1 00:00:03,807 --> 00:00:05,763 The great British countryside. 2 00:00:07,287 --> 00:00:10,677 The setting for one of the most pivotaI battIes of the Second WorId War. 3 00:00:12,047 --> 00:00:14,766 ChurchiII caIIed it the ''frontIine of freedom''. 4 00:00:17,647 --> 00:00:20,320 It was a battIe fought by the farmers of Britain. 5 00:00:22,847 --> 00:00:26,556 When war broke out two-thirds of aII Britain's food was imported. 6 00:00:28,567 --> 00:00:31,604 Now it feII under threat from a Nazi bIockade. 7 00:00:32,607 --> 00:00:36,725 The government turned to farmers to doubIe home-grown food production. 8 00:00:37,407 --> 00:00:40,638 If they faiIed Britain couId be starved into surrender. 9 00:00:41,287 --> 00:00:44,324 The war started on day one tor farmers. 10 00:00:44,367 --> 00:00:49,316 They were told, ''You have to turn this land into a tood-producing nation again.'' 11 00:00:54,007 --> 00:00:55,918 Now historian Ruth Goodman, 12 00:00:55,967 --> 00:00:59,084 and archaeoIogists AIex LangIands and Peter Ginn 13 00:00:59,127 --> 00:01:02,039 are turning the cIock back to the 1 940s. 14 00:01:04,167 --> 00:01:07,364 Over the next year they'II work Manor Farm in Hampshire, 15 00:01:07,407 --> 00:01:10,205 as it wouId have been during the Second WorId War. 16 00:01:11,207 --> 00:01:12,276 mAN: morning. 17 00:01:16,167 --> 00:01:19,000 This time they face the conditions of 1 940... 18 00:01:19,967 --> 00:01:23,198 ..when Nazi bombers brought death and destruction to Britain. 19 00:01:27,247 --> 00:01:29,920 The team must deaI with rationing... 20 00:01:29,967 --> 00:01:32,356 That, in total, is your tat ration. 21 00:01:32,407 --> 00:01:35,683 That's particularly hard to make last the week. 22 00:01:36,607 --> 00:01:38,677 ..make use of every Iast resource... 23 00:01:38,887 --> 00:01:42,766 This was an experiment. l can see why people hadn't picked it betore. 24 00:01:43,007 --> 00:01:46,124 ..and confront temptation round every corner... 25 00:01:46,167 --> 00:01:49,284 - You're well on your way to becoming... BOTH: A black marketeer. 26 00:01:51,247 --> 00:01:54,000 ..as the race begins to beat the shortages... 27 00:01:54,047 --> 00:01:55,196 Ooh! Whoa! 28 00:01:55,247 --> 00:01:57,238 ..on the Wartime Farm. 29 00:02:01,727 --> 00:02:03,718 (Air-raid siren) 30 00:02:15,247 --> 00:02:16,885 (Bicycle bell) 31 00:02:16,927 --> 00:02:21,079 In 1 940, German bombers were targeting Britain's docks. 32 00:02:23,887 --> 00:02:26,355 Destroying food imports by sea and by air. 33 00:02:30,447 --> 00:02:35,043 Britain's farmers were ordered to pIough up an extra two miIIion acres of Iand. 34 00:02:35,647 --> 00:02:38,445 But with so many fieIds growing food for peopIe, 35 00:02:38,487 --> 00:02:41,559 there weren't enough to grow food for animaIs as weII. 36 00:02:44,047 --> 00:02:46,038 - (Groans and exhales) ALEX: Oh. 37 00:02:48,447 --> 00:02:50,597 - (Grunts) - Oh, nearly. 38 00:02:51,167 --> 00:02:52,998 Cows are getting hungry. 39 00:02:53,047 --> 00:02:54,639 Hallelujah! 40 00:02:54,687 --> 00:02:57,485 lt you hit the lever and get these belts running... 41 00:02:57,527 --> 00:03:01,122 AIex and Peter are preparing feed for their Iivestock. 42 00:03:03,887 --> 00:03:06,879 It was cereaIs Iike this that were now in short suppIy. 43 00:03:07,567 --> 00:03:09,762 Peter's milling up a barley meal. 44 00:03:09,807 --> 00:03:13,356 lt's a classic teed tor teeding anything, trom pigs to cows. 45 00:03:13,407 --> 00:03:15,796 But, ot course, barley could be used to make beer. 46 00:03:15,847 --> 00:03:18,600 lt could be used to teed human beings. 47 00:03:18,647 --> 00:03:21,844 So it was considered a waste, really, to teed it to livestock. 48 00:03:21,887 --> 00:03:24,959 lt we were to turn that into tlour, make it into bread, 49 00:03:25,007 --> 00:03:27,680 we'd teed a lot more people than you could animals. 50 00:03:27,727 --> 00:03:28,921 Yep. 51 00:03:29,447 --> 00:03:33,725 This competition for Iand was debated at the highest IeveIs of government. 52 00:03:34,927 --> 00:03:39,762 The Ministry of AgricuIture had been granted emergency powers to controI farming. 53 00:03:39,807 --> 00:03:43,880 And they now toId farmers the time had come to make a difficuIt decision. 54 00:03:48,007 --> 00:03:51,204 PETER: This is a map ot manor Farm, is it? - Yep, this is manor Farm. 55 00:03:51,247 --> 00:03:54,045 The ministry ot Agriculture are breathing down our necks 56 00:03:54,087 --> 00:03:57,159 asking us to grow more tood tor human consumption. 57 00:03:57,207 --> 00:03:59,596 But essentially, looking at this map, 58 00:03:59,647 --> 00:04:03,959 there's not a lot ot room on our tarm tor growing wheat. 59 00:04:04,007 --> 00:04:07,556 - You can't see the map tor animals. - No. Exactly. 60 00:04:08,087 --> 00:04:11,443 Wartime pIanners knew they couId feed more peopIe with a fieId of wheat, 61 00:04:11,487 --> 00:04:12,920 than with a herd of cattIe, 62 00:04:13,607 --> 00:04:17,520 and encouraged farmers to drasticaIIy cut their Iivestock numbers. 63 00:04:17,567 --> 00:04:20,764 You've got to make a call on what can stay and what can go. 64 00:04:20,807 --> 00:04:24,402 lt we're gonna keep anything, it really ought to be the dairy herd. 65 00:04:24,967 --> 00:04:28,880 The ministry is saying the priority should be milk production, 66 00:04:28,927 --> 00:04:31,964 and then all the other livestock only comes after that. 67 00:04:32,327 --> 00:04:34,795 ln which case we've got to lose the beet herd. 68 00:04:35,847 --> 00:04:37,838 So these have all got to come out. 69 00:04:38,007 --> 00:04:42,478 lt we're ploughing up the grassland we're not going to have it to teed the sheep. 70 00:04:43,207 --> 00:04:45,277 So l think they're gonna have to go. 71 00:04:46,607 --> 00:04:49,201 l mean, basically, pigs eat the same tood as people. 72 00:04:49,247 --> 00:04:51,636 So they're in direct competition. 73 00:04:51,687 --> 00:04:53,006 So l think they ought to go. 74 00:04:53,047 --> 00:04:55,607 - So we've got a tew chickens... - Yeah. 75 00:04:55,647 --> 00:04:57,877 - ..and a dairy herd. - That's all that's left. 76 00:04:59,247 --> 00:05:02,796 MiIIions of Iivestock were sIaughtered in the wartime cuII. 77 00:05:02,847 --> 00:05:05,122 But they weren't the onIy ones affected. 78 00:05:06,207 --> 00:05:09,199 lt does beg the question - with no sheep on the tarm... 79 00:05:10,247 --> 00:05:12,238 ..what happens to little Henry dog? 80 00:05:16,087 --> 00:05:19,238 lt's a tough decision. We're thinking, ''Are we gonna eat enough? 81 00:05:19,287 --> 00:05:21,278 ls it people who are gonna be starving?'' 82 00:05:21,327 --> 00:05:25,718 You look at that thing in the corner and think, ''You're eating tood l could be eating.'' 83 00:05:25,767 --> 00:05:28,759 lt's a tough one, isn't it? lmagine being in this situation. 84 00:05:28,807 --> 00:05:33,039 You've got the taithtul sheepdog you've had all your lite - grown up with it. 85 00:05:33,087 --> 00:05:37,956 many people telt it was a kindness to put them down, rather than pets starving to death. 86 00:05:38,007 --> 00:05:40,567 We just can't get rid ot Henry, 87 00:05:40,607 --> 00:05:44,316 cos then we will have lost our most intelligent member ot the team! 88 00:05:44,367 --> 00:05:47,279 - We've gotta keep the guy. ALEX: lt will be a little bit too much. 89 00:05:47,327 --> 00:05:50,797 - There he is. PETER: He will be usetul. We'll need him. 90 00:05:53,247 --> 00:05:58,844 But we still have to try and tind a way to keep a dairy herd going throughout the winter months. 91 00:05:58,887 --> 00:06:00,115 (mooing) 92 00:06:04,167 --> 00:06:05,566 Come on, cows. 93 00:06:05,607 --> 00:06:09,156 The Ministry of AgricuIture wanted dairy farmers to feed their cows 94 00:06:09,207 --> 00:06:11,243 on a foodstuff packed with protein. 95 00:06:12,687 --> 00:06:14,678 SiIage. 96 00:06:15,327 --> 00:06:19,161 SiIage is made by starving freshIy-cut grass of oxygen, 97 00:06:19,207 --> 00:06:22,085 preserving its nutrients for feeding, over winter. 98 00:06:22,127 --> 00:06:26,643 But with so many fieIds being pIoughed up, grass wasn't aIways avaiIabIe. 99 00:06:26,687 --> 00:06:28,757 So the boys must find an aIternative. 100 00:06:28,807 --> 00:06:33,881 - Where exactly is it we're going? - We're going to a tarm that grows sugar-beet. 101 00:06:33,927 --> 00:06:36,919 - Sugar-beet. OK. - Yeah, so get yourselt comty. 102 00:06:36,967 --> 00:06:38,366 lt's a bit ot a drive. 103 00:06:38,407 --> 00:06:42,286 And l have to say l haven't quite mastered the gearbox on this old boy. 104 00:06:43,887 --> 00:06:45,843 - (Gears grind) - No... 105 00:06:52,167 --> 00:06:54,442 So we're going to go and pick up sugar-beet, yeah? 106 00:06:54,487 --> 00:06:59,083 Well, no, not actually sugar-beet itselt. We're going to pick up sugar-beet tops. 107 00:06:59,127 --> 00:07:01,197 You're gonna have to start swotting up. 108 00:07:01,247 --> 00:07:04,444 Leatlet number tour trom the ministry ot Agriculture and Fisheries, 109 00:07:04,487 --> 00:07:09,003 it tells us all about sugar-beet tops and making silage. 110 00:07:09,967 --> 00:07:16,076 Fresh sugar-beet tops are equivalent in teeding value to the same weight ot swedes. Wow. 111 00:07:16,127 --> 00:07:20,245 And in normal weather they may remain tit to teed tor several weeks. 