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 fields and barns
0:00:13 > 0:00:15# So much to do down on a 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. #
0:00:29 > 0:00:31COCKEREL CROWS
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Hi, I'm JB and welcome to Down On The Farm.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37In summer farmers get some help from insects
0:00:37 > 0:00:39which help plants and crops to grow.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43While I help out, too, let's see what Storm is up to.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46SHEEP BLEAT
0:00:46 > 0:00:48CHICKENS CLUCK
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Back in spring I visited Farmer Francis, Abby and Millie
0:00:55 > 0:00:56on a lavender farm.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00The lavender hadn't started flowering in the fields yet
0:01:00 > 0:01:04so I've come back in summer to see how it's growing.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07- Hi, guys! BOTH:- Hi, Storm!
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Now, the field is looking so colourful.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14- Is all this lavender ready to be harvested?- Not quite, Storm.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17The flowers will continue growing till the end of summer,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21then I'll come in with my tractor and harvest it.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24But now we can cut some by hand. Would you like to come and help?
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Great, let's go.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31How do we know when the plants are ready to be harvested?
0:01:31 > 0:01:34There's a rhyme and it goes like this.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35One flower open.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39- One flower over. - And one yet to come.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Let's get harvesting, guys.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48It's going to take a long time to pick the field like this, isn't it?
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- This one's big.- That one's huge!
0:01:52 > 0:01:56- I'm going to pick that one. - Going to pick that one?
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Another way to tell if the lavender is ready is to rub it between
0:02:00 > 0:02:02your fingers and smell.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Do you want to rub it between your fingers and smell?
0:02:07 > 0:02:08Oh, it smells lovely.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Farmer Francis, I think it smells absolutely delicious.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15I wish we could bottle it.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19We do bottle the smell of lavender when we make essential oil.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21What's essential oil?
0:02:21 > 0:02:25This is the oil that we take out the plant that smells like the flowers.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29- Do you think we might be able to make some today?- Of course we can.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37The essential oil is made in a machine called a still.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41First we put in some water, then the lavender flowers.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45- Think we'll be able to fill this up? - Yes.- Pushed them in.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Right, now that's ready for us to put the still together.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Now Farmer Francis needs to light the burner to heat up the water
0:02:58 > 0:03:01in the still and turn it into steam.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The steam will rise up through the lavender flowers, picking up
0:03:05 > 0:03:08the smell and the oil.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11As the steam cools, the oil is separated out
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and ends up in this glass.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16It can be used in soap and candles
0:03:16 > 0:03:19or it's good for insect bites and burns.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Now we've collected the oil, what's the next step?
0:03:23 > 0:03:25This oil is not ready to be bottled.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27But I have some in the garden that is.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31What do we need to do first?
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- First of all, we need to fill the bottles.- OK.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- There's a lid.- Thank you.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43While we finish getting these ready for the shop,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47why don't you find out what else happens in summer?
0:03:51 > 0:03:56Wild-flower meadows are wonderful places to visit in summer.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Usually grown to make hay, and for farm animals to graze on.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05The long grasses and bright, sweet-smelling flowers also attract
0:04:05 > 0:04:07all sorts of wildlife.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12This shire roe deer has come to nibble buttercups.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16It feels safe amongst the long grass.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Rare birds like skylarks and lapwings can find
0:04:19 > 0:04:22plenty of spiders and insects to eat here.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29Butterflies, bees and hoverflies come to summer meadows to feed,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33as many wild flowers are especially rich in nectar and pollen.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39But meadows are much harder to find now as most farmers use
0:04:39 > 0:04:42their land in different ways.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45It is difficult for bees to survive without them
0:04:45 > 0:04:49so some farmers are letting grasses and wild flowers
0:04:49 > 0:04:51grow on their land again.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Often at the edges of fields.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57While in towns and cities wild flower meadows are being
0:04:57 > 0:05:01planted in gardens, parks and verges.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05This helps nature and can brighten up our summers, too.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Do you know what these funny-looking things are called?
0:05:14 > 0:05:15They're scarecrows.
0:05:16 > 0:05:22In Herefordshire they have a whole festival about them every summer.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25But what are scarecrows used for?
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Scarecrows stand in fields and gardens.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32They look a bit like people.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36They flap and wave in the wind to scare the birds away and
0:05:36 > 0:05:39stop them eating the farmer's crops.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Scarecrows have been used in fields for a long time.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47But nowadays some farmers use different things.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Not all of them keep the birds away by looking scary.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Some make a loud noise instead.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55BANG!
0:05:55 > 0:05:59These are called bangers because they make a "bang" sound.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07This is Robert, who helps organise the scarecrow festival.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Lots of people have built scarecrows.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12They're on display all over town.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Amelie and Brynlee are off to find some.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19- Wow! Do you know who he is? - God of Thunder.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- What's that, Amelie, up there? - The sun.- The sun.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Can you guess the theme yet?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28This scarecrow's a weatherman.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31He has curly hair and glasses.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33The theme this year is...
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- BOTH:- Weather!
0:06:35 > 0:06:39As part of the festival people have a go at building a
0:06:39 > 0:06:40scarecrow themselves.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45This is our scarecrow's hat.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Lots of people are busy making scarecrows with straw and string.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00A scarecrow is just one name for these straw people.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Do you know any more?
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- In Somerset scarecrows are called... - Murmet.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09People in England called them...
