If you haven't watched it, it's worth checking out. You know, assuming you like Clarkson's standard buffoonery. Which I admit I do. Okay, there's a touch more to it than just that.
_____________________________________________________ Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911.
Actually nicely done, so far. The wildlife shots for the wilding episode are quite enjoyable.
_________________________ NRA Endowment Member _________________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
Posts: 5699 | Location: District 12 | Registered: June 16, 2012
I’ve enjoyed the episodes I’ve watched. While of course a show created for entertainment purposes, I like learning more about what farmers actually need to do in order to run a farm. (Need to find a ‘real’ farming documentary to watch). I also would like to share a few pints at the local pub with the young guy that’s helping him out - seems like a true ‘salt of the earth’ kid.
Originally posted by D-Man: I’ve enjoyed the episodes I’ve watched. While of course a show created for entertainment purposes, I like learning more about what farmers actually need to do in order to run a farm. (Need to find a ‘real’ farming documentary to watch). I also would like to share a few pints at the local pub with the young guy that’s helping him out - seems like a true ‘salt of the earth’ kid.
We just finished watching it last night and enjoyed it immensely. I wish there were more episodes quite honestly. I think the show was well made, interesting and entertaining. I also think it painted farmers in a wonderful light. I really think it was a well done production.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Posts: 5671 | Location: Upstate NY | Registered: February 28, 2002
Watched the first episode last night when I couldn't sleep. It was good enough that it failed to put to me to sleep (as intended). As a result I'll keep watching.
Kaleb seems destined to be a great foil.
When you think about it, as much as we like all three of them playing off each other, May's and Hammond's independent projects work, too.
Harshest Dream, Reality
Posts: 3690 | Location: W. Central NH | Registered: October 05, 2008
Originally posted by Lt CHEG: We just finished watching it last night and enjoyed it immensely. I wish there were more episodes quite honestly. I think the show was well made, interesting and entertaining. I also think it painted farmers in a wonderful light. I really think it was a well done production.
This show is a really good vehicle to show what farm life is like and what goes into it; something sub-urbanites would be best served to watch. Take a known celebrity (and his hot gf), his quick wit and in-character persona, who willfully attempts to do farm work for an entire year. Clearly they've cut out a lot of things but, the overall gist of it all is farm work is tough and financially unstable, there's a reason most people don't do it, and it takes a unique individual to stick-it through.
Kaleb becoming a celebrity
While here in the US we have farm shops, it appears that some of these farm shops in the UK are taken to another level. Rivaling a Whole Foods or, some other boutique grocer, with the added benefit of truly being a local/on-site producer.
Posts: 15180 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000
I'm really digging it, as the first generation of my family that wasn't raised on a farm. I still spent summers working the various family spreads. My bane was hogs, as opposed to sheep.
Not to take anything away from it, but it's pretty clear that he isn't dependent on how well his farm does, versus farmers whose entire livelihood depends on their yields. None the less it's really entertaining.
Originally posted by kidcop: I'm really digging it, as the first generation of my family that wasn't raised on a farm. I still spent summers working the various family spreads. My bane was hogs, as opposed to sheep.
Not to take anything away from it, but it's pretty clear that he isn't dependent on how well his farm does, versus farmers whose entire livelihood depends on their yields. None the less it's really entertaining.
My dad says he was the first generation of our family that had not picked cotton "for a living" He did have to work on the family farm as a kid though. I have never lived on a farm, but my mothers side were farmers in central illinois and my Dads side where cotton farmers in North Carolina and then Georgia. I am loving the show and how it shows the honest difficulty of farm life. I loved the conversations in the first episode "your tractor is too big" I can hear my uncle say stuff like that. I would love to sit in the bar with the farmers in the area and hear them tell stories of the [insert derogatory term for rich english guy] who thought money was the solution to having a good farm. I am loving the show.
This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it. -Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Joshua Painter Played by Senator Fred Thompson
Posts: 3692 | Location: Central Virginia | Registered: November 06, 2006
My wife's family on her mother's side were (some still are) farmers in Illinois. She and I really dig the backhand appreciation of the difficulty and uncertainty of farming, even with today's technology.
Love Kaleb--after demonstrating his in-depth knowledge of farming in general, farm machinery, and Clarkson's farm in particular (knows by memory every sub-section by name), we find out he's 21.
Now watching episode 2: YOU BASTARD!!
Clarkson has to do everything his own way. Couldn't just get a sheep dog, oh no.
_________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
Posts: 18616 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004
Originally posted by kidcop: Not to take anything away from it, but it's pretty clear that he isn't dependent on how well his farm does, versus farmers whose entire livelihood depends on their yields. None the less it's really entertaining.
It comes full-circle in the season finale where he finds out what his harvest is worth, the volatility of the market and the conditions that affect it all. There's moments throughout the show where he has to pause and weigh the financial ramifications of his decisions, the government regulations that govern a lot, and the impact of these to the common farmer. To say he was humbled and/or, enlightened at the end of the show, I think is an understatement.
Everyone's favorite, Gerald!
Posts: 15180 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000
That's the one thing that's always amazed and confused me about the one farm family I've known my whole life. The fact that it takes, and that they have/have had many many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars worth of equipment, just to barely scratch out a living and basically live in poverty.
_____________________________________________________ Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911.
). Laugh my ass off on the electric fence. 