112 00:07:20,287 --> 00:07:21,686 - Yes, but... - But... 113 00:07:21,727 --> 00:07:25,561 ''lt the supply ot tops is too great to teed tresh, 114 00:07:25,607 --> 00:07:28,485 the surplus should be ensiled tor later use.'' 115 00:07:28,527 --> 00:07:30,438 That's the idea, Peter. 116 00:07:30,487 --> 00:07:34,685 lt we make a silage clamp or we get some kind ot drum we can get the silage in, 117 00:07:34,727 --> 00:07:37,366 we can use that teed all the way through the winter. 118 00:07:37,407 --> 00:07:40,046 How many sugar-beet tops will tit in this car? 119 00:07:40,087 --> 00:07:42,362 Well, l don't know, l'm sure we'll... 120 00:07:42,407 --> 00:07:43,920 The glove box is quite roomy. 121 00:07:43,967 --> 00:07:45,958 ..get a handtul! 122 00:07:49,967 --> 00:07:55,200 Sugar-beet was a vitaI wartime crop, grown to take the pIace of sugar imports. 123 00:07:56,247 --> 00:08:01,640 But vast acres of sugar-beet created an urgent need for machines to harvest it. 124 00:08:03,087 --> 00:08:07,683 Farmers were required to muster some particuIarIy ingenious new contraptions. 125 00:08:08,007 --> 00:08:09,998 Hold it, pal. 126 00:08:11,087 --> 00:08:12,964 ALEX: morning, chaps. mEN: morning. 127 00:08:13,007 --> 00:08:14,486 Good morning, sir. 128 00:08:14,527 --> 00:08:16,563 AIex and Peter have come to meet the men 129 00:08:16,607 --> 00:08:19,997 of the Peterborough Farm Machinery Preservation Society, 130 00:08:20,047 --> 00:08:23,483 who are trying out one of the earIiest of these intricate harvesters, 131 00:08:23,527 --> 00:08:26,041 which was made in Denmark in the 1 940s. 132 00:08:26,767 --> 00:08:28,564 What are you doing here? 133 00:08:28,607 --> 00:08:34,796 We're just doing a bit ot a moditication to try to improve the performance ot the machine. 134 00:08:34,847 --> 00:08:38,601 Right. OK. So we've caught you at a point ot experimentation, have we? 135 00:08:38,647 --> 00:08:40,956 - You have, yes. - (Laughter) 136 00:08:41,007 --> 00:08:44,238 This is tantastic tor us, because this is almost certainly a scene 137 00:08:44,287 --> 00:08:47,836 that you would have seen in 1 93971 940 with the outbreak ot war 138 00:08:47,887 --> 00:08:50,606 and the introduction ot this type ot technology. 139 00:08:50,647 --> 00:08:53,764 Farmers are contronted with this new and innovative equipment, 140 00:08:53,807 --> 00:08:56,958 which they've got to tweak and tinker with to get to work. 141 00:08:57,727 --> 00:09:00,116 And it's exactly what these guys are doing. 142 00:09:01,607 --> 00:09:04,041 Basically, a lot ot tiddling with nuts and bolts. 143 00:09:05,007 --> 00:09:07,202 The machine does two different jobs. 144 00:09:07,247 --> 00:09:11,399 One part Iifts the beets out of the ground and the other cuts the tops off. 145 00:09:12,807 --> 00:09:17,278 - So you've got to steer this? - Yes, that's what's worrying me about that disc, 146 00:09:17,327 --> 00:09:19,124 - it it don't steer me. - (Laughter) 147 00:09:19,167 --> 00:09:23,046 You've always got a bit ot extra muscle here, Ron, just in case you need it. 148 00:09:24,047 --> 00:09:25,765 l think we're ready to go, aren't we? 149 00:09:25,807 --> 00:09:29,004 Yes, l'm sure we're ready it the tractor driver's ready. 150 00:09:30,767 --> 00:09:32,758 Whoa. Whoa! 151 00:09:34,287 --> 00:09:36,755 That's an early sign, Ron, that this thing could go... 152 00:09:36,807 --> 00:09:38,126 - Yes. - Right, OK. 153 00:09:38,167 --> 00:09:40,840 - Didn't go tar, did it? - No. 154 00:09:40,887 --> 00:09:43,162 - We're getting a rhythm going. - Hold it. Whoa. 155 00:09:43,207 --> 00:09:45,277 - Oh, l spoke too soon. - Uh-oh. 156 00:09:45,327 --> 00:09:48,080 - Why did it miss there? - (Low chatter) 157 00:09:49,847 --> 00:09:51,678 - Right. - Try it again. 158 00:09:51,727 --> 00:09:52,921 Third-time lucky. 159 00:09:52,967 --> 00:09:54,958 Oooh. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa! 160 00:09:59,527 --> 00:10:02,644 So what are they gonna - ooh - what are they gonna do, then? 161 00:10:02,687 --> 00:10:04,564 Your guess is as good as mine. 162 00:10:06,327 --> 00:10:09,239 WhiIe the boys focus on making food for the dairy cows, 163 00:10:09,287 --> 00:10:13,360 back on the farm there are others animaIs that won't be so Iucky. 164 00:10:16,407 --> 00:10:20,685 Pigs were seen as a Iuxury and bore the brunt of the wartime cuII. 165 00:10:23,127 --> 00:10:26,915 Their numbers feII by nearIy 60% over the course of the war, 166 00:10:26,967 --> 00:10:29,959 and pork became a much sought-after rarity. 167 00:10:30,007 --> 00:10:30,996 (Grunt) 168 00:10:31,047 --> 00:10:33,038 Yeah... 169 00:10:33,727 --> 00:10:36,287 But there was one way around the shortage. 170 00:10:40,487 --> 00:10:44,958 Ruth's come to taIk to stockwoman Debbie Underwood about a possibIe soIution. 171 00:10:46,007 --> 00:10:49,795 l was wondering it we could hang on to one as a pig club? What do you think? 172 00:10:49,847 --> 00:10:51,280 What do you mean by a pig club? 173 00:10:51,327 --> 00:10:56,162 lt was a wartime scheme to get together and raise a pig communally. 174 00:10:56,207 --> 00:10:59,677 People bring all their kitchen waste and their garden waste. 175 00:10:59,727 --> 00:11:02,639 You've got enough tood to teed a pig and then when you slaughter it 176 00:11:02,687 --> 00:11:05,155 you divide the pig up between everybody who's ted it. 177 00:11:05,207 --> 00:11:09,166 lt was a way ot keeping some bacon and pork in the system. 178 00:11:10,647 --> 00:11:13,923 Pig cIubs were officiaIIy encouraged by the government, 179 00:11:13,967 --> 00:11:17,403 and were popuIar not just in the countryside, but in cities too. 180 00:11:17,447 --> 00:11:22,521 Around 7,000 were set up raising 1 40,000 pigs between them. 181 00:11:23,327 --> 00:11:25,522 So how are we gonna choose one? 182 00:11:25,567 --> 00:11:28,639 - Well, it's quite a nice even litter, isn't it? - Yeah. 183 00:11:28,687 --> 00:11:32,521 - They're good-looking piglets these. - They are, yes. 184 00:11:32,567 --> 00:11:35,365 So maybe it l tind some people who'd like to be in the pig club, 185 00:11:35,407 --> 00:11:39,036 and then get together, and we'll cook up a batch ot swill. 186 00:11:39,087 --> 00:11:41,885 - OK. - Feed it to those and see which one's greediest. 187 00:11:41,927 --> 00:11:46,000 Cos whichever one is the greediest is the one that will tatten quickest. 188 00:11:47,807 --> 00:11:50,321 Lift it, lift it out. Get it out there. 189 00:11:50,367 --> 00:11:53,837 The machine is stiII causing probIems with the beet harvest. 190 00:11:54,807 --> 00:11:56,604 OK. 191 00:11:56,647 --> 00:12:00,162 If they can't get it going they'II have to Iift the crop by hand. 192 00:12:00,207 --> 00:12:01,879 That's how it should be. 193 00:12:01,927 --> 00:12:06,079 Ron Knight harvested sugar-beet as a boy and remembers how it was done. 194 00:12:06,967 --> 00:12:09,686 - They lay them out in rows like that. - Right. 195 00:12:09,727 --> 00:12:12,002 And then go along and chop them like that. 196 00:12:13,487 --> 00:12:15,762 And that knite has been replaced by that machine? 197 00:12:15,807 --> 00:12:18,401 Yes. You have a go chopping that, see how you get on. 198 00:12:18,447 --> 00:12:20,836 mind your thumb, you don't get another one. 199 00:12:22,127 --> 00:12:25,517 - Aim where l've marked it. - Aim where you've marked it. 200 00:12:25,767 --> 00:12:29,282 - There you are. - That was...that was quite an excessive chop. 201 00:12:29,727 --> 00:12:32,116 - You're only an inch out, look. - (Laughs) 202 00:12:33,287 --> 00:12:36,359 To harvest this fieId by hand wouId take about a month. 203 00:12:36,407 --> 00:12:40,400 The machine shouId get it done in two days... if they can get it working. 204 00:12:41,247 --> 00:12:45,763 l think we're getting clogged up with the leaves it's cutting off the top ot the beets. 205 00:12:45,807 --> 00:12:47,877 The tops we should be taking away tor silage? 206 00:12:47,927 --> 00:12:50,919 Yes. l reckon we need to shovel them out ot the way ot the machine. 207 00:12:51,847 --> 00:12:55,157 Looks like there's gonna be some work tor us here, Peter. 208 00:12:57,647 --> 00:13:01,845 With the tops puIIed out of the way, the machine is abIe to run smoothIy. 209 00:13:04,127 --> 00:13:07,915 ALEX: Those two torks, they get underneath the beet, they lift it up. 210 00:13:09,847 --> 00:13:13,760 As it goes round, the drum knocks all the dirt off ot it, OK? 211 00:13:13,807 --> 00:13:16,685 And then kicks it up into a bucket on the other side. 212 00:13:17,647 --> 00:13:21,720 When that's tull Willie opens it and it dumps the load onto the ground. 213 00:13:24,127 --> 00:13:26,118 And this is what it's all about. 214 00:13:26,167 --> 00:13:28,158 Here are our sugar-beet. 215 00:13:28,207 --> 00:13:31,244 They're a rather unsightly-looking turnip, OK? 216 00:13:31,287 --> 00:13:36,441 But six ot these boiled down would make about a kilo ot sugar. 217 00:13:36,927 --> 00:13:39,999 lt's amazing to think that during the period ot the war 218 00:13:40,047 --> 00:13:43,357 these were responsible tor producing the domestic sugar ration. 219 00:13:43,407 --> 00:13:46,126 That's nearly 3,000,000 tons ot sugar. 220 00:13:50,167 --> 00:13:53,159 Sugar-beet was the uItimate wartime crop. 221 00:13:53,207 --> 00:13:57,723 It was transformed from being a niche product grown by just a few farmers, 222 00:13:57,767 --> 00:14:00,884 to being a mainstream crop farmed aII over the country. 