How to build a Cotswold stone wall, grass-fed beef and latest farm update

[@paul1978g]

I can't put into words how grateful I am that you're keeping traditional craftsmen like that in work. I grew up in the countryside, working the land with my father as a boy, and it gave me a real appreciation for the land around me. The British countryside (and cotswolds in particular) have thier own unique charm, due in no small part because of those beautiful old dry stone walls. This coupled with the obvious care for the wildlife around you (the lush meadow that you really seem to have a great affection for, the bird feed you've sown, the land you're resting) just really speaks to the character and decency of yourself as a genuinely good and decent man. Thank you for your continued generosity at giving us and the wider world, this window into your passions.

[@tomgreene2282]

Well said ...I'm reading Richard Jeffries at the moment...lovely images of Old England.

[@thetessellater9163]

"..working the land with my father as a boy,..." Its not fair, I wanted to be born into a farming family! You're very lucky.

[@johnnunn8688]

@@thetessellater9163, you wanted to be born, into a farming family? That means you wanted to be born into a farming family, before you were born! Do you, perhaps, mean, you WISHED you had been born into a farming family?

[@jackw9920]

The dry stone walling is superb. Such a skill.

[@Pete-z6e]

Jack W , while the back holds out!

[@lightningleaf23]

10.13 Harry went for the handshake and then remembered social distancing. 😂

[@willtapp6068]

It wasn't just me who spotted that then! Good spot. Love this man though

[@Snipersight00]

I'm going to find that such a hard thing to remember when back in the real world. I'll have to keep my hands in my pockets from now on lol.

[@lightningleaf23]

Snipersight00 yep when we are eventually allowed back out it will be strange how it unfolds. Even after a vaccine if we haven’t shook hands for 6 or 12 months will we be reprogrammed into not doing it ? Who knows.

[@wizardzx2]

Definitely true. Looked awkward, but that's not Harry, that's the situation. :S

[@GrrMeister]

10:13 *To locate ½ embarrassing incident !*

[@archibaldchimpin]

All is well with the world, once I’ve watched Harry’s farm.

[@jaymur001]

Very interesting to learn about the stone walls. Quite a craft

[@krimke881]

Impressive how you can take a 5 year olds' hobby, to a professional job, earning an income. When you actually think of it, its jaw-dropping 🤔🤷‍♂️😃😱

[@shannons1886]

Truly amazing! I’d watch him do that for hours.

[@stokesy887]

I almost wish I had some stone walls in disrepair just to have him come out and fix them. Looks incredible

[@maharajapapa8025]

I am amazed at the craftsmanship that is put into dry-stacked walls - glad to see someone keeping that tradition going!

[@konzolkal.7786]

yes indeed, very interesting about stonewall building

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Well, I take my hat off to you sir. Not only a grafter, but a custodian of the very fabric of the countryside...a side of farming that surely goes mostly unnoticed.

[@harrysfarmvids]

Bib The Boulder Thanks. I think that’s the least understood element of being a farmer, it’s all about being a custodian of the countryside, which 99.9% of the non-farming population seemingly fail to realise.

[@pussygalore5947]

I am obsessed with the sheer amount of hand-built stone walls in your area....now seeing how they are built, they are even more impressive!

[@spencerwilton5831]

There would have been many, many more a century ago before mechanisation started to make larger fields more attractive to farm, and before labour costs began to increase to a point where it became uneconomic to maintain walls.

[@jeffmoore4153]

I always give Harry a thumbs up simply because hes never asks. The ones that ask I don`t.

[@Ben-yn5lm]

That stone walling job most be one of the most labour intensive jobs. Fantastic

[@clarencetaylor7455]

Harry, please put a time lapse video up showing a segment of the stone wall construction

[@willtapp6068]

Good idea.... Harry???

[@DanielSadjadian]

+1

[@eldorado767]

No farmers, no food. THANKS, Harry!

[@veemcg3682]

It's been so good to see the building of the stone wall and listen to your stonemason explaining what he's doing and why. Your wall looks great and it makes sense to use a resource that you have. Thank you for another very enjoyable video. God bless from Northern Ireland.

