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 > 0:00:13# From seeds to crops and field to barn
0:00:13 > 0:00:15# So much to do down on the farm
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# Summer, autumn, winter, spring
0:00:17 > 0:00:20# Ploughing, planting, harvesting
0:00:20 > 0:00:24# With JB and Storm to lead the way
0:00:24 > 0:00:29# Come join us down on the farm today! #
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Hello, I'm JB.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37It's spring down on the farm and it's such a great time of year.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40It's when new flowers and vegetables are growing.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42While I carry on working in the fields,
0:00:42 > 0:00:44let's find out what Storm's up to.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Do you know what this funny-looking vegetable is called?
0:00:55 > 0:00:57It's called "asparagus".
0:00:57 > 0:01:00And I have the job of helping to pick this crop
0:01:00 > 0:01:03somewhere in one of those tunnels over there.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- Hi, guys!- Hi, Storm!
0:01:05 > 0:01:08I've heard you guys are experts at growing asparagus,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12but I don't know the first thing about picking it.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14- Do you think you could help me? - We can.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17- First thing you'll need is a pair of gloves.- Gloves, check.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21- They keep your hands warm and protected.- Anything else?
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Next is a knife to cut the asparagus.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26I'm going to be extra careful with this one.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28And you'll also need this.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31A spoon? Are we going to be making cakes?
0:01:31 > 0:01:33- ALL:- No!
0:01:33 > 0:01:37This helps us measure the asparagus so we cut it at the right length.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40I'm so glad you guys are here to keep me right!
0:01:40 > 0:01:44- Have we got everything we need? - Yes!
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Asparagus is a spring vegetable.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50That means it's planted in early spring and is ready to be
0:01:50 > 0:01:54picked from late in April all the way through the summer.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And Adelaide and Florrie have
0:01:56 > 0:02:01invited their friends to help us pick today. Better get to work!
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Why are we in these tunnels and not out in the fields?
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Asparagus likes it really warm and really dry,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11so the tunnels help us to keep the heat in and keep the water off.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- It certainly is warm in here, isn't it, Adelaide?- Yeah.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18- So, how do I pick asparagus?- We've got the spoon against the asparagus.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- Do you think it's tall enough? - Yep.- OK.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Pop the spoon down and we cut really low down.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28So, we're all the way through.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33And why are we hand-picking the asparagus
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and not using great big harvesting machines?
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Well, these spears of asparagus are all different heights,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43so we have two wait until it's the perfect length -
0:02:43 > 0:02:46the length of our spoon - before cutting it off.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- And do you like asparagus?- Yeah.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50What do you like to eat it with?
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- Erm...butter.- Butter! I can't wait to try some.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- Will we be trying some later? - Definitely.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57This one in the basket, Flo!
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Now that the basket is full,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02let's get these off to the packing factory.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06So, we're wearing our protective hairnets and coats.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07What happens here?
0:03:07 > 0:03:10When the asparagus comes in off the field,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13we need to sort it and grade it for the supermarkets.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16First, it goes along the conveyor belt
0:03:16 > 0:03:20and through a washer, then it goes through a clever camera
0:03:20 > 0:03:25that takes a picture and sorts it based on size and shape.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Then it comes into these crates
0:03:27 > 0:03:31and then we ship it to the supermarket, ready for eating.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35We've had a fantastic day learning all about asparagus.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37But the day wouldn't be complete
0:03:37 > 0:03:42- without trying some for ourselves. Shall we tuck in, guys?- Uh-huh.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Mmm. Delicious!
0:03:47 > 0:03:50What does the asparagus taste like?
0:03:50 > 0:03:51Yummy!
0:03:51 > 0:03:56While we finish our asparagus, why don't you find out what else happens
0:03:56 > 0:03:58down on the farm in springtime?
0:03:59 > 0:04:04- BIRDS SING - Spring is a busy time of year.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09The season starts with a singing contest.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10BIRDS SING
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Many birds spend hours perfecting their most beautiful songs
0:04:14 > 0:04:17as they compete to attract a mate
0:04:17 > 0:04:21or warn other birds to stay off their patch!
