0:00:02 > 0:00:06# Come join us down on the farm today
0:00:06 > 0:00:11# Learn about nature along the way
0:00:11 > 0:00:13# From seeds to crops and fields to farms
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 > 0:00:28# Come join us down on the farm today. #
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Hello, I'm JB and welcome to Down On The Farm.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39In spring, lots of helpful insects and small creatures
0:00:39 > 0:00:40start to appear outside.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Farmers like the worms, which help the soil,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47and bees and butterflies, which help the plants and crops to grow.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50So, while I help out, let's find out what Storm's up to.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02I'm here in this gorgeous farm in Warwickshire to meet an animal that
0:01:02 > 0:01:07looks a bit like a cow and even gets milked like a cow, but isn't a cow!
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Do you have any idea what it might be?
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Say hello to the buffalo.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16These are known as water buffalo.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Normally, they're outside in the field or near water,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21throwing mud over themselves,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25but the spring weather is a little chilly, so, for now,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27they're staying nice and cosy indoors.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Farmer James and his helpers, Harvey and Isaac,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34look after lots of buffalo on their farm.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- Hi, guys.- Hi, Storm.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41So, what is the difference between cows and buffalo?
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Buffalos' horns go down and back and then grow up.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49- I can see they have all got beautiful horns, don't they?- Yes.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51What about their feet?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Their feet are bigger and wider.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Which must help them walk on the muddy ground.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Are there any other differences?
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Buffalos are almost always black.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Of course, because cows come in lots of different colours, don't they?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Like brown, black, or white,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12but I can see all these buffalos are the same colour.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Also buffalos' milk is a little bit different to cow's milk.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Why don't we take some of these buffalo into the milking area
0:02:20 > 0:02:22- and find out more?- Yeah.- Let's go.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25Here they come.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30Farmer James guides the buffalo out of the barn and into the farmyard.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34They're coming over to say hello, aren't they?
0:02:34 > 0:02:36- Which one is your favourite? - That one.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38What would you call that buffalo?
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Henry Monster.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43I think Henry Monster is a great name for a buffalo.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Especially with those horns. They're huge.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49And they're really friendly, aren't they?
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Next, the buffalo are brought into the milking area.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01The buffalo milk is pumped through these tubes and into a big vat.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Well, this buffalo milk looks much thicker than cow's milk.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10It's a lot higher in something called butterfat, that makes it
0:03:10 > 0:03:14really creamy and good for making lots of super-tasty foods.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Some of which we make right here on the farm.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18I like the sound of that!
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Now we've all washed our hands, we're ready to try
0:03:26 > 0:03:27some of these tasty treats.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Ice cream, my favourite!
0:03:29 > 0:03:31It's creamy and tasty.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34And it's made from buffalo milk.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35And pizza, my other favourite.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40The cheese on the top of this pizza is made with buffalo mozzarella.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- It's some of the tastiest cheese around.- That looks delicious.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Now, I've had a fantastic day learning all about buffalos and
0:03:47 > 0:03:51how their milk can be used to make some of these tasty treats.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54So, while we tuck in, why don't you find out
0:03:54 > 0:03:55what else happens in spring?
0:03:58 > 0:04:01One of the first signs of spring is the sound of lawn mowers
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and the smell of freshly-cut grass.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Grass is the UK's biggest crop.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13It carpets a lot of farmland in green and almost half of the land
0:04:13 > 0:04:14is covered in it.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19It comes in lots of different sizes and colours.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Some tall and fluffy,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and some even red.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28It's there whether you live in the country or in the city,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31and most of us see grass every day.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Grass is an important food source for many animals.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40On farms, cows and sheep love to graze on it.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45And horses and hares like to eat it, too.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Grass is also useful in other ways.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Slugs, worms, and ants like to hide in it.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58And grasshoppers and wolf spiders live in it.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03The longer the grass, the better.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07It provides food and shelter to lots of different animals.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18I've come to a school in London to meet some new friends who have asked
0:05:18 > 0:05:21me to bring some food scraps along.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I've collected carrots, a banana peel and some tea bags.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I wonder what they're going to use these for?
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Hi, everyone!
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- ALL:- Hello, Storm!
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Now, I brought my food scraps along with me.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- What would you like me to do with them?- Put them in our compost bin.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Just like a big recycling bin.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45There we go. So, what happens to the scraps in here?
0:05:45 > 0:05:48They get eaten by tiny, tiny bugs.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50They break it all down.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51What happens then?
0:05:51 > 0:05:53- ALL:- Compost!
0:05:53 > 0:05:57The best compost is created when a mixture of green things,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01like food scraps and grass cuttings, are mixed with brown things,
0:06:01 > 0:06:03like egg shells and leaves.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09Storm, we'd like to make a smaller composter called a wormery.
0:06:09 > 0:06:10And will it be full of worms?
0:06:10 > 0:06:11- ALL:- Yes!
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Let's get started.- Great!
0:06:14 > 0:06:17We need some stones.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19We need compost.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21We need some sand.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23We need wet paper.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25We need a plastic bottle.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Now, we need to fill the bottles up, one layer at a time.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Sprinkle a bit more compost in there.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- That's nice.- Finished.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I think there's something missing.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41- ALL:- Worms!
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Worms, that's right.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Look! Here we go.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48These little guys are amazing helpers.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52As they burrow into the soil, they let in lots of air and water,
0:06:52 > 0:06:57and their pee and poo is also very good for our gardens and plants.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58It feels, like, slimy.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03It's so stretchy.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04It looks very cute.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08It feels gooey.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Yeah, gooey.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15So, what's the last thing we need to add to our wormeries?
0:07:15 > 0:07:16- ALL:- Food!
