Mon, 19 Dec 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and a warm welcome

-to Ffermio...

-..and to the Ffarmers pub,

-Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn...

-..where we're all celebrating

-Christmas.

-Indeed.

-There's more emphasis these days

-on buying locally at Christmas time.

-On this programme, we look at those

-who produce things at home.

-Not just food but presents too.

-That sounds nice.

-Once again this year...

-..a Christmas tune

-composed especially for Ffermio...

-..will be performed by a

-farmer's son from the Vale of Clwyd.

-Coming up, we'll be in Colwyn Bay

-meeting Lowri Wyn...

-..who keeps rare sheep.

-More than that, she makes

-something special from their wool.

-You'll also get the chance to see

-the photos you sent us of your dogs.

-As Christmas draws near, farmers

-across Wales are getting busier...

-..to ensure everyone

-has plenty of food.

-Turkey is still popular.

-Meinir went to a Pembrokeshire farm

-where they keep 500 of them.

-Here on Maesyderi farm, Boncath,

-the Vaughans are very busy...

-..preparing turkeys for

-local people's Christmas dinner.

-Believe you me,

-a 20lb turkey needs a lot of food!

-Maesyderi is a 200-acre farm.

-They milk 120 cattle

-and keep 30 pedigree Beltex sheep.

-There's a lot more work

-for the family in winter...

-..as they rear 500 turkeys.

-This is a proper family farm.

-Everyone pitches in.

-This gets you

-in the Christmas spirit!

-How long have you kept turkeys?

-They've been at Maesyderi

-for about 28 years.

-Mam and Dad decided they wanted

-to keep some after they got married.

-Mam-gu and Tad-cu had some

-and they said...

-.."If you're going to keep some,

-keep them all!"

-That's what happened.

-We order them in January and they

-come as day-old chicks in August.

-As they grow,

-they go out to a larger enclosure.

-It's three weeks until Christmas

-and they've come on very well.

-They're given rolled barley now

-to make their meat a lot whiter...

-..and the taste a lot nicer.

-Is that the secret?

-Yes, and a couple of secrets

-I won't tell you!

-I thought

-you were going to reveal all!

-Not this time. That's how we get

-the customers to return every year.

-The chicks come in August a day old.

-How much do they cost then?

-About 3 when they're a day old.

-It all depends on

-the different varieties or breeds.

-You have many breeds here.

-You have many breeds here.

-

-We have five breeds.

-Roly-polies, Plumpies...

-..T9s, T10s...

-..and the Grainmakers

-I think their name is.

-It's to ensure we have

-different weights for the customers.

-Some want 8lb turkeys,

-some want 28lb ones.

-If they're not large enough

-or they're getting too big...

-..we change the lighting

-in this building.

-If they're too small,

-we give them more light for longer.

-Why is that?

-They only eat when it's light.

-They don't eat if it's dark.

-You have to be organized, I'm sure.

-There's a lot of paperwork...

-..especially

-after the turkeys are slaughtered.

-You have to ensure

-there's a turkey for everyone...

-..and they get the size they want,

-or as close as possible.

-After slaughtering, they're weighed

-before they're put in the fridges.

-Then we sort them...

-..so a turkey is allocated

-to everyone who orders from us.

-You have to be organized.

-The farmyard can get full of cars...

-..with 20 people in the house

-wanting their turkeys!

-Glyn and Mair

-have farmed here for 28 years.

-They can do any work required.

-Mair does the milking

-in the morning and evening.

-I do the feeding, scraping

-and the mucking out.

-It's all done in the morning

-before breakfast.

-Then it's other work

-for the rest of the day.

-The turkeys are fed after breakfast.

-I'll then go around

-the Beltex sheep.

-You also work away from the farm.

-Yes, I'm a fireman

-with the fire brigade in Crymych.

-It'll be 20 years next year.

-I'm the crew manager at present.

-I enjoy it.

-It's completely different

-to farming.

-I've learned a lot

-and I enjoy it a lot.

-I think you're very lucky

-to have Mair!

-Definitely. She can do everything.

-There's no telling

-if I'm here or not.