0:07:09 > 0:07:14The Scottish name for scarecrow is tattie bogle.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Time's up. And just look at these amazing scarecrows.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20This one's a mermaid.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23This is Scarecrow Bob.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Super scarecrow!
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- ALL:- Why don't you build a scarecrow, too?
0:07:35 > 0:07:36GOAT BLEATS
0:07:36 > 0:07:40First we find the perfect spot
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Not too breezy, not too hot
0:07:45 > 0:07:52We spread the blanket and open up a picnic basket packed to the top
0:07:53 > 0:07:56There's sandwiches and apples crisp
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Delicious drinks for us to sip
0:08:00 > 0:08:03The strawberries, they taste so sweet
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The loveliest you could ever eat
0:08:08 > 0:08:11The buzzing flies, they think so, too
0:08:11 > 0:08:14"Buzz off," we say, "Go on, just shoo!"
0:08:15 > 0:08:18And cheeky birds with rumbling tums
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Are hoping that we leave some crumbs.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24PIGS SNORT
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Today I'm in Lancashire to meet Izzy, Ollie and their dad, Ian.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32They have lots of animals on their farm and I've come to meet
0:08:32 > 0:08:34one of my favourites, the pigs!
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- Hi, everyone.- Hi!- Hi, JB.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48JB, these are our pigs and they're Oxford Sandy and Blacks.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51- Do they like being out here in the summer?- Yes.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53They love being outside in the summer, JB.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57When it's hot they need lots of wet, cold mud to roll in.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00I can see there's lots of mud in there.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02It's so muddy, we'll have to prepare
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- a new sty for a female pig and her piglets.- Can I help?
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Yeah, absolutely. Come on.- Cool.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17The first job we need to do, JB,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20is dig a big hole in the ground, called a wallow.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28It's hard work digging all this mud.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Next, we have to add some water.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43The water makes the ground muddy, like a big mud bath.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48The pigs love digging, so over time that'll make the wallow even bigger.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Pigs like mud because it helps to keep their bodies cool
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and protects their skin from sunburn.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57A bit like the sun cream that we wear.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00And now we need a place for the pigs to shelter.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05This is a pig ark, JB. It's where the pigs shade from the sun.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- Shall we get it ready?- Yes.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14We put lots of straw into the pig ark so it is comfy for the pigs
0:10:14 > 0:10:15to lie down in.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24The pigs need lots of water to drink, too.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27We've dug the wallow and prepared the ark.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We've made sure the pigs have lots of clean water.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32- Shall we let them in? - OTHERS:- Yeah!
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Wow, she really likes that, doesn't she?
0:10:41 > 0:10:44And the piglets going in, as well.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- Look at that.- Have you seen that one there? Look.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53She's really enjoying that.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59While the pigs enjoy their new wallow, why don't you find out
0:10:59 > 0:11:01how to look after ducks in summer?
0:11:05 > 0:11:07SHEEP BLEAT
0:11:07 > 0:11:10In summer you may see ducks when you're out.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14It's fun to feed them but we have to look after them, too.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Bread fills them up, so there's no room for the healthy food
0:11:18 > 0:11:20they need to make them strong.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24One of their favourite things to eat is peas.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Enjoy being out and about.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32SHEEP BLEAT
0:11:32 > 0:11:35This is Farmer Edward.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39On his farm in Somerset he grows blackcurrants, which are made
0:11:39 > 0:11:40into blackcurrant juice.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43When the berries are perfectly ripe
0:11:43 > 0:11:45they will fall easily from the bushes.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48This enables us to pick them with a large machine.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51This is called mechanical harvesting.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57As the harvester drives along each row, it shakes the currants
0:11:57 > 0:11:59off the bushes.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05The currants are moved to the back of the harvester on a conveyor belt,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07where the leaves are removed.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15The right blackcurrants are collected in these big green tubs
0:12:15 > 0:12:19where any leaves and sticks that the machine has missed
0:12:19 > 0:12:21are picked out by hand.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25When the tubs are full, we have to get them to the factory quickly
0:12:25 > 0:12:28while the blackcurrants are still fresh.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34At the factory a forklift truck picks up each tub.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40The blackcurrants are tipped into a container called a hopper,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43one tub at a time.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46The juicy blackcurrants are moved through a mill.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49The machine that turns the blackcurrants into juice
0:12:49 > 0:12:51is called a press.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59This squashes and squeezes all the currants together
0:12:59 > 0:13:02and the juice is collected in big tanks.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09The leftover mix of seeds and skins is called pomace.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13This is not wasted - it's used to make lots of products,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16like natural food colours.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19The blackcurrant juice is used to make lots of tasty drinks
0:13:19 > 0:13:21and juices like this one.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Delicious!
0:13:27 > 0:13:29SHEEP BLEAT
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Storm and I had an excellent time today.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35If you want to have fun with your own farm,
0:13:35 > 0:13:36go to the CBeebies website
0:13:36 > 0:13:38to play the Down On The Farm game.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40See you next time. Bye!
0:13:40 > 0:13:44# Come join us down on the farm today
0:13:44 > 0:13:48# Learn about nature along the way
0:13:48 > 0:13:51# From seeds to crops and fields and barns
0:13:51 > 0:13:53# So much to do down on a farm
0:13:53 > 0:13:55# Summer, autumn, winter, spring
0:13:55 > 0:13:58# Ploughing, planting, harvesting
0:13:58 > 0:14:02# With JB and Storm to lead the way
0:14:02 > 0:14:07# Come join us down on the farm today. #