovely-looking chickens here,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- but some do look different to others.- They do, yes.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56This is a male. He's called a cockerel, and he has a large comb.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00We also have hens. They're the females. They lay the eggs.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02They all look happy and healthy.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04How do they get on in the winter?
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Fine. Their feathers keep them warm.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09They have plenty of shelter in their coops.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- Do they still lay eggs in winter?- They do, but not as many.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15The lights in their coops make them think
0:09:15 > 0:09:17it's summer. That helps them lay more.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- Can I help to pick some? - Of course.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23I've got two little pickers to help you, and they're in there.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Ivy and Poppy look after their own chickens on the farm,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31and they also help to collect their eggs.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Hi, Poppy. Hi, Ivy. BOTH: Hi, JB!
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Let's collect some eggs.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Poppy, do you want to open that side, and I'll open this side?
0:09:41 > 0:09:44There we go. Let's get picking.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51Oh, Poppy, you've got three. I can see one there.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55Ivy's got one.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Perfect. Well, girls, we've found lots of eggs.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- Shall we go up to the barn and weigh them.- Yeah!- Come on, then.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Let's get weighing, girls.
0:10:10 > 0:10:16'All the eggs we've collected are put on this conveyor belt.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21'At the end of the conveyor belt, each egg is weighed.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25'Then the machine sorts the eggs based on their size and weight.'
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Wow, look at that.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31'Now we know what size and weight the eggs are,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34'we have to put them into egg boxes.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44'The eggs are put in groups of six, which some people call
0:10:44 > 0:10:45'"half a dozen".
0:10:45 > 0:10:49'Then the eggs are stamped with the farm name,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51'so we know where they're from.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54'Finally, each box gets a label,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58'and they are ready to go to the farm shop to be sold.'
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Finished!
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Thanks for coming, JB, and here's some eggs for you.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10Thank you. I love fresh farm eggs, and I can't wait to taste them.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14While I decide how to have my eggs, lets find out how fishermen
0:11:14 > 0:11:18harvest a different type of food in the winter.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Toot, toot!
0:11:21 > 0:11:24This is Cameron and his crew.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28We're visiting him on a farm on a Scottish island called Mull.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31This farm is a bit different. There are no tractors.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36Instead, he uses a boat, because the farm is on water,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40and what grows here lives under the sea,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42mussels.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51A mussel is a type of shellfish that we can eat.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55It has two oval-shaped shells to protect its body.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Although the water is extremely cold in winter,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00mussels grow all the year round.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05They eat tiny creatures in the water called plankton.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Wild mussels like the ones Cameron is harvesting find
0:12:10 > 0:12:13things in the water to attach themselves to,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16like the ropes that hang from these buoys.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Once in place, the mussels can start to eat all the good things in
0:12:20 > 0:12:23the water, and they grow bigger.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26The buoys help the fishermen to find the mussels.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29These mussels have been growing on the rope here for about
0:12:29 > 0:12:33three years. When they're the size of your thumb, roughly,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35they're ready to be picked and eaten.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44This is the mussel's beard. This is what helps hold it onto the rope.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48That's us back at the pier now.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51We're going to clean the mussels,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53'remove the beards and seaweed.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55'That's not what we want to eat.'
0:12:55 > 0:12:57They then pack the mussels into boxes,
0:12:57 > 0:13:02which are taken to shops and restaurants to be sold and eaten.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06The best way to eat mussels is when they are fresh from the sea.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10Once they're cooked, the mussels open their shells to show
0:13:10 > 0:13:12their beautiful bright colour.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17So the fishermen are enjoying a lovely hot meal after a hard day.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Storm, Rory and I had a brilliant time today,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and we hope you enjoyed it, too.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32You can find even more from Down on the Farm on the CBeebies website.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34See you next time. Bye!
0:13:34 > 0:13:38# Come join us down on the farm today
0:13:38 > 0:13:42# Learn about nature along the way
0:13:42 > 0:13:45# From seeds to crops and field to barn
0:13:45 > 0:13:47# So much to do down on the farm
0:13:47 > 0:13:50# Summer, autumn, winter, spring
0:13:50 > 0:13:52# Ploughing, planting, harvesting
0:13:52 > 0:13:56# With JB and Storm to lead the way
0:13:56 > 0:14:00# Come join us down on the farm today. #