223 00:14:15,007 --> 00:14:16,998 - Hello! OTHERS: Hello! 224 00:14:17,047 --> 00:14:19,277 - Hey, you've brought the swill. - We have. 225 00:14:19,327 --> 00:14:22,399 Ruth's got some recruits for her pig cIub. 226 00:14:22,447 --> 00:14:24,438 Let's tatten that pig up. 227 00:14:25,767 --> 00:14:27,200 RUTH: Ooh, tantastic. 228 00:14:27,247 --> 00:14:29,158 - There you go. - There we are. 229 00:14:29,207 --> 00:14:30,640 So have we got? 230 00:14:30,687 --> 00:14:33,155 Beetroot thinnings, ones that haven't tattened out. 231 00:14:33,207 --> 00:14:35,767 Tops ot old cabbage plants. 232 00:14:35,807 --> 00:14:40,437 Old potatoes there that are no longer suitable tor our use. 233 00:14:40,487 --> 00:14:44,196 You want to slap it all in? l've got some on the go already boiling away. 234 00:14:44,247 --> 00:14:46,636 The scraps wiII be turned into a soupy swiII. 235 00:14:46,687 --> 00:14:48,678 RUTH: All good stuff. 236 00:14:48,727 --> 00:14:52,766 The swiII was often coIIected by one designated person, 237 00:14:52,807 --> 00:14:55,116 as pig cIub member GiII Dicks recaIIs. 238 00:14:55,167 --> 00:14:59,319 Your parents, Gill, were actually in a pig club during the war. 239 00:14:59,367 --> 00:15:02,643 That's right, yes. lt was operated by our local butcher. 240 00:15:02,687 --> 00:15:05,565 - What did you put in the pig swill? - Everything that wasn't eaten. 241 00:15:05,607 --> 00:15:07,199 We didn't separate any ot it out. 242 00:15:07,247 --> 00:15:11,365 lt it was tood and it wasn't eaten it went straight to the pigs. 243 00:15:11,407 --> 00:15:14,638 And they did also used to take the bones as well. 244 00:15:14,687 --> 00:15:17,599 l mean, nowadays people would have kittens about the idea ot that. 245 00:15:17,647 --> 00:15:20,366 They'd be worried about contaminating the tood chain. 246 00:15:20,407 --> 00:15:22,796 Feeding pigs with animaI by-products 247 00:15:22,847 --> 00:15:26,123 was Iinked to an increase in foot-and-mouth disease during the war. 248 00:15:26,807 --> 00:15:32,086 To avoid the hazards Ruth's pig wiII onIy be fed with waste from the garden, not the kitchen. 249 00:15:32,127 --> 00:15:35,437 Are you gonna be able to keep up the supply ot swill, do you think? 250 00:15:35,487 --> 00:15:37,682 - We will try, yes. - Yes. 251 00:15:37,727 --> 00:15:42,596 lt's towards the end ot the year... it's always more difficult during the autumn. 252 00:15:42,647 --> 00:15:47,084 lt we can keep it up, you know, six months down the line, halt a pig between us. 253 00:15:47,927 --> 00:15:50,395 - Be good, won't it? - That sounds very nice. 254 00:16:04,007 --> 00:16:07,124 The beets wiII sent to a factory to be refined into sugar. 255 00:16:08,047 --> 00:16:12,359 AIex and Peter are coIIecting the tops, which they pIan to turn into siIage. 256 00:16:15,047 --> 00:16:17,163 How are you teeling about this, Peter? 257 00:16:17,207 --> 00:16:19,846 Well, l can see why... l mean... 258 00:16:19,887 --> 00:16:21,843 Obviously, in the war, they want to produce 259 00:16:21,887 --> 00:16:24,560 as much silage as possible to keep the animals going. 260 00:16:24,607 --> 00:16:29,158 But this was an experiment. l can see why people hadn't picked it as a silage crop betore. 261 00:16:29,207 --> 00:16:34,679 But this is going to be the key to keeping a dairy herd in a wartime tarm, isn't it? 262 00:16:34,727 --> 00:16:38,800 This is gonna provide the succulence providing we get the silo right. 263 00:16:38,847 --> 00:16:40,519 Providing we get the silo right. 264 00:16:56,287 --> 00:16:58,278 l've got that tirst bucket ot swill. 265 00:16:58,327 --> 00:17:00,557 - Ah, let's have a look. - l hope they're... 266 00:17:00,607 --> 00:17:01,835 (Ruth grunts) 267 00:17:01,887 --> 00:17:03,479 ..they're hungry. 268 00:17:03,527 --> 00:17:05,802 - Funnily enough, it smells delicious. - Yeah. 269 00:17:05,847 --> 00:17:08,759 - Let's see it they're hungry. - Let's give this a go. 270 00:17:09,367 --> 00:17:12,200 - Come on. Show us who's a big greedy pig. - Right. 271 00:17:14,127 --> 00:17:16,118 RUTH: What do you think? 272 00:17:16,447 --> 00:17:18,438 - She's turned her nose up. - Yeah. 273 00:17:20,407 --> 00:17:22,398 Which is quite easy tor her. 274 00:17:23,327 --> 00:17:26,125 - Well, this is going well. - This is going really well. 275 00:17:26,807 --> 00:17:30,117 Ruth's pIan is to choose the greediest pig for her pig cIub. 276 00:17:31,487 --> 00:17:33,842 Come on, then. A little bit closer. 277 00:17:33,887 --> 00:17:37,197 - They're quite intrigued by this, aren't they? - They are. 278 00:17:37,247 --> 00:17:39,966 They're interested, not actually eating it yet. 279 00:17:40,007 --> 00:17:42,157 Ooh, yes, they are. 280 00:17:42,207 --> 00:17:43,606 - Yes, they are. - Ahhh! 281 00:17:43,647 --> 00:17:46,036 - Especially her with the little short tail. - Yes. 282 00:17:46,087 --> 00:17:48,396 - Little shorty. - That's the little temale. 283 00:17:48,447 --> 00:17:50,677 So that might be quite a nice one to keep. 284 00:17:51,287 --> 00:17:53,517 Let's have a look at her. Grab her. 285 00:17:53,807 --> 00:17:55,798 (Squealing) 286 00:17:57,967 --> 00:18:00,435 - Well, she's certainly noisy. - (Laughs) 287 00:18:00,487 --> 00:18:03,320 - Listen to you. - This is the one with the short tail. 288 00:18:03,367 --> 00:18:05,642 She's good, isn't she? 289 00:18:05,687 --> 00:18:07,757 - Look at the tat belly on her. - Yeah. 290 00:18:07,807 --> 00:18:11,766 l think so. l think this is the one tor us. 291 00:18:13,167 --> 00:18:17,365 Ruth wiII keep Shorty and SnowfIake, but the other pigs have to go. 292 00:18:18,087 --> 00:18:20,203 Yeah, l know you're cute. Yes, you are. 293 00:18:20,247 --> 00:18:22,203 (Both laugh) 294 00:18:22,247 --> 00:18:24,238 One piggy to another. 295 00:18:41,687 --> 00:18:43,917 AIex and Peter are back at the farm. 296 00:18:45,487 --> 00:18:48,160 They'II Iet the sugar-beet tops wiIt for a few days 297 00:18:48,207 --> 00:18:51,119 before turning them into siIage for the dairy cows. 298 00:18:53,207 --> 00:18:54,845 Get on! Get on! 299 00:18:54,887 --> 00:18:58,402 First, they must deaI with the animaIs they don't want to keep. 300 00:19:00,887 --> 00:19:05,358 Sheep were considered a Iow priority as they needed to eat a Iot of food 301 00:19:05,407 --> 00:19:07,398 to produce reIativeIy IittIe meat. 302 00:19:07,967 --> 00:19:09,366 Come on. 303 00:19:09,407 --> 00:19:13,480 AII wartime farmers getting rid of Iivestock had to deaI with a new force 304 00:19:13,527 --> 00:19:15,802 that wouId come to dominate their Iives. 305 00:19:17,127 --> 00:19:19,118 The Ministry of Food. 306 00:19:20,927 --> 00:19:25,603 The idea ot the ministry was to control, really, all ot the produce that came trom tarms. 307 00:19:25,647 --> 00:19:28,002 So pretty much anything you produced on the tarm 308 00:19:28,047 --> 00:19:30,163 would have to go through the ministry ot Food. 309 00:19:30,647 --> 00:19:34,276 The arrivaI of the Ministry of Food meant farmers were now answerabIe 310 00:19:34,327 --> 00:19:36,318 to two government bodies. 311 00:19:37,687 --> 00:19:41,726 On this side ot the tarm gate they had the ministry ot Agriculture. 312 00:19:41,767 --> 00:19:45,396 Anything that went on on a tarm was the concern ot the ministry ot Agriculture. 313 00:19:45,447 --> 00:19:48,086 But on this side ot the gate was about the ministry ot Food. 314 00:19:48,127 --> 00:19:50,436 So when the livestock passed over this threshold, 315 00:19:50,487 --> 00:19:53,797 it then became the concern ot the ministry ot Food. 316 00:19:58,607 --> 00:20:03,123 The Ministry of Food was responsibIe for the biggest food distribution network 317 00:20:03,167 --> 00:20:04,998 attempted anywhere in the worId - 318 00:20:06,727 --> 00:20:08,922 ..the rationing system. 319 00:20:09,487 --> 00:20:15,244 l've got here the ration tor one person tor one week...in 1 940. 320 00:20:16,247 --> 00:20:18,124 Ot course, not everything was rationed. 321 00:20:18,167 --> 00:20:20,965 You could have as much bread as you could afford, 322 00:20:21,007 --> 00:20:23,805 as much vegetables as you could get your hands on. 323 00:20:23,847 --> 00:20:26,156 But a whole range ot things were rationed. 324 00:20:27,807 --> 00:20:30,844 Rationing began in January 1 940... 325 00:20:31,487 --> 00:20:33,796 with bacon the first meat to go on the Iist. 326 00:20:33,847 --> 00:20:36,486 Four ounces per person per week. 327 00:20:36,647 --> 00:20:39,957 You could have it as ham instead, but not as well as. 328 00:20:40,007 --> 00:20:43,443 lt amounts to about tour slices. 329 00:20:43,807 --> 00:20:46,480 The butter, however, is even more scarce. 330 00:20:47,087 --> 00:20:50,397 Can you imagine trying to manage on that much butter a week? 331 00:20:51,607 --> 00:20:54,167 You were allowed other tats. 332 00:20:54,207 --> 00:20:56,243 This is tor cooking tat. 333 00:20:58,327 --> 00:21:00,443 And that, in total, is your tat ration. 334 00:21:00,487 --> 00:21:04,639 That's particularly hard to make last the week. 335 00:21:05,407 --> 00:21:10,242 Joining the first wave of rationing was sugar, around 1 2 ounces per week. 336 00:21:10,287 --> 00:21:13,324 So it these toods were rationed in January, 337 00:21:13,367 --> 00:21:16,882 by march meat, tresh meat, had joined the ration. 