Edwardian Farm: 1x1

September

In September they begin with the basics. They set up home in one of the cottages, where the first task – after cleaning – is unblocking the chimney so they can get the range working in order to cook.

They prepare for the arrival of their first livestock – a flock of sheep and a ram called Cyril, and Ruth cheers up the cottage by making a rug out of rags. And she cooks her first meal on the range – a sheep’s head stew. Alex builds a hay rick to store feed for the animals over winter; while Peter heads to Bodmin moor to carve a stone feeding trough.

And they must plant crops. The high acidity of the soil makes it infertile for growing crops, so the top priority is neutralising the acid with fertilizer – and for this they must make deadly quicklime. They will need literally tonnes of the stuff. It is a hazardous and gruelling – but essential – job.