-If the pager goes, I'm off.

-That's how it works.

-You're a farmer's daughter. You can

-do anything that needs doing.

-Yes, I was brought up

-on a dairy farm near Capel Iwan.

-I do most of the milking.

-I prefer milking

-to scraping or feeding.

-She prefers it

-to being on a tractor too!

-It's not easy to rear turkeys

-for Christmas.

-As well as all the work

-feeding them...

-..you need to be organized

-when taking all the orders...

-..ensuring no-one goes without

-their turkey on Christmas Day.

-It's a couple of weeks

-until Christmas.

-We have to watch them now.

-There's a lot of work

-keeping an eye on them...

-..making sure they're clean...

-..ready for the mad rush

-as I call it...

-..a couple of days before Christmas.

-Carys,

-you have some extra help this year!

-Yes! He'll be among the feathers

-by Christmas.

-We've been born among the feathers

-so he'll go in straightaway.

-It's a part of our life.

-It's how it's been for us

-and it'll be the same for him.

-How many regulations are involved?

-How many regulations are involved?

-

-Quite a lot.

-Like milk, it's food,

-so we have to be careful.

-We send in a form

-saying when we're plucking.

-We might have a spot-check

-or we might be lucky and see no-one.

-What happens on plucking day?

-A couple of us

-start at around 2.00am.

-We catch the turkeys,

-stun them and slaughter them.

-It's much easier

-to handle them in the dark.

-You don't anger them.

-We do around 170-200 in a day.

-How much per pound do you charge?

-How much per pound do you charge?

-

-Around 3.50 per pound.

-For a 20lb turkey, it's around 65.

-It's a good sign

-that you have returning customers.

-It is. We're lucky that local people

-support us very well.

-If you want fresh turkey,

-come to Maesyderi this year!

-They're not expensive

-and I can guarantee they're tasty!

-You obviously enjoy farming turkeys.

-I do.

-I'm very glad that Mam and Dad let

-us take such a role in the business.

-They take our comments on board.

-If we want to change something,

-they're ready to try it.

-So I do enjoy doing it.

-It's a way for me to farm

-without farming full-time...

-..because I usually work in the

-office, so it keeps me on the farm.

-It makes Christmas.

-Yes, it isn't Christmas here

-without turkey.

-We're in the Ffarmers pub

-in the depths of Ceredigion.

-The place has been transformed

-by the owners...

-..Rhodri Edwards

-and Esther Prytherch.

-Today, the chef is their son, Harri.

-Harri, tell me, does Christmas

-challenge you as a restaurant?

-You'd think it would, but because

-the menu doesn't change...

-..almost everyone wants turkey...

-..we can just send the orders out.

-It's also

-quite an exciting time of year.

-That keeps us going too.

-We have a break in January

-so it's something to aim for!

-Yes!

-I'm sure

-you've seen the development...

-..of the idea of local food.

-That's part of your culture here.

-It is, actually.

-It's a lot easier than you'd think.

-There are so many good ingredients

-in the area.

-Rob Rattray is nearby.

-He provides our meat.

-The fish comes from Cardigan Bay

-and Pembrokeshire.

-If you went through the menu,

-a lot of it is local.

-Hunts take place

-the other side of the valley.

-We get meat from there

-this time of the year.

-I see.

-What's the response like?

-Do people appreciate the fact

-you provide food sourced locally?

-Yes.

-We're a bit out of the way.

-People are willing to drive here

-because they know the food is local.

-If it costs an extra 50p,

-people are prepared to pay.

-It's nice, as there's no village

-hall and the chapel's shut...

-..we're like the local town hall.

-That's another reason...

-..why the Ffarmers

-is in Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn.

-What about Christmas Day?

-Where will you be spending it?

-Will you be working?

-We're opening on Christmas morning.

-A drink for the locals -

-it's a tradition.

-Then we're going to Cardiff

-to see family.

-Excellent. Merry Christmas to you.

-Thank you for the food

-when it comes.

-We love coming here to the depths

-of Ceredigion to Y Ffarmers.

-Merry Christmas.