338 00:21:16,927 --> 00:21:22,285 Unlike these, which are based on weight, meat rationing was done upon value. 339 00:21:22,327 --> 00:21:25,205 How much money you were allowed to spend. 340 00:21:26,007 --> 00:21:31,877 lt, in 1 940, you bought a really good piece ot meat, 341 00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:36,924 this is how tar your one shilling and tenpence took you. 342 00:21:38,047 --> 00:21:41,835 So that would be a week's meat. 343 00:21:42,967 --> 00:21:46,277 Not bad. But you'd only eat meat, say, two days a week. 344 00:21:46,327 --> 00:21:48,397 You could, however, be a bit more canny. 345 00:21:48,447 --> 00:21:50,836 lt l bought something like a shin ot beet... 346 00:21:51,967 --> 00:21:55,357 which you can see immediately is a less quality cut, 347 00:21:55,407 --> 00:21:57,716 l could have an awful lot more. 348 00:21:57,767 --> 00:21:59,837 That there is one pound ot cheap beet, 349 00:21:59,887 --> 00:22:03,084 and l could, in tact, have had three times that amount, 350 00:22:03,127 --> 00:22:07,405 tor the same rationed money that l had tor that cut ot beet. 351 00:22:08,847 --> 00:22:11,645 And, alongside it, offal. 352 00:22:12,447 --> 00:22:15,325 And l've got here kidney and liver. 353 00:22:15,807 --> 00:22:20,119 This amount ot offal cost the same as that little bit ot beet. 354 00:22:21,287 --> 00:22:26,680 Now to a modern eye you might think, ''That's not so bad. That's not so very little meat.'' 355 00:22:26,727 --> 00:22:31,926 And it's true, but this is the peak ot meat-eating during the war. 356 00:22:31,967 --> 00:22:34,435 At the beginning ot the war you're allowed all ot that. 357 00:22:34,487 --> 00:22:39,038 As the war went on the amount ot ration tor meat reduced and reduced, 358 00:22:39,087 --> 00:22:41,078 and reduced and reduced. 359 00:22:41,127 --> 00:22:45,006 So within a year and a halt it was halt that size. 360 00:22:45,047 --> 00:22:48,323 Suddenly your ration was just one ot those a week. 361 00:22:49,327 --> 00:22:54,003 The Ministry of Food made huge efforts to get peopIe to accept the ration system. 362 00:22:56,167 --> 00:23:00,558 People talked a great deal about tair shares, about tairness. 363 00:23:00,607 --> 00:23:02,882 At this time ot difficulty and scarcity, 364 00:23:02,927 --> 00:23:06,636 the whole ot the rationing system was presented to the population 365 00:23:06,687 --> 00:23:09,121 as about being about tairness. 366 00:23:09,167 --> 00:23:12,842 So that everybody had ration cards, including the Royal Family. 367 00:23:13,687 --> 00:23:18,556 That was important to people. lt made people teel quite differently about the whole system. 368 00:23:20,087 --> 00:23:22,840 But though the scheme was based on fairness, 369 00:23:22,887 --> 00:23:25,765 those in the countryside had certain advantages. 370 00:23:34,287 --> 00:23:38,246 The ancient tradition of the Hedgerow Harvest came into its own, 371 00:23:38,287 --> 00:23:41,643 as peopIe went out to forage for whatever they couId find. 372 00:23:44,047 --> 00:23:46,481 Here, Henry, you was supposed to be spotting these. 373 00:23:48,007 --> 00:23:52,239 Even in the depths of autumn, nature's bounty couId be pressed into use. 374 00:23:55,407 --> 00:23:58,285 There's no doubt about townies came off a lot worse during the war. 375 00:23:58,327 --> 00:24:02,957 lt you're out here in the countryside, you've got so many more resources at your tingertips. 376 00:24:03,007 --> 00:24:06,920 Whether it's tinding your mushrooms or acorns on the tloor, 377 00:24:06,967 --> 00:24:11,563 or horse chestnuts or sweet chestnuts, or blackberries or whatever. 378 00:24:11,607 --> 00:24:15,236 You know, there's so much more tood about in the countryside. 379 00:24:17,327 --> 00:24:20,319 There's loads ot tood, really, when you start looking. 380 00:24:22,807 --> 00:24:27,881 AIex and Peter are getting on with the job of deciding which farm animaIs to cuII. 381 00:24:28,967 --> 00:24:31,481 ALEX: Ah, now... - We've got too many, haven't we? 382 00:24:31,527 --> 00:24:36,442 There's too many. So, untortunately, the writing's on the wall tor some ot these old birds. 383 00:24:36,967 --> 00:24:40,880 A chicken Iays most of its eggs in the first three years of its Iife. 384 00:24:41,407 --> 00:24:43,602 After that its productivity decIines. 385 00:24:44,207 --> 00:24:45,765 l reckon that one there. 386 00:24:45,807 --> 00:24:47,798 lt l grab her teet she's gonna tlap. 387 00:24:47,847 --> 00:24:52,238 lt you grab both teet together she will tlap and make a lot ot noise, but she'll be sate. 388 00:24:52,287 --> 00:24:55,518 - (Clucking) - That's the one. That's it. Straight down. 389 00:24:55,567 --> 00:24:58,559 Wrap her up. Perfectly done. Beautitul. 390 00:24:59,247 --> 00:25:02,125 And quite a red... Here, a red wattle and comb. 391 00:25:02,167 --> 00:25:05,557 This is a classic sign ot an older bird - a very deep red. 392 00:25:05,607 --> 00:25:08,280 And it's those teet - it you look at those teet... 393 00:25:09,927 --> 00:25:11,918 you know, look at the... Ooh. 394 00:25:12,607 --> 00:25:15,121 - Has a bit ot tight now, hasn't she? - She does. 395 00:25:15,167 --> 00:25:19,240 You know, she's got calluses on the bottom, quite large calluses. 396 00:25:19,287 --> 00:25:21,676 You can tell she's quite an old bird. So... 397 00:25:21,727 --> 00:25:23,718 That's a natural bird to cull. 398 00:25:25,887 --> 00:25:27,878 Come on, then, boy. 399 00:25:27,927 --> 00:25:30,839 Come on, l'm sure they'll be something in here tor you. 400 00:25:33,287 --> 00:25:36,723 It wasn't just wiId food that added to ruraI diets. 401 00:25:38,007 --> 00:25:42,398 Having more Iand meant country peopIe were far more IikeIy to reap the benefit 402 00:25:42,447 --> 00:25:45,166 of the government's ''Dig for Victory'' campaign. 403 00:25:46,727 --> 00:25:49,639 - Terry, you're already here. Sorry. - Hello, Ruth. 404 00:25:49,687 --> 00:25:54,203 Manor Farm gardener Terry Budd wiII heIp Ruth decide what to pIant in the garden. 405 00:25:56,687 --> 00:26:00,202 We've got this leatlet now trom the ministry ot Agriculture 406 00:26:00,247 --> 00:26:03,796 encouraging us to grow some ot our own veg. 407 00:26:03,847 --> 00:26:08,762 ''Savoys, sprouts, kales. Vegetables all the year round... 408 00:26:09,767 --> 00:26:12,235 ..it you dig well and crop wisely.'' 409 00:26:12,767 --> 00:26:15,679 The Dig for Victory IeafIets were written to heIp gardeners 410 00:26:15,727 --> 00:26:18,036 get fresh produce every month of the year. 411 00:26:18,727 --> 00:26:22,879 They were wideIy distributed or you couId write to the Ministry and request one. 412 00:26:22,927 --> 00:26:26,840 That's quite a nice sensible plan, isn't it? There's nothing tancy about it. 413 00:26:26,887 --> 00:26:30,766 There's nothing exotic. This is your basics through the year. 414 00:26:39,407 --> 00:26:42,604 There are aIready some vegetabIes to harvest in the garden, 415 00:26:42,647 --> 00:26:45,115 and Ruth's making them go as far as she can. 416 00:26:46,967 --> 00:26:49,356 So l'm making a giant, great big enormous stew. 417 00:26:50,087 --> 00:26:52,078 Huge. Several meals' worth. 418 00:26:52,127 --> 00:26:55,244 Anything that isn't eaten as stew will be turned into soup later. 419 00:27:00,767 --> 00:27:02,883 Yum. l do love mushrooms. 420 00:27:03,887 --> 00:27:06,003 Ruth's stove is powered by paraffin. 421 00:27:06,727 --> 00:27:10,037 But aIong with other types of fueI, paraffin was rationed, 422 00:27:10,087 --> 00:27:13,397 so cooking the stew for severaI hours wouId be a reaI waste. 423 00:27:14,807 --> 00:27:18,322 There was a popuIar wartime soIution that Ruth's keen to try. 424 00:27:19,487 --> 00:27:22,877 This is my cunning plan. l'm gonna make a hay box. 425 00:27:22,927 --> 00:27:26,920 Now, it's a tunny thing a hay box. There's no heat source. 426 00:27:26,967 --> 00:27:30,084 lt's sort ot just insulation. 427 00:27:31,087 --> 00:27:34,796 But it does the job that you might think ot, say, like a slow cooker. 428 00:27:36,087 --> 00:27:38,078 So, hay. 429 00:27:38,807 --> 00:27:41,799 And l'm making a really thick layer, 430 00:27:41,847 --> 00:27:45,123 not just on the bottom ot the box, but up the sides ot the box 431 00:27:45,247 --> 00:27:47,761 and eventually l'll make it in the lid as well. 432 00:27:48,607 --> 00:27:52,043 lt's all about keeping the heat in. 433 00:27:52,087 --> 00:27:55,796 So the stew that l've got on, when it's really thoroughly boiling, 434 00:27:55,847 --> 00:27:57,883 and it does have to be thoroughly boiling, 435 00:27:57,927 --> 00:28:00,805 then l can transter it trom there straight into here. 436 00:28:02,207 --> 00:28:04,562 lt's really very tuel efficient. 437 00:28:04,607 --> 00:28:08,282 l'm only doing the cooking tor that tirst initial boiling stage. 438 00:28:15,087 --> 00:28:17,396 Snuggle it down in there. 439 00:28:20,327 --> 00:28:24,206 And then on the lid... Seal it all up. 440 00:28:24,247 --> 00:28:26,636 And you've kept the heat in. The heat can't escape. 441 00:28:26,687 --> 00:28:30,919 So the heat stays there, carrying on cooking slowly and gently. 442 00:28:33,687 --> 00:28:35,678 That should do. Right, cooker off. 443 00:28:39,407 --> 00:28:41,079 (Blows) 444 00:28:45,407 --> 00:28:50,162 The perks of Iiving in the countryside didn't go unnoticed by outsiders. 