[@hydrojock6151]

Hi from Florida. My wife and I had a flat in Cheltenham, loved to drive in the country and always admired the stone walls. Glad to see you keeping yours up. Happy to see more video of the wall building.

[@harrysfarmvids]

Many thanks, glad you're enjoying the video updates. 👍

[@gixerman09]

That was perfect we have just come back from the Yorkshire Dales and we’re fascinated by the stone walls and how they were built 👏👏👍

[@timogaleon1630]

Stone walls are wonderful, and such an integral part of the British countryside. When I look at the sheer quantity of stone walls in places like Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, the mind boggles at just how many millions of man hours have gone into these. They really are one of the man made wonders of the world.

[@texleeger8973]

Among the best Harry's Farm to date. How I would love to chat with Mark: treasured skills, perfect sense of humor, and that enchanting accent. What a Farm! PS Brings back memories of six years at Michigan State University, one of the largest agricultural schools in the world. The fields near campus, the barns down the road, the smell over the entire campus of manure spreading in the spring, and the always anticipated agricultural fair, the yearly Ag Expo. Much loved. Much missed. Never forgotten.

[@duncancallow]

Wonderful video once again. Really informattive and enjoyable and delivered in the trademark Metcalfe way. Thanks.

[@harrysfarmvids]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@glen7301]

great piece of film, thank you Harry.

[@harrysfarmvids]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@krimke881]

Harry making farming look like an office-job 😁. Don't know many going to work on the fields in a pretty shirt and Chelsea-boots 🥳.

[@williamoverton7265]

What a treat to see the new wall! Thank you Harry

[@tstanislawski1]

Harry the type of guy to tell you all about the Lamborghini V12timeline then how to plant Winter Bird Food Survival Mixture - keep it up!

[@simonwaites9265]

Just found this channel. Makes me miss living on a farm. 😭 Unfortunately we had to sell up in 2002. I live in a city now. Miss looking after cows to.

[@recalcitrant_recidivist9278]

Harry I really enjoy your videos about the Farm (and the Garage too of course, I found that channel first), they’re absolutely fantastic! I loved seeing the stone-walling, I live up in north Wales and cannot believe how they built walls in some of the places I’ve seen them (up on the sides of mountains etc.)! I enjoyed listening to the chap’s accent too, I grew up on the Hampshire/Dorset border and (although I love Wales) I sometimes miss small things about the English countryside. Thank you.

[@GosforthHandyman]

How have I only just discovered this channel?!? We even share the same tractor brand!! (that's on farming sim for me - my son's fault). Awesome stuff - if you were more local I'd pop down for a visit! Obviously if you're ever in the NE post-lockdown pop in for a cuppa. 😀👍 Andy Mac

[@karlsumner5594]

Harry and Mike Brewer talking dry-stone walls...excellent!

[@chrishb7074]

Cotswold drystone walling is noticeably different from Yorkshire drystone walling. Your stones are flatter and smaller and there aren't any rows of big flat 'through' stones linking both faces together. Most well laid drystone walls will easily last 200 years, unless sheep learn to jump on them, (or tourists climb them), so the effort invested is worthwhile.

[@HydeParkHarry]

I worked as a groundsman maintaining sports turf for 10 years, so i know your pain when it comes to setting spreaders up for throwing seed or fertiliser, many a time i have had yellow lines where i have missed or dark green lines where i have overlapped 😂 as you say its all ‘ish’

[@clockwork9827]

i was thinking all that in-cab calculation us pretty well untranslatable

[@johnstilljohn3181]

That wall is stunning. Thinking how many generations have been building those - driven by Planet Rock...!

[@3ducs]

It looks like summer there, here in New Hampshire USA the trees are just showing some green. Wall building looks to be back breaking, I'm old and can't bend a bit without intense back pain. We have a lot of stone walls in NH but none like those, our rocks are rounder, none of that sedimentary rock, all glacier worn granite.

[@clockwork9827]

in Ontario here, grew up in Quebec: seen accumulated small-boulder walls but think they are different beast to the drystone walls

[@marinedrive5484]

A true custodian of the land; an example to us all, Harry. I'm sure the local wild-bird population will appreciate your efforts and those Sussex cattle are looking a