-While we're enjoying the tasty food,

-a chance for you to have a break.

-Before that, a few weeks ago...

-..I asked you

-to send in photos of your dogs.

-Thank you for the response.

-Here are some of them.

-If you want to see more,

-visit our Facebook page.

-Enjoy!

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-Welcome back to Y Ffarmers pub

-in Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn.

-We've already been in amongst

-the turkeys in Pembrokeshire.

-We've also spoken about the

-importance of buying locally.

-What about Christmas presents?

-Daloni has been

-to meet Lowri Wyn...

-..who has a different use

-for her wool.

-Llwyn Elian is a sheep farm

-in Llanelian near Colwyn Bay.

-They keep 400 commercial sheep.

-When their daughter, Lowri Wyn,

-returned home from travelling...

-..she bought a flock of rare

-pedigree sheep for a unique reason.

-Were you born and raised here?

-Yes, in Llanelian.

-Where is Llanelian? We can

-see the sea in the background.

-It's between Colwyn Bay,

-that's down by the sea.

-Behind us you can see the mountains

-where Betws Yn Rhos and Dolwen are.

-You farm here.

-Yes, we have

-around 400 sheep in all.

-You have your own special flock.

-I've got slightly different sheep

-to the ones Dad and Taid have.

-My sheep are

-Devon and Cornwall Longwool.

-I've got eight sheep, a ram

-and a few lambs from last year.

-You bought them yourself?

-I bought them myself

-because I was interested in them.

-I take them out

-and exhibit them at shows.

-Only small shows.

-You were raised here

-but you've been away.

-Yes, I went travelling for a few

-months in New Zealand and Australia.

-I came back and wanted to start

-something myself.

-I started making jewellery

-from home.

-I started doing it

-in my brother's old bedroom.

-Is there a connection between

-your beautiful sheep...

-..and what you produce

-in your studio?

-I use the wool.

-We shear the sheep and the lambs.

-Lamb wool is very valuable.

-I take the wool

-down to a shop in Colwyn Bay.

-A lady down there

-weaves and colours it for me.

-I use that wool

-in some of my pieces.

-That's original.

-Yes, it's a bit different.

-Yes,

-but I wanted something original...

-..so people think and remember

-"Oh, the woman who does the wool."

-They are very friendly sheep.

-Their sheared wool

-can weigh up to 9kg.

-At its longest,

-their wool is around 25cm long.

-Here's the ram.

-Isn't he lovely!

-Look at this wool.

-It's long, thick and curly.

-It's wonderful.

-He's quite a sight, Lowri.

-He's quite a sight, Lowri.

-

-He does like a bit of attention.

-How old is he?

-He's three or four. Four, I think.

-You'll get a lot of wool

-from shearing him.

-Yes indeed.

-Look at how nice it is.

-If Santa Claus is listening...

-..please, please my I have one

-like Ted for Christmas?

-I haven't seen a ram like

-this one for a long while.

-They are different.

-You've pampered him.

-He is quite tame.

-He's been spoilt.

-He'll be here forever.

-I don't think Mam

-will let me sell Ted.

-I don't think I could anyway.

-Ted! You're special.

-What's amazing is that you use the

-wool for such an original purpose.

-There's a lot of wool

-and I don't need much.

-I thought about making

-the most of what I've got.

-I'm sure the shearers

-enjoy themselves.

-Yes, I have to get a few friends

-round on those days.

-You'd need two or three strong

-shearers for this coat.

-Right, do you want

-to come home to Lleyn?

-Chrissy Smith

-at the Lost Sheep in Colwyn Bay...

-..is a master of spindling

-all kinds of wool.

-That includes Lowri's wool.

-After designing and crafting at

-home...

-..Lowri moved to Conwy high street.

-This year, she won Conwy's prize

-for best new business.

-This is where the jewellery is made.

-This is where I make

-all the jewellery.

-I do the selling here too.

-How do you go about your work?

-I buy the silver in a sheet or wire.

-I then go about cutting it

-then filing and soldering.

-I have to do a lot of cleaning

-with sand paper.

-I then get the fine files out.