445 00:28:52,407 --> 00:28:57,686 Strangers frequentIy turned up at farm gates Iooking for ways to beat the rationing system. 446 00:28:59,327 --> 00:29:04,355 Mark Roodhouse is a historian who speciaIises in the wartime bIack market. 447 00:29:05,927 --> 00:29:09,158 - Hello. - Oh, hello. You must be mark. 448 00:29:09,207 --> 00:29:11,243 - Ruth. - Sorry. muddy hand. 449 00:29:11,287 --> 00:29:13,164 - Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you. 450 00:29:13,207 --> 00:29:15,357 You're the chap who knows about dodgy dealings. 451 00:29:15,407 --> 00:29:17,398 - Yes. - (Both laugh) 452 00:29:17,447 --> 00:29:19,438 Where would you like to start? 453 00:29:19,487 --> 00:29:24,356 SecIuded ruraI Iocations made the perfect base for bIack-market activities. 454 00:29:26,087 --> 00:29:29,796 - Well, underneath here...we have... - Bread. 455 00:29:29,847 --> 00:29:32,725 ..various things tor our black-market experiment. 456 00:29:34,127 --> 00:29:38,564 Here we've got red petrol. This would have been used by the army. 457 00:29:38,607 --> 00:29:43,601 And dyed red by the armed torces to stop people stealing petrol, 458 00:29:43,647 --> 00:29:45,922 which was rationed and in short supply. 459 00:29:45,967 --> 00:29:48,879 The police would take a sample trom your tank 460 00:29:48,927 --> 00:29:53,478 and it it was red they would know you had stolen that petrol and so they could prosecute. 461 00:29:53,527 --> 00:29:58,521 So, what we're going to do is take the dye out ot this petrol, 462 00:29:58,567 --> 00:30:04,836 so that we can put it in the tank ot a car without risk ot being caught. 463 00:30:04,887 --> 00:30:10,359 There are lots ot anecdotes about how people could get hold ot this dyed petrol, 464 00:30:10,407 --> 00:30:11,760 and remove the dye. 465 00:30:11,807 --> 00:30:17,439 So l thought that we could have a go and see which ot these proves the most effective. 466 00:30:17,487 --> 00:30:19,318 - Have you done this betore? - No. 467 00:30:19,367 --> 00:30:23,963 And l don't think anyone has ever tried this kind ot experiment since the 1 940s. 468 00:30:25,487 --> 00:30:28,524 The first method to be tried is mixing it with aspirin. 469 00:30:30,007 --> 00:30:33,602 That's supposed to separate out the petrol trom the dye. 470 00:30:34,527 --> 00:30:36,836 - That do it? - Yeah. That should do it. 471 00:30:36,887 --> 00:30:38,479 Was there much ot this going on? 472 00:30:38,527 --> 00:30:44,397 There is a surprising amount ot tiddling about with petrol, particularly on tarms. 473 00:30:45,087 --> 00:30:50,320 For example, Billy Hill, who was one ot the big London criminals ot the '40s, 474 00:30:50,367 --> 00:30:55,964 he had a run-in on a tarm in Herttordshire, which he used tor storing stolen goods. 475 00:30:56,007 --> 00:30:59,556 And also used it as a base tor operations such as this one. 476 00:31:03,247 --> 00:31:06,125 Oh, maybe we've got the wrong brand name. (Laughs) 477 00:31:06,167 --> 00:31:08,158 maybe it needs a bit ot time. 478 00:31:08,847 --> 00:31:11,042 WhiIe they wait to see if the aspirin works, 479 00:31:11,087 --> 00:31:14,841 Ruth and Mark try fiItering some of the petroI through charcoaI. 480 00:31:14,887 --> 00:31:17,117 Go on. Go on. You do the honours. 481 00:31:17,367 --> 00:31:20,279 You're the one who's been reading about this stuff. 482 00:31:21,927 --> 00:31:24,395 Oh, l think we're getting something, but pour slower. 483 00:31:25,087 --> 00:31:29,877 lt's detinitely better than the aspirin, but it's a bit pink. 484 00:31:30,407 --> 00:31:33,604 LastIy, they'II try sieving it through bread. 485 00:31:33,727 --> 00:31:37,925 As one ot the methods ot dealing with petrol, this seemed the least likely one. 486 00:31:37,967 --> 00:31:40,003 - lt seemed such a waste ot... - Ot good bread. 487 00:31:40,047 --> 00:31:41,241 ..a waste ot bread. 488 00:31:41,287 --> 00:31:44,165 - lt's holding a lot ot petrol that bread. - lt's coming through. 489 00:31:44,207 --> 00:31:46,198 Ooh, so it is. 490 00:31:46,847 --> 00:31:49,122 - That looks clear to me. - lt tlipping does. 491 00:31:49,167 --> 00:31:51,840 - l can't believe that's worked. - (Both laugh) 492 00:31:52,327 --> 00:31:54,477 - l have to... - That is just amazing. 493 00:31:54,527 --> 00:31:59,123 l have to eat my words. l never thought that would work and it...it does. 494 00:32:00,567 --> 00:32:03,320 And in some ways the cheapest and easiest ot all the methods. 495 00:32:03,367 --> 00:32:06,677 - Yes. lt you've got the bread to waste. - lt you've got the bread to waste. 496 00:32:06,727 --> 00:32:08,683 Bread, ot course, wasn't rationed. 497 00:32:08,727 --> 00:32:12,959 With the teIItaIe dye removed the petroI couId be soId on the bIack market. 498 00:32:13,007 --> 00:32:15,475 lt you have this, you have your loat ot bread, 499 00:32:15,527 --> 00:32:18,644 you're well on your way to becoming a black marketeer. 500 00:32:18,687 --> 00:32:21,724 And pestering farmers up and down the country 501 00:32:21,767 --> 00:32:24,122 and trying to get them into your dodgy-dealing ways. 502 00:32:24,167 --> 00:32:26,237 - Absolutely. - You wicked man, you. 503 00:32:30,767 --> 00:32:35,522 Anyone invoIved in making or seIIing food had opportunities to make a bit on the side. 504 00:32:37,407 --> 00:32:40,479 Butchers couId be notorious bIack-market operators. 505 00:32:42,407 --> 00:32:43,999 - Hello. - Hello. 506 00:32:44,047 --> 00:32:46,038 - That looks tasty. - me? 507 00:32:46,087 --> 00:32:47,679 (All laugh) 508 00:32:47,727 --> 00:32:51,800 Mark has brought Ruth to meet IocaI butcher Simon Broadribb. 509 00:32:51,847 --> 00:32:54,964 The ministry ot Food has worked out, speaking to various butchers, 510 00:32:55,007 --> 00:33:00,365 what they should be able to get off a carcass, allowing tor a bit ot wastage. 511 00:33:00,407 --> 00:33:02,637 But a skilled butcher like Simon here 512 00:33:02,687 --> 00:33:07,044 can make more joints off that carcass than the ministry allows tor. 513 00:33:08,087 --> 00:33:11,159 lt's keeping the trimming to a minimum, nice and lean. 514 00:33:11,207 --> 00:33:15,723 Under the ration system consumers had to register with a particuIar butcher. 515 00:33:15,767 --> 00:33:18,565 So shopping around was not an option. 516 00:33:19,687 --> 00:33:23,600 Many butchers feIt a strong temptation to seII off parts of the animaI 517 00:33:23,647 --> 00:33:25,763 that wouId usuaIIy have gone to waste. 518 00:33:26,207 --> 00:33:29,279 Let me you show the difference between a wartime chop, 519 00:33:29,327 --> 00:33:31,557 with a big long bone, all untrimmed, 520 00:33:31,607 --> 00:33:34,075 to what the customer wants now. 521 00:33:34,127 --> 00:33:39,326 This lovely little lamb cutlet, nice and meaty, not too much bone, hardly any tat. 522 00:33:40,527 --> 00:33:43,883 To our wartime chop - you can see it's almost twice as long. 523 00:33:43,927 --> 00:33:45,519 - Yeah. - l get more money tor that. 524 00:33:45,567 --> 00:33:49,037 Well, the customer would get less meat tor it. Let's put it that way. 525 00:33:49,087 --> 00:33:51,043 - Right. - And a lot ot your weekly ration, 526 00:33:51,087 --> 00:33:52,440 you would take as the bone. 527 00:33:52,487 --> 00:33:56,400 So it's really important it the customer wants a good cut ot meat, they get to know Simon. 528 00:33:56,447 --> 00:34:01,760 lt Simon likes them it changes the relationship between customer and retailer. 529 00:34:01,807 --> 00:34:05,641 The customer's not always right. The retailer's always right. 530 00:34:07,087 --> 00:34:09,726 By incIuding pIenty of bone on their cuts, 531 00:34:09,767 --> 00:34:14,795 butchers couId ensure they achieved the weight of saIes the the Ministry of Food was expecting 532 00:34:14,847 --> 00:34:18,635 and stiII have pIenty of meat Ieft over to trade on the bIack market. 533 00:34:19,567 --> 00:34:22,365 - You've not got too many qualms, have you? - No, no. 534 00:34:22,407 --> 00:34:25,683 And l deserve it. l'm working hard. No qualms at all. 535 00:34:25,727 --> 00:34:28,958 And it you're making sacritices in lots ot other areas ot lite, 536 00:34:29,007 --> 00:34:31,441 aren't you entitled to a little bit ot home comtort? 537 00:34:31,487 --> 00:34:35,366 You've sent your sons off to war, your daughters are in the tactory. 538 00:34:35,407 --> 00:34:38,160 You're working extra shifts, extra hours. 539 00:34:38,207 --> 00:34:42,086 Surely there should be a little bit ot reward tor all that extra work? 540 00:34:48,087 --> 00:34:53,207 By the autumn of 1 940 bIack marketeering was becoming widespread in the countryside. 541 00:34:54,807 --> 00:35:00,086 At the same time, ships importing food to Britain were being sunk by the Nazis. 542 00:35:00,887 --> 00:35:03,196 WlRELESS: This is the BBC Home Service. 543 00:35:03,487 --> 00:35:06,047 Among them was the HMS Jarvis Bay, 544 00:35:06,087 --> 00:35:10,717 whose heroic seIf-sacrifice enabIed the rest of her convoy to escape. 545 00:35:10,847 --> 00:35:15,238 mAN ON WlRELESS: l would tirst like to mention the gallant action ot the Jarvis Bay. 546 00:35:15,287 --> 00:35:21,283 Without one thought tor their own satety, her crew immediately attacked the raider, 547 00:35:21,327 --> 00:35:24,205 without one thought but deteating the enemy. 