0:04:21 > 0:04:26Soon, it's time to search for the perfect place to build a nest.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Once a safe spot has been found,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31birds carefully select the right building materials,
0:04:31 > 0:04:37such as twigs, soft moss or feathers and sticky spiders' webs.
0:04:37 > 0:04:43They use these to construct a cosy nest where they can lay their eggs.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47In some places, nesting materials are hard to find
0:04:47 > 0:04:49and competition can be fierce.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Pieces of dried seaweed can cause a tug-of-war!
0:04:53 > 0:04:58And some birds even resort to stealing from other birds' nests.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Guillemots don't bother with nests.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Like penguins, they just rest their eggs on their feet
0:05:05 > 0:05:09and keep them warm under all those fluffy feathers.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15Precious eggs need to be kept snug, safe and dry -
0:05:15 > 0:05:17whatever the weather.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24And when they hatch, many chicks keep their parents just as busy,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27demanding lots and lots of food.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Today we're in Scotland, near the Isle of Skye.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39We've come to see Stewart and his friends,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41who are going to be planting some trees.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Today, we're on an old golf course, which isn't used any more.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48There's lots of animals and birds that live here.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51We're going to be planting lots of trees
0:05:51 > 0:05:53to make it a nicer place for them to live.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Do you want to come and choose a tree?
0:05:56 > 0:05:59First, the children choose a tree to plant.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04Willow trees, birch trees and rowan trees.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07The small trees are called saplings.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Then it's off to plant the trees.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Follow me!
0:06:15 > 0:06:17The ground is wet and muddy,
0:06:17 > 0:06:19but it's still lots of fun!
0:06:21 > 0:06:24The trees Stewart and his friends are planting
0:06:24 > 0:06:26like this wet, muddy ground to grow in.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Squelchy!
0:06:28 > 0:06:29OK, boys and girls,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33we're going to plant our trees now, so I want you all to find a cane.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Can you find one of these stuck in the ground?
0:06:36 > 0:06:39And that's where we're going to plant our trees.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Now it's time to get to work!
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Good stamp down, Rach.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47The children put the trees into the hole,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50then fill the hole right up to the top with soil.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Then they press the soil down.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Everyone's working very hard and getting quite muddy!
0:06:59 > 0:07:04With the tree-planting done, it's time for a well-deserved rest.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Good work!
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Well done, boys and girls.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09That was a great job!
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Do you know how many trees we planted today? Can anyone guess?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Calvin?
0:07:15 > 0:07:17I planted two!
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Can anyone guess how many we planted altogether?
0:07:20 > 0:07:22107.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23No.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24400.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29400 - that was very close. We've planted 420 trees!
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- Have we all had a good time today? - ALL:- Yeah!
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Who's got muddy hands?
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Here's our spring poem...
0:07:46 > 0:07:49It's not a toy - this tractor's real
0:07:49 > 0:07:53It's made from tough and shiny steel
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Climb up the steps and slam the door
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Start the engine with a roar
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Slowly forwards - clank, beep, thump
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Rocking, rolling over bumps
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Pull a lever, turn the wheel -
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Don't get stuck in a muddy field!
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Keep on going while it's light
0:08:18 > 0:08:21And sometimes even through the night
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Working hard from start to end
0:08:25 > 0:08:28A tractor is a farmer's friend.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40Hi, guys!
0:08:40 > 0:08:43We're here on Jimmy's family farm in Dorset
0:08:43 > 0:08:46and today I'm going to be helping with the new arrivals
0:08:46 > 0:08:50because Jimmy's farm is a cattle farm with lots of cows.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53And in spring, a lot of new calves are born.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- Hi, girls!- Hi!- Hi, Jimmy.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Hi, JB, how are you? Welcome to the farm.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Thank you. So, how can I help out with the cows today?