-That's followed by polishing

-and then adding the wool at the end.

-There's also personalisation

-if someone wants a name on it.

-You make all kinds of items.

-I make necklaces,

-bracelets, earrings, studs...

-..and I take commissioned work.

-I'll do that if a customer wants

-something that's unique to them.

-I try to work with the customer

-to make something different.

-If someone wants a particular colour

-of wool, is that possible?

-Yes, a bride came wanting

-to match her bridesmaids' dresses.

-I went back to the lady in

-Colwyn Bay and tried to match it...

-..so we could make necklaces

-for her as thank you presents.

-You make each piece individually.

-Yes, every one is hand made and none

-of them are exactly the same.

-They are all unique.

-Wyn jewellery accepts commissions

-from all over the world.

-She's made cuff links

-for George North...

-..and a bracelet for his girl

-friend, Olympic cyclist Becky James.

-It's been a successful year.

-The busy period before Christmas

-proves that wool, vision...

-..and jewellery

-are a successful combination.

-This is my second Christmas

-at the Wyn Jewellery store.

-It's been very busy.

-I've had a lot of requests

-over the web and on the high street.

-Conwy is such a busy place.

-We've got

-a lot of unique shops here.

-Most of the shops are open

-right up until Christmas Eve.

-I'm sure I'll be very busy

-up until then.

-From where do you get your ideas

-and inspiration?

-Just from the countryside.

-I've grown up on a farm.

-I think that shows in the jewellery.

-There's nothing like it.

-Nobody makes jewellery

-with this wool.

-That's how I wanted to

-attract customers.

-It's quite different.

-From wool to song.

-We've got a special song

-for Christmas again this year.

-This one is written and performed

-by Steffan Rhys Hughes...

-..who grew up on a farm in

-Llangwyfan in the Clwyd valley.

-He won the Bryn Terfel Scholarship

-this year.

-He's also just been announced

-as Only Men Aloud's newest member.

-Quite a year for him.

-The song is called

-Gwyrth yn y Gwair.

-In addition to celebrating

-the miracle of birth...

-..it's a chance to look back on

-the year, the highs and the lows.

-It's a chance to remember that while

-we have the miracle of birth...

-..be that a person or an animal,

-there's hope for us all.

-Even though I live in Cardiff,

-I'm from Llangwyfan.

-There's plenty of inspiration

-on the farm.

-I enjoy going around the land

-with Taid and Dad and the family.

-I am inspired by being home.

-I'm looking to singing in a number

-of concerts over Christmas.

-I'll be singing both here

-and at home.

-I'll head home to relax

-over the holidays then.

-I'm looking forward to the projects

-on the horizon in 2017.

-Christmas is almost upon us.

-2016 is about to draw to a close.

-We've had an excellent year

-travelling all over Wales.

-We've met some interesting

-characters.

-Thank you all for your company,

-support and your welcome.

-Indeed, this year has been

-a year of events and changes.

-Assembly elections, Trump elected

-in the US and Brexit of course.

-Plenty of questions to answer

-in the new year.

-In the new year, we'll be back

-on the 9th of January...

-..to celebrate Ffermio's

-20th birthday.

-A chance to look back

-at a few items...

-..and some highlights

-from the recent past.

-We leave you with the sounds

-of a Christmas song...

-..composed especially for Ffermio

-by Steffan Rhys Hughes.

-Merry Christmas to you all.

-Merry Christmas!

-# When the nights are long

-# And the world weighs you down

-# Remember the little baby

-and his crib in an old stable

-# He came to the world as a gift

-in his mother's arms

-# He gave his life for us

-# Nobody asked why

-# A miracle in the hay, it's a baby

-# Jesus, son of Mary,

-he was proclaimed

-# As the hope for us all

-# For all of the world's children

-# There's a miracle in the hay

-# Despite all the obstacles

-on our road

-# Despite all the pain

-and the tears shed

-# Remember the sun always rises

-# After every long year

-# A miracle in the hay, it's a baby

-# Jesus, son of Mary,

-he was proclaimed

-# As the hope for us all #

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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