548 00:35:25,007 --> 00:35:29,478 Words tail to express the gallantry ot the men aboard the Jarvis Bay. 549 00:35:33,087 --> 00:35:36,238 lt really emphasises the cost ot human lite. 550 00:35:36,287 --> 00:35:40,803 lt does make you think about the value ot what they were carrying on those convoys. 551 00:35:40,847 --> 00:35:43,919 lt you waiting tor that, doing something a bit dodgy, 552 00:35:43,967 --> 00:35:47,846 you know, meaning that more stuff had to come in, then you're culpable. 553 00:35:47,887 --> 00:35:55,123 many people in 1 940, who had perhaps not taken the rationing system quite as seriously, 554 00:35:55,167 --> 00:35:59,206 may then have retlected back on the severity ot what they were doing. 555 00:35:59,247 --> 00:36:00,646 Hm. 556 00:36:02,647 --> 00:36:06,162 It's time to see whether Ruth's hay box has done itsjob. 557 00:36:15,887 --> 00:36:18,242 That's one ot the best stews l've ever eaten. mm. 558 00:36:18,287 --> 00:36:20,847 Those hay boxes, they're really efficient, aren't they? 559 00:36:21,607 --> 00:36:25,839 - Cos you use less tuel, l suppose. - Less tuel and less time as well. 560 00:36:26,647 --> 00:36:28,956 Tea. 561 00:36:29,007 --> 00:36:31,885 Brought in trom the tour corners ot the Empire, Peter. 562 00:36:32,927 --> 00:36:35,122 Thanks to the brave merchant shippers. 563 00:36:37,087 --> 00:36:39,078 We'll drink to them. 564 00:36:40,007 --> 00:36:41,759 To merchant seamen. 565 00:36:44,327 --> 00:36:46,318 (Owl hooting) 566 00:36:47,767 --> 00:36:49,758 (Birdsong) 567 00:36:50,527 --> 00:36:55,760 With merchant ships taking a hammering throughout 1 940, imports feII rapidIy. 568 00:36:56,127 --> 00:36:59,005 Livestock farmers, in particuIar, feIt the impact 569 00:36:59,047 --> 00:37:02,403 with imports of animaI feed faIIing by over a third. 570 00:37:03,207 --> 00:37:04,401 Where is that dog? 571 00:37:04,447 --> 00:37:07,598 - Henry! Come on, Henry! - A mind ot his own. 572 00:37:07,647 --> 00:37:12,277 Home-grown aIternatives Iike siIage now took on a new urgency 573 00:37:12,327 --> 00:37:14,636 and the boys are ready to have a go at making it. 574 00:37:15,807 --> 00:37:20,517 The first step is buiIding an airtight container, or siIo, for the sugar-beet tops. 575 00:37:23,367 --> 00:37:25,358 But there's some bad news. 576 00:37:25,407 --> 00:37:27,716 We have the remnants ot a sugar-beet crop. 577 00:37:27,767 --> 00:37:32,045 - Look at this. - We've got hoot-prints, cow poo. 578 00:37:32,087 --> 00:37:34,203 (Laughs) l wonder who the culprit was. 579 00:37:34,247 --> 00:37:37,876 The cows have got into the fieId where the tops were kept. 580 00:37:37,927 --> 00:37:39,918 And eaten them. 581 00:37:40,127 --> 00:37:43,915 They've eaten all the green material and left us with the actual sugar-beet, Peter. 582 00:37:43,967 --> 00:37:49,246 And they've had a good old snack, on what is essentially their winter teed. 583 00:37:49,287 --> 00:37:52,085 So they've raided the larder early, haven't they? 584 00:37:52,127 --> 00:37:55,199 They really don't understand. This is all tor their benetit. 585 00:37:55,247 --> 00:37:56,441 Yep. 586 00:37:57,727 --> 00:38:02,596 All we're gonna have to do is go out there with scythes and torks and get more material. 587 00:38:07,527 --> 00:38:12,078 There was pIenty of officiaI advice about unorthodox ways to make siIage. 588 00:38:12,807 --> 00:38:15,799 l guess it's a measure ot just how desperate the government had got 589 00:38:15,847 --> 00:38:20,125 that they were advocating harvesting nettles which is essentially a weed. 590 00:38:20,167 --> 00:38:24,399 But nettles are very nutritious. Good iron content. 591 00:38:24,447 --> 00:38:26,438 Good protein content. 592 00:38:26,687 --> 00:38:29,076 They crop up and they just grow everywhere. 593 00:38:31,567 --> 00:38:35,242 It isn't just scraps to go in the siIo that the boys need to gather. 594 00:38:39,687 --> 00:38:43,396 They must aIso forage for materiaIs to make the structure itseIf. 595 00:38:44,287 --> 00:38:50,601 All ot the metal in Britain in 1 940, ot course would be used to build bombers, 596 00:38:51,887 --> 00:38:53,878 ..tighter planes. 597 00:38:53,927 --> 00:38:58,842 So we're gonna to have to make do with scrap trom the tarmyard. 598 00:39:01,007 --> 00:39:04,682 - The problem is, it's a lot ot work, isn't it? - lt's a hell ot a lot ot work. 599 00:39:04,727 --> 00:39:07,799 - We need some help. - l think l should get down the labour exchange, 600 00:39:07,847 --> 00:39:12,443 and see it we can't pick ourselves up a couple ot land girls to help us out with this. 601 00:39:12,487 --> 00:39:14,478 Cos we're gonna need it. 602 00:39:15,167 --> 00:39:19,843 The wartime drive for food production meant extra Iabour was desperateIy needed. 603 00:39:21,487 --> 00:39:25,924 An intense campaign encouraged women to join in the battIe of the fieIds. 604 00:39:26,527 --> 00:39:29,599 Thousands responded and the Women's Land Army 605 00:39:29,647 --> 00:39:32,525 soon became a feature of farms across the country. 606 00:39:38,847 --> 00:39:44,001 Historians NicoIa Verdon and CaroIine Bressey have come to heIp buiId the siIo - 607 00:39:44,047 --> 00:39:46,766 a cIassicjob for the indispensabIe Iand girIs. 608 00:39:47,527 --> 00:39:49,677 - This is Peter. - Hi. 609 00:39:49,727 --> 00:39:52,764 Peter, Nicola and Caroline. They're our land girls tor the day. 610 00:39:52,807 --> 00:39:56,197 Yeah, so, Nicola, shall we get cracking on sorting this tin out? 611 00:39:56,247 --> 00:39:57,760 - OK. - lt you do that, 612 00:39:57,807 --> 00:40:00,082 it we go grab some tops, to stick in it. 613 00:40:00,127 --> 00:40:02,721 - Sure. - When we tinally build it - it we tinally build it. 614 00:40:05,327 --> 00:40:07,841 Henry's not enjoying this damp ground, is he? 615 00:40:08,007 --> 00:40:10,316 l don't think anyone's enjoying this damp ground. 616 00:40:10,367 --> 00:40:13,677 Land girIs worked at Ieast 50 hours a week, 617 00:40:13,727 --> 00:40:19,085 with fuII-timers paid roughIy two-thirds the wages of maIe agricuIturaI Iabourers. 618 00:40:21,127 --> 00:40:25,917 NicoIa Verdon has written extensiveIy on the history of women in the British countryside. 619 00:40:25,967 --> 00:40:28,561 Was there a clamour to join the Women's Land Army? 620 00:40:28,607 --> 00:40:34,079 Certainly it was a very attractive proposition tor some women, 621 00:40:34,127 --> 00:40:40,282 who saw it as a way to get out ot the city centres, and to enjoy the outdoor lite. 622 00:40:41,047 --> 00:40:43,720 They may have had a certain image ot what tarm work was like 623 00:40:43,767 --> 00:40:48,477 and, ot course, the government propaganda and the posters were rather glamorous. 624 00:40:48,527 --> 00:40:51,246 l think the reality when they got here was rather different. 625 00:40:51,287 --> 00:40:55,565 lt must have been quite a steep learning curve tor many ot these young girls, 626 00:40:55,607 --> 00:41:01,364 coming trom the town to a completely sort ot alien environment, and an alien set ot jobs. 627 00:41:01,407 --> 00:41:04,877 Farmers and also a lot ot women themselves had to be persuaded 628 00:41:04,927 --> 00:41:10,638 that they were both physically capable ot doing the work and doing it well. 629 00:41:10,687 --> 00:41:11,676 Yeah. 630 00:41:11,727 --> 00:41:15,515 So there was quite a lot ot prejudice amongst the tarming community 631 00:41:15,567 --> 00:41:17,558 but women proved themselves. 632 00:41:17,607 --> 00:41:20,997 They proved they were physically capable ot doing the work, 633 00:41:21,047 --> 00:41:24,562 that they were honest and kind ot honourable workers. 634 00:41:24,607 --> 00:41:27,167 So a lot ot farmers were won over. 635 00:41:27,207 --> 00:41:32,759 lt's certainly a great story and we're incredibly indebted to you tor your help today. 636 00:41:32,807 --> 00:41:36,482 Cos otherwise l don't think we'd get this done in the time we have. 637 00:41:38,167 --> 00:41:44,322 The number of women in work rose by over two miIIion between 1 939 and 1 943. 638 00:41:45,447 --> 00:41:48,120 And voIuntary organisations aIso fIourished. 639 00:41:49,807 --> 00:41:52,116 The pears have all dropped in the orchard. 640 00:41:52,167 --> 00:41:55,239 But the tree round the back has still got quite a lot on. 641 00:41:55,287 --> 00:41:59,485 Ruth is getting invoIved with the Women's Institute, or WI, 642 00:41:59,527 --> 00:42:04,681 and has roped in her daughter Eve to heIp with her first task - food preservation. 643 00:42:05,967 --> 00:42:08,561 So, mum, what exactly is the Wl? 644 00:42:09,047 --> 00:42:16,397 Well, it's a women's organisation that was very much part ot that whole desire to do your bit, 645 00:42:16,447 --> 00:42:21,601 and to try and sort out some ot the problems that war had caused the population. 646 00:42:21,647 --> 00:42:25,686 And tood preservation was high on their agenda. 647 00:42:25,727 --> 00:42:30,926 Over 5,000 tons ot tood that would have just rotted on the tloor 648 00:42:30,967 --> 00:42:33,322 and been eaten by wasps and things. 649 00:42:33,367 --> 00:42:35,562 - 5,000 tons... - That's a lot. 650 00:42:35,607 --> 00:42:37,643 ..ot extra tood because ot this. 651 00:42:37,687 --> 00:42:41,885 You could sort ot teel that every apple you pick is one in the eye tor Hitler. 