0:09:03 > 0:09:07It's a very busy time of year. We're calving at the moment.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10So, if we feed the newborn calves and their mothers
0:09:10 > 0:09:14and then we'll tag some calves which were born last night
0:09:14 > 0:09:16- and put them out in the field. - Wow. OK.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Girls, are you ready?- Yeah!
0:09:23 > 0:09:27JB, we're here in the field, we've got the cows' breakfast in the bag,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31so if you could give me a hand feeding the cows, that'd be great.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Farmer Jimmy makes sure the cows are well fed
0:09:39 > 0:09:44so they can produce lots of milk to help feed their baby calves.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- Girls, do you think the cows are enjoying their breakfast?- Yeah!
0:09:48 > 0:09:50And can you spot any of the baby calves?
0:09:50 > 0:09:53There, there and there.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Quite a few, aren't there?
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Baby cows are called calves.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01But did you know that girl calves are called heifers
0:10:01 > 0:10:03and boy calves are called bulls?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Right, they're all very happy with their breakfast.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11- Shall we go and see the other calves?- Yes!- Come on, guys.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18When a cow is about to have a baby calf,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Jimmy puts her into a barn.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24This is because it's a bit quieter away from the herd
0:10:24 > 0:10:26and he can keep a close eye on her.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Once the calves are born,
0:10:29 > 0:10:34they have to be tagged before they can go out into the field.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Basically, that way down - so the longer down.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43The tags are a badge so the farmer knows which calf is which.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Now the calf is tagged, it can go out into the field with its mummy
0:10:53 > 0:10:55and enjoy the sunshine.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59COW MOOS
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Thanks, Jimmy, for showing me all your lovely cows today.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06- Thank you for all your help. - And, girls, did you have fun?- Yeah!
0:11:06 > 0:11:10I think we deserve a bit of a rest after all that hard work.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11While we go and get cleaned up,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15why don't you find out what else happens in spring?
0:11:20 > 0:11:21This is Charlie.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25On his farm he grows plants that can be made into oil.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Not oil for a car.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31The oil that Charlie makes is called rapeseed oil
0:11:31 > 0:11:34and it is made from rapeseed plants.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38We use it in cooking and on our food.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41In the springtime, the plants are still growing and are green.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44They aren't quite ready to be picked.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47We wait until the summer to pick them.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49This is what the plant looks like in summer
0:11:49 > 0:11:52when they are ready to be harvested.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54What a beautiful yellow colour!
0:11:54 > 0:11:58The flowers make little black seeds that are used to make the oil.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03Let's go to the factory and see where we make these seeds into oil.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Charlie is pressing the seeds really hard
0:12:10 > 0:12:13to show us how the oil comes out.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Look! You can see the oil mark on the paper.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21He doesn't usually do this by hand - he uses a machine in the factory.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25The seeds go into the machine, the machine presses the seeds
0:12:25 > 0:12:28very hard so that the yellow oil is pressed out.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31The oil drips out at the bottom of the machine
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and the black seeds are squeezed out at the top.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Once the oil has been taken from the seed,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41we're left with this pellet that is fed to local cows
0:12:41 > 0:12:42so nothing is wasted.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48The oil goes into the bottling machine and is poured into bottles.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55And now we're ready to go to the shops.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Storm and I had a great time down on the farm
0:13:02 > 0:13:04and we hope you've enjoyed it, too.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07There's even more from Down On The Farm
0:13:07 > 0:13:09on the CBeebies website, just for you.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12See you next time. Bye!
0:13:12 > 0:13:16# Come join us down on the farm today
0:13:16 > 0:13:20# Learn about nature along the way
0:13:20 > 0:13:23# From seeds to crops and field to barn
0:13:23 > 0:13:25# So much to do down on the farm
0:13:25 > 0:13:27# Summer, autumn, winter, spring
0:13:27 > 0:13:30# Ploughing, planting, harvesting
0:13:30 > 0:13:34# With JB and Storm to lead the way
0:13:34 > 0:13:39# Come join us down on the farm today! #