0:07:19 > 0:07:22So, the worms will move all the way down through the layers,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26mixing them up and breaking down the scraps to make compost.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Now, our wormeries are complete.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- ALL:- Yay!
0:07:32 > 0:07:36We can keep an eye on the worms and see how they make compost
0:07:36 > 0:07:40and when they're finished, we can put them back into the garden.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Now, while we take a look at these hard-working worms
0:07:43 > 0:07:47here is our spring poem about another very helpful creature.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51A dab of colour flutters by
0:07:52 > 0:07:54A gentle little butterfly
0:07:56 > 0:07:58A joy to see, the first of spring
0:08:00 > 0:08:02You dazzle me with shimmering wings
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Appearing while the weather is fair
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Soon others flutter in the air
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Dancing, flitting, as they seek
0:08:13 > 0:08:16A pretty flower with nectar sweet
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Or a leaf to hide the eggs they lay
0:08:20 > 0:08:23So caterpillars will hatch one day.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35I'm in London on a rooftop car park, but not to park my car!
0:08:35 > 0:08:39I'm here to meet a farmer called Sam and I've heard he's got
0:08:39 > 0:08:41a very unusual farm up here.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43But where is he?
0:08:43 > 0:08:44JB, over here!
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Hi, Sam.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Let's go and meet him.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50- Hi, Sam.- Hi, JB.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52This is incredible.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I can't believe that that is a farm.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58That's right. This is an old shipping container that used to be
0:08:58 > 0:09:02for storing things on ships that we've recycled into an urban farm.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- Would you like to come and see what's going on inside?- Absolutely.
0:09:06 > 0:09:12Sam and his team are making clever use of space on this city rooftop.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Now, Sam, this is definitely different to other farms I visited.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- What's in here?- These are our carp fish. They're really tasty,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22and we use them as food for our customers,
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- but they also help us grow food, too.- But how do they do that?
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Using fish to grow things like salads and herbs,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31- it's called aquaponics.- What's that?
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Aquaponics means Sam uses fish poo or waste to grow plants in water.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37instead of soil like other farms.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41We farm our fish in these containers and they release their poo into the
0:09:41 > 0:09:45water and this is a little bit of what it looks like.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Oh, yeah, I can see the white stuff, but how is that useful?
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Well, the water contains lots of nutrients, which the plants need to
0:09:52 > 0:09:56grow big and healthy and we take it up through that pipe,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- up to the plants above.- Brilliant!
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Would you like to see what the fish have been helping us grow
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- up in the greenhouse? - Absolutely, let's go.- Great.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08Wow.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14So, this is your greenhouse. Well, it's lovely and warm up here.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19That's right. We take the water from the fish tank downstairs and all the
0:10:19 > 0:10:22light and warmth is provided by the greenhouse.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26We've got lots of different things growing up here all year round.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Sam grows his plants upwards to save space.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32All these plants wouldn't fit in here if they were on the ground.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- So what do you have growing at the moment?- We've got babyleaf lettuce
0:10:36 > 0:10:40and some chives and we can fit almost 400 plants in this space.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- Wow, that's incredible.- Would you like to try some?- Of course.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49It's very fresh.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's got a nutty taste to it.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Great. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Well, thanks Sam. What a farm!
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- You're welcome, JB.- It's in the middle of a city,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02on a rooftop car park and everything grows with the help of fish.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Well, it's been brilliant learning about this farm,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10but now it's time to find out what else happens in spring time.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18In spring, it's time to get out and run about in the fresh air.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20And enjoy lovely walks outside.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Remember to always stay on paths when you're out for a walk
0:11:24 > 0:11:28to keep all the flowers and little animals safe this spring.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Be kind when you're out and about.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37This is Britain's favourite vegetable.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39The potato.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41At this farm in Berwickshire,
0:11:41 > 0:11:45they're getting ready to plant a new crop of potatoes.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48This is Kerr. He's going to show us what he does.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Today, we're going to plant seed potatoes like these ones.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56The best time to plant them is in the spring.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59We use some special machines to prepare the soil.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04The first machine ploughs the land and makes the ridges.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12The next tractor has a machine attached to it called a de-stoner.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17The de-stoner pulls up the earth from the ground
0:12:17 > 0:12:19and sifts out all the stones.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22The soil is thrown back onto the ground and the stones
0:12:22 > 0:12:24are dropped to the side.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30The seed potatoes are planted in the middle of these ridges,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32just beneath the soil.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34This will keep them warm and dry.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35Now the ground is ready,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39we need to plant the potatoes with our potato planter.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53The potato planter lifts up the top of the earth on the ridge and places
0:12:53 > 0:12:56the seed potatoes underneath.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Then, it drops the soil back on top
0:12:58 > 0:13:01to protect the newly-planted potatoes.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11These seed potatoes will take around five months to grow and we've got
0:13:11 > 0:13:15lots more to plant today, so we'd better carry on.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Maybe you could come back in the summer,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19when the potatoes are fully grown? Bye!
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Storm and I have had an excellent time down on the farm
0:13:28 > 0:13:30and we hope you've enjoyed it, too.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34If you want to have fun on your own farm, go to the CBeebies website
0:13:34 > 0:13:39to play the Down On Your Farm game. See you next time. Bye!
0:13:39 > 0:13:43# Come join us down on the farm today
0:13:43 > 0:13:47# Learn about nature along the way
0:13:47 > 0:13:50# From seeds to crops and fields to farms
0:13:50 > 0:13:52# So much to do down on the farm
0:13:52 > 0:13:54# Summer, autumn, winter, spring
0:13:54 > 0:13:56# Ploughing, planting, harvesting
0:13:56 > 0:14:01# With JB and Storm to lead the way
0:14:01 > 0:14:05# Come join us down on the farm today. #