652 00:42:41,927 --> 00:42:43,997 (Both laugh) 653 00:42:44,047 --> 00:42:47,164 ''He ain't gonna starve us out, cos we're gonna sort it.'' 654 00:42:47,207 --> 00:42:48,401 Yeah. 655 00:42:50,487 --> 00:42:56,517 Ruth wiII coIIect appIes from aII over the farm then take them to a WI centre to be preserved. 656 00:43:00,927 --> 00:43:04,476 At the siIo, the girIs of the Land Army are proving their worth. 657 00:43:06,847 --> 00:43:09,441 OK, this one's a bit shorter than that one. 658 00:43:10,167 --> 00:43:13,842 Doesn't matter about the length, but the camber will be the same. 659 00:43:13,887 --> 00:43:16,526 - Right. OK. - The internal circumterence. 660 00:43:16,567 --> 00:43:18,637 - Does that make sense? - (Laughter) 661 00:43:18,687 --> 00:43:20,882 l haven't got a clue what you're talking about. 662 00:43:20,927 --> 00:43:24,966 The thing is, l've worked with Peter tor years so l know his strange language. 663 00:43:26,447 --> 00:43:29,439 But not aII women were accepted into its ranks. 664 00:43:32,047 --> 00:43:36,359 An infamous rejection was that of London-born AmeIia King, 665 00:43:36,407 --> 00:43:39,319 who tried to join the Land Army in 1 943. 666 00:43:43,287 --> 00:43:45,801 CaroIine Bressey has studied AmeIia's case. 667 00:43:47,047 --> 00:43:53,156 lnitially, she was rejected trom the Land Army, trom serving, because she was a black woman. 668 00:43:53,207 --> 00:43:58,201 The woman who was recruiting noted the colour ot her skin and erm... 669 00:43:58,247 --> 00:44:03,002 suggested that it might be a problem, and Amelia was rejected tour times. 670 00:44:03,047 --> 00:44:08,679 Eventually, she went to her mP and questions were raised in the House ot Commons. 671 00:44:08,727 --> 00:44:10,922 - Yeah. - And that's when it hit the headlines. 672 00:44:12,527 --> 00:44:15,599 AmeIia's pIight was taken up by the nationaI press. 673 00:44:19,247 --> 00:44:22,842 The Land Army cIaimed that no farmer wouId empIoy a bIack woman. 674 00:44:23,087 --> 00:44:25,999 But one farmer went out of his way to chaIIenge this. 675 00:44:27,927 --> 00:44:29,918 AIfred Roberts. 676 00:44:32,647 --> 00:44:35,923 He said, ''Well, it she's willing to work, l'm happy to take her on.'' 677 00:44:35,967 --> 00:44:38,435 So she said, ''Yes, l'd like to do that job, 678 00:44:38,487 --> 00:44:42,605 but only it the Land Army employs me as a land girl.'' 679 00:44:42,647 --> 00:44:46,162 lt was a matter ot principle that she wanted them to take her on. 680 00:44:46,207 --> 00:44:49,483 And the tact that he had come torward undermined their argument 681 00:44:49,527 --> 00:44:52,724 that they couldn't tind her a place because ot prejudice with farmers. 682 00:44:52,767 --> 00:44:54,758 So they took her on. 683 00:44:55,407 --> 00:44:58,126 The story was especiaIIy famous at Manor Farm, 684 00:44:58,167 --> 00:45:00,761 because AIfred Roberts was a neighbouring farmer. 685 00:45:02,687 --> 00:45:04,723 Where are you here in this photograph? 686 00:45:04,767 --> 00:45:06,758 l'm in the background somewhere. 687 00:45:07,087 --> 00:45:11,922 His daughter Betty Rudd worked side by side with AmeIia King on the Iand. 688 00:45:11,967 --> 00:45:14,037 - ls that you there? - Yes, that's me. 689 00:45:14,087 --> 00:45:17,159 - You're right behind Amelia. - l'm right behind her, yes. 690 00:45:17,207 --> 00:45:24,079 Betty, your tather was the tarmer who gave Amelia King a job. 691 00:45:24,127 --> 00:45:26,482 Yes. He was, yes. 692 00:45:26,967 --> 00:45:29,276 Do you know why he did that? 693 00:45:29,327 --> 00:45:32,046 Well, because he telt so strongly about it. 694 00:45:32,087 --> 00:45:34,078 Why should she be retused to work? 695 00:45:34,127 --> 00:45:38,484 lt was the headlines in every paper at that particular time, 696 00:45:38,527 --> 00:45:40,882 and nobody would accept her. 697 00:45:41,527 --> 00:45:45,805 So he immediately got hold ot the phone number and phoned these people and said, 698 00:45:45,847 --> 00:45:48,042 ''She certainly can come here.'' 699 00:45:48,087 --> 00:45:53,207 Amelia came and she was part ot the gang. She enjoyed her time here. 700 00:45:53,247 --> 00:45:55,477 She did. She was very good. 701 00:45:55,527 --> 00:45:59,725 And also the other girls were good to her. They accepted her. 702 00:46:00,247 --> 00:46:02,920 - lt was hard work. Very hard work. - Yeah, yeah. 703 00:46:02,967 --> 00:46:06,437 When you think ot it, looking back, they all said, you know, 704 00:46:06,487 --> 00:46:09,160 it seems like tive years just sort ot went like that, 705 00:46:09,207 --> 00:46:13,803 cos we were enjoying ourselves so much, working and doing things tor the country. 706 00:46:13,847 --> 00:46:16,042 - Yes. ALEX: And growing tood. 707 00:46:16,087 --> 00:46:18,806 Growing tood, yes, which is the essential thing. 708 00:46:18,847 --> 00:46:23,363 After her time in the Land Army AmeIia King disappears from the pages of history. 709 00:46:24,727 --> 00:46:27,480 It's beIieved she died in 1 995. 710 00:46:28,447 --> 00:46:33,316 But her actions as a young woman heIped to chip away at the prejudice in British society 711 00:46:33,367 --> 00:46:37,326 as wartime pressures forced barriers to be broken down. 712 00:46:44,807 --> 00:46:47,162 AIthough women were doing the same jobs as men 713 00:46:47,207 --> 00:46:49,482 they were stiII expected to run the home. 714 00:46:50,127 --> 00:46:54,200 The Women's Institute advised their members to Iet nothing go to waste. 715 00:46:55,887 --> 00:46:58,447 l got this great book come through trom the Wl. 716 00:46:58,487 --> 00:47:00,079 Thrift Crafts. 717 00:47:00,127 --> 00:47:03,756 lt's got all sorts ot things in here including what to do with teathers, 718 00:47:03,807 --> 00:47:07,720 which considering we've just had to cull the chickens makes sense. 719 00:47:08,687 --> 00:47:12,362 The WI put out wartime pubIications with a heavy emphasis 720 00:47:12,407 --> 00:47:15,205 on reviving oId-fashioned ruraI skiIIs. 721 00:47:16,647 --> 00:47:19,161 Using every teather off every bird you pluck, 722 00:47:19,207 --> 00:47:23,120 l mean, people in the countryside have been doing that tor centuries. 723 00:47:23,167 --> 00:47:25,158 But it had tallen out ot tavour. 724 00:47:25,207 --> 00:47:27,721 Suddenly you didn't need to in quite the same way. 725 00:47:27,767 --> 00:47:30,440 Things were more available in the shops, you know. 726 00:47:30,487 --> 00:47:33,206 And here we all are at the beginning ot the '40s 727 00:47:33,247 --> 00:47:37,081 suddenly having to go back to this older, more thrifty way. 728 00:47:37,127 --> 00:47:41,917 And the Wl they were just in pole position to be the ones to disseminate this knowledge 729 00:47:42,047 --> 00:47:44,436 into a much wider section ot the population. 730 00:47:46,327 --> 00:47:49,956 The book recommends using the chicken's wing feathers to make dusters. 731 00:47:51,047 --> 00:47:54,756 As well as being the very best teathers tor teather dusters 732 00:47:54,807 --> 00:47:57,879 the wing teathers are also some ot the hardest to pull. 733 00:47:58,167 --> 00:48:00,556 l mean, you'd expect it, really, wouldn't you? 734 00:48:00,607 --> 00:48:04,395 By tar the biggest and toughest and you've got this strong quill at the bottom, 735 00:48:04,447 --> 00:48:06,403 which makes them so good tor the job. 736 00:48:10,727 --> 00:48:15,357 lt doesn't actually say in the book how you make the teather duster, it just says that you should. 737 00:48:15,407 --> 00:48:20,276 So, erm...l thought l'd probably just sort ot tie them with some thread. 738 00:48:20,327 --> 00:48:27,278 my theory is it l start with a little, sort ot like a posy or a tuft to be the top, 739 00:48:27,567 --> 00:48:29,239 (Sings) Doo, doo-doo, doo-doo. 740 00:48:29,287 --> 00:48:31,084 l wonder it this is gonna work. 741 00:48:35,447 --> 00:48:40,396 Binding the feathers in a spiraI makes a duster that wiII get into every crevice. 742 00:48:46,687 --> 00:48:48,678 Quite serviceable, l think. 743 00:48:48,727 --> 00:48:51,719 Thank goodness tor the Wl and their little booklets. 744 00:48:57,647 --> 00:49:00,525 With the siIo buiIt, the team can start fiIIing it. 745 00:49:01,367 --> 00:49:05,838 But first they must make carefuI preparation to ensure the siIage materiaI 746 00:49:05,887 --> 00:49:07,718 isn't contaminated with soiI. 747 00:49:07,767 --> 00:49:09,405 A little mat here. 748 00:49:09,447 --> 00:49:13,918 Otherwise, unwanted bacteria wiII deveIop and ruin the taste of the cows'miIk. 749 00:49:13,967 --> 00:49:16,037 - That's tine. - l think that's a good covering. 750 00:49:16,087 --> 00:49:18,476 - Looks good. - Right, pitchtorks. 751 00:49:18,527 --> 00:49:20,882 - Choose your weapon. - Your work doesn't end there. 752 00:49:20,927 --> 00:49:22,838 - Do l stay in here? - You stay in there. 753 00:49:22,887 --> 00:49:27,915 And as Caroline torks it over with our help - have you got your tork handy? 754 00:49:27,967 --> 00:49:31,243 - l have. - You'll tread it like an ltalian treading grapes. 755 00:49:31,287 --> 00:49:33,278 - Yeah. - Chuck it over. 756 00:49:34,927 --> 00:49:36,838 So am l trying to shift it? 757 00:49:36,887 --> 00:49:39,117 lt's the trampling down that counts. 758 00:49:43,367 --> 00:49:46,439 Treading the materiaI forces oxygen out of it, 759 00:49:46,487 --> 00:49:51,083 which in turn aIIows the nutrients inside it to be preserved - a bit Iike pickIing. 