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Rushmore
2025-08-23 10:38:41
I am not finished watching this series yet, but I thought there might be people out there who would appreciate a better idea of what to expect before investing their time and money.This team of two male archaeologists and a female historian have done several similar projects, where they recreate a period homestead using resources that would have been available at the time. This is the first series that has been released on DVD in the U.S. The Edwardian farm is in the village of Morwellham Quay in Devon, on the banks of the River Tamar. Following traditional roles, the men (Alex and Peter) busy themselves in the fields, while the woman (Ruth) occupies herself turning the house into a home (mostly - there is a bit of overlap, usually pretty amusing). It is a documentary with voice-over narration, and it's fascinating.It's particularly satisfying that they bring in locals who are experts on some of these centuries-old processes - repairing a hedgerow, building a fish hatchery, producing quicklime, mining copper and tin, celebrating an authentic Edwardian Halloween, forging farm implements. In March they bring in a Tennessee horse trainer to help out with their new Dartmoor pony. It's fun and awe-inspiring at the same time.Ruth's resources are mostly books from the period, cookbooks and how-to books. She makes a rag rug, cooks sheeps head stew, uses all-natural cleaning products, and in truly heroic fashion, restores the privy.The trio (often accompanied by Ruth's daughter Eve) spend a calendar year at the farm, beginning in September. Each month is an hour-long episode. The set contains 4 discs, each one corresponding to a season beginning with autumn.I will update the review as I continue watching. At this point I'm completely hooked, so it shouldn't be too long. This is a glimpse into history with obvious effort taken to maintain authenticity. The dynamic between Peter, Alex and Ruth is easygoing and somewhat familial. It's really enjoyable, highly recommended.Update 8/19/13 - I have now finished watching this series. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will watch it again. Incidents in the Edwardian year keep occurring to me - I have mentioned this CD several times in the course of conversation and will be sharing it with family and friends.I particularly appreciate the willingness of Peter, Alex and Ruth to immerse themselves completely in the period. Perhaps when the cameras were turned off, they may have taken shortcuts or used modern technology, but there is no doubt in my mind that they were committed to experiencing life as the Edwardians did (and as Ruth points out, it was often a hard life). I would love it if some of their other ventures (World War I Farm, Victorian Farm) were made available in the US.
A_Plain_Janeite
2025-07-15 13:49:19
First off, this is not the first "Farm" series the BBC has done with these 3 historians. This is actually the 3'd in a whole unique series!If you're interested in going in order, I urge you to check out "Tales From The Green Valley" (set in the 1620's), *& mini companion "A Tudor Feast" (1500/1600 at Haddon Hall), Victorian Farm *& supplementary companion: Victorian Pharmacy starring Ruth Goodman*. There is also 2 more series after "Edwardian Farm". "Wartime Farm" (WWII era), "Tudor Monastery Farm" (w/ Ruth, Peter, and Tom *who replaces Alex*).**EDIT Nov. '14: If you enjoyed the first, and last of the "Farm" series, you might also like the BBC's latest historical docu-reality series: "Secrets of the Castle" (w/ Ruth, Peter, and Tom). A 5 episode series (spanning 6 months). Set in France at Guédelon Castle, an ongoing 25 year project is still underway with many expert archaeologists and builders recreating an authentic 13th century castle fortification.**My hats off to the BBC for creating such a fascinating, and informative historical reality series!Truthfully there's hardly anything to compare it to in the US. PBS has aired 3 (US filmed) series of this genre a few years back from three different periods: "Colonial House" (1620's), "Frontier House" (1880's), and "Texas Ranch House" (late 1860's). While good in themselves, I've much preferred ones produced by the BBC.The farm series takes you a whole year into every aspect of farm life at the time. Utilizing modern technology/tools along the way. They have various extra historians, and experts of certain fields as guests too. You learn so much about a person's daily of the era, that it's as if you're transported back in time! There's animal husbandry, gardening, homemade remedies, recipes; even the origin of certain sayings, and other educational tidbits! The historians are super informative, and I applaud them for taking such time and effort to really learn all aspects of the time period they're delving into.In conclusion, if you love history, and wonder what it was really like to live in the past-- I highly recommend this documentary miniseries, and again, all the rest that I mentioned above!
N.C. senior
2025-07-06 21:55:57
An interesting record of the resourcefulness of Edwardian era rural life, well presented by three professional historians. Disappointing in that it does not have subtitles which would make the accents of the locals understandable. Nor does it show the details of family life as in the "House" series since the principals are not a family unit and apparently do not live exclusively in their Edwardian roles. Twelve episodes follow the monthly routine of farm life of the era, as well as other trades and occupations of the times, many which have long been obsolete. I was particularly interested to see the process of lime-making. One of my own Pennsylvania ancestors appears as "limeburner" in the 1850 census and I had not previously understood the level of skill associated with that trade. The principals undertake their assignments with impressive cheerfulness - in fact I began to find Ruth Goodman's cackle irritating. Though interesting it is not a series I feel tempted to watch over and over again.
Poetkitty
2025-05-21 14:32:04
I already have Victorian Farm and Victorian Farm Christmas, so I knew what to expect from this. I've only watched a part of this so far but it's absolutely enthralling! The team has found a new farm on a canal in a different area - so a new cottage to set up, new farm stock to acquire, new planting issues, a new life, a new time, different preoccupations and challenges! It's wonderful! The trio are enthusiastic and such good sports with the backbreaking labour, and the people that are the local experts are fantastic too! So wonderful that the old ways and knowledge are being preserved! This is excellent family viewing and especially so for us comfortable suburban dwellers with all our conveniences! You can't help but be impressed at the innovation and hard work of our ancestors! I also find that fairly recent history more accessible than ancient history. I can imagine my not so distant relatives living similar lives.
Araluen
2025-04-07 12:53:56
This series is a fascinating glimpse into English farm life during the Edwardian Period. Ruth, Tom, and Alex run this farm as the people of the time would for one full year. You share their triumphs and losses in their crops, and learn much about crafts done by hand or machinery at that time. This has spurred further questions and research for me, so this was, and still is, an enriching experience. The countryside is breath-taking, and it was noteworthy and heartwarming to see how important supportive neighbours and farmers were to each other. A tough life, but more real and less superficial than ours today.
Christine Murphy
2025-03-01 18:50:02
This series is fantastic as are Peter, Alex and Ruth. So much to learn and so much shown to make us realize how blessed we are daily with the world we live in now if we only will preserve what we have now!Great for anyone who enjoys learning about period history. The REAL history not royal or political or religious. Day to day living. I have already watched the whole series twice and every time I learn more.
rogue
2024-12-18 19:14:48
love this period of time
Mikey
2024-12-11 10:01:25
Born in '47 I didn't get to see many of these farm processes and procedures. My parents did. The tractor, combine, bailer, milking machine, etc. Everything was already mechanized when I did some work on the farm. This video is a great teaching tool to show my grand kids, how it was done back then. I watched "Victorian Farm", then "War Farm" but this is the best. Well done, can watch it over and over.
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