760 00:49:51,127 --> 00:49:54,403 lt's actually very hard work. l'm quite out ot breath now. 761 00:49:54,447 --> 00:49:57,041 But we're getting there. lt's getting higher. 762 00:49:57,687 --> 00:50:00,485 AIthough siIage had been known about for centuries, 763 00:50:00,527 --> 00:50:04,839 untiI the Second WorId War many farmers in Britain had never tried making it. 764 00:50:06,207 --> 00:50:09,040 This really is at the toretront ot 1 940s tarming. 765 00:50:09,367 --> 00:50:12,677 All their lives farmers, you see, they've been making hay, 766 00:50:12,727 --> 00:50:17,243 and that was really much more ot an art torm, whereas making silage was a science. 767 00:50:17,287 --> 00:50:19,642 And it was a science they didn't really understand. 768 00:50:19,687 --> 00:50:21,678 So they were deeply sceptical. 769 00:50:21,727 --> 00:50:25,037 Really, the government wanted this to happen on every tarm, 770 00:50:25,087 --> 00:50:28,284 but the reality was it happened on very, very tew tarms. 771 00:50:28,327 --> 00:50:30,716 So we would have been innovators ot our age. 772 00:50:34,767 --> 00:50:37,281 ALEX: Where do you want it? - That tar corner. 773 00:50:49,767 --> 00:50:52,759 The Women's Institute preserving day has begun... 774 00:50:54,767 --> 00:50:57,759 ..staffed by the Iadies of the Hampshire WI. 775 00:51:03,087 --> 00:51:06,921 Throughout the war centres Iike this operated aII over the country, 776 00:51:06,967 --> 00:51:10,164 preserving thousands of tons of produce for the nation. 777 00:51:14,487 --> 00:51:19,800 Anne Stamper is the WI's archivist and has come aIong to supervise proceedings. 778 00:51:22,407 --> 00:51:26,798 l mean, the sheer numbers ot tins, the sheer numbers ot pounds ot truit. 779 00:51:26,847 --> 00:51:28,724 - lt's huge! - Yes. 780 00:51:28,767 --> 00:51:32,282 Yes. And we're just on this one page here. 781 00:51:33,807 --> 00:51:36,116 68 and a halt pounds ot truit. 782 00:51:36,167 --> 00:51:38,158 41 and a halt pounds ot sugar. 783 00:51:38,847 --> 00:51:42,726 And that yielded 7 4 pounds ot jam and jelly. 784 00:51:43,567 --> 00:51:45,558 - Free...tor one day. - Yeah. 785 00:51:49,527 --> 00:51:52,883 But though the WI was famous forjam-making, 786 00:51:52,927 --> 00:51:56,237 that wasn't the onIy preserving method at their disposaI. 787 00:51:56,287 --> 00:51:58,005 (Low chatter) 788 00:51:58,047 --> 00:52:02,802 In 1 940 home-canning machines were donated to Britain from North America. 789 00:52:04,567 --> 00:52:08,276 But home front housewives had never seen this technoIogy before. 790 00:52:09,727 --> 00:52:12,082 You don't hear much about home-canning, do you? 791 00:52:12,127 --> 00:52:14,243 - Not very much, no. - Have you done it? 792 00:52:14,287 --> 00:52:16,357 - l haven't done it, no. - Really? 793 00:52:16,407 --> 00:52:19,797 - No. Never. - Has anybody here ever canned any truit? 794 00:52:19,847 --> 00:52:20,916 WOmEN: No. 795 00:52:22,567 --> 00:52:25,081 - Bottled and jammed, but not canned. - Not canned. 796 00:52:25,127 --> 00:52:27,118 Oh, l hope we get this right, then. 797 00:52:28,287 --> 00:52:29,481 Oops. 798 00:52:29,527 --> 00:52:34,806 Ruth's about to put this machine into action for the first time since the Second WorId War. 799 00:52:34,847 --> 00:52:39,159 - Line it up caretully. lt sits in there. - Sits in a groove. That's quite easy. 800 00:52:40,207 --> 00:52:42,243 - So lock it in. Clunk. - Right. 801 00:52:43,327 --> 00:52:47,479 - And now... - Got to turn the handle at least 20 times. 802 00:52:47,527 --> 00:52:50,087 That's better. One, two, three, tour, 803 00:52:50,127 --> 00:52:53,244 tive, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 804 00:52:53,287 --> 00:52:55,517 1 1 , 1 2, 1 3... 805 00:52:59,127 --> 00:53:01,561 ..20. Did anything happen there? 806 00:53:05,847 --> 00:53:07,838 lt's stuck. 807 00:53:10,007 --> 00:53:12,521 - Well, it seems to have worked. - (Laughter) 808 00:53:14,607 --> 00:53:18,520 So then this has got to be sterilised. This is what this other pan ot water's tor. 809 00:53:18,567 --> 00:53:21,240 - That's right. - So we sort ot cook it in the can. 810 00:53:22,007 --> 00:53:23,998 l think we can get the hang ot this. 811 00:53:27,687 --> 00:53:31,566 After being peeIed and cored the appIes are covered in sugar syrup 812 00:53:31,607 --> 00:53:33,598 to make sure no oxygen gets in. 813 00:53:34,607 --> 00:53:36,916 Working cIoseIy with the Ministry of Food 814 00:53:36,967 --> 00:53:42,246 the WIs sent their produce straight into the rationing system with no reward for themseIves. 815 00:53:45,087 --> 00:53:48,557 And all these people in here they would have been volunteers? 816 00:53:48,607 --> 00:53:53,044 Oh, yes, these women or other Wl members would be coming in here 817 00:53:53,087 --> 00:53:56,443 trom nine in the morning until tive in the evening. 818 00:53:57,207 --> 00:54:02,281 So, as a volunteer, making a gift ot your apples, making a donation ot all your time, 819 00:54:02,327 --> 00:54:04,397 you get nothing back personally? 820 00:54:04,447 --> 00:54:08,520 No, it's your contribution as a countrywoman to winning the war. 821 00:54:25,687 --> 00:54:27,996 OK, Peter, are we ready with the molasses? 822 00:54:28,047 --> 00:54:30,117 We are, Alex. 823 00:54:30,167 --> 00:54:33,557 Now, this is another by-product ot the sugar-beet industry. 824 00:54:34,767 --> 00:54:37,565 OK? lt's a bit like brown sauce this stuff. 825 00:54:38,767 --> 00:54:40,280 lt's really sweet. 826 00:54:40,327 --> 00:54:43,239 But it was absolutely crucial, this stuff, to making silage. 827 00:54:43,287 --> 00:54:46,006 So whereas sugar was rationed in all other parts ot the war, 828 00:54:46,047 --> 00:54:48,959 ot course the government was so keen tor farmers to make silage 829 00:54:49,007 --> 00:54:52,477 that they gave them a special dispensation to use this stuff. 830 00:54:54,047 --> 00:54:57,323 MoIasses were seen as vitaI to the preservation process, 831 00:54:58,047 --> 00:55:00,322 heIping fermentation of the crop to begin. 832 00:55:03,047 --> 00:55:06,642 The government encouraged aII wartime farmers to make siIage. 833 00:55:07,207 --> 00:55:09,516 And though it never became wideIy popuIar 834 00:55:09,567 --> 00:55:13,685 IeveIs of production are estimated by some to have reached a miIIion tons. 835 00:55:16,207 --> 00:55:20,803 The Iadies of the Women's Institute are ceIebrating a successfuI canning drive. 836 00:55:21,327 --> 00:55:26,765 Together the WI and the Land Army engaged aImost 600,000 women in the war effort. 837 00:55:26,807 --> 00:55:30,846 In fact, the two organisations were headed by the same person, 838 00:55:30,887 --> 00:55:32,798 Lady Gertrude Denman, 839 00:55:32,847 --> 00:55:36,840 who did everything she couId to ensure they heIped each other out. 840 00:55:36,887 --> 00:55:40,402 ln tact, in this copy ot Home And Country, 841 00:55:40,447 --> 00:55:43,166 which was the Wl magazine, 842 00:55:43,207 --> 00:55:51,876 Lady Denman actually wrote a letter which she actually headed ''An Appeal to Farmers' Wives''. 843 00:55:51,927 --> 00:55:53,918 Oh, yeah. 844 00:55:54,647 --> 00:55:59,562 ''The prejudice against a woman attempting to do a man's work dies hard...'' 845 00:55:59,607 --> 00:56:01,279 That's true enough, isn't it? 846 00:56:01,327 --> 00:56:05,400 ''..but the progress ot the Land Army in the past year shows that it can be overcome.'' 847 00:56:05,447 --> 00:56:08,359 And very practical too. She goes on in that letter to suggest 848 00:56:08,407 --> 00:56:15,483 that one ot the ways that Wl members can help is by inviting Land Girls into their houses 849 00:56:15,527 --> 00:56:20,476 to have a bath, it the place where they're working hasn't got a bath. 850 00:56:20,527 --> 00:56:25,476 And she suggests they come as guests ot the Wl meetings and indeed that did happen, 851 00:56:25,527 --> 00:56:27,199 and quite a tew joined the Wl. 852 00:56:30,367 --> 00:56:32,676 Yeah, it's looking good. You're getting higher. 853 00:56:32,727 --> 00:56:35,002 In tribute to their sisters in the fieId, 854 00:56:35,047 --> 00:56:37,561 the Iadies of the WI are rounding off the day 855 00:56:37,607 --> 00:56:40,724 with the Land Army's officiaI anthem, Back To The Land. 856 00:56:40,767 --> 00:56:42,758 (Piano intro) 857 00:56:44,287 --> 00:56:48,121 Back to the land, we must all lend a hand 858 00:56:48,167 --> 00:56:52,843 To the tarms and the tields we must go 859 00:56:52,887 --> 00:56:55,003 There's a job to be done 860 00:56:55,047 --> 00:56:57,197 Though we can't tire a gun 861 00:56:57,247 --> 00:57:02,799 We can still do our bit with the hoe... 862 00:57:02,847 --> 00:57:04,838 (Hums tune) 863 00:57:12,887 --> 00:57:15,196 - A race against time this, Peter. - Yeah. 864 00:57:17,687 --> 00:57:19,678 - Gotta move taster. - Yeah. 865 00:57:20,687 --> 00:57:22,678 A little overlap there. 866 00:57:24,407 --> 00:57:26,477 - Not a bad job that. - That's a brilliant job. 867 00:57:26,527 --> 00:57:31,237 - lt makes you realise how hard work it was. - We're extremely gratetul tor your help. 868 00:57:31,967 --> 00:57:36,961 With autumn's bounty safeIy preserved, the team are ready to face the winter, 869 00:57:37,007 --> 00:57:41,046 and the shortages that wartime wouId continue to bring. 870 00:57:43,607 --> 00:57:49,239 lt you come with us back to the land! 871 00:57:49,287 --> 00:57:51,278 RUTH: Hip hip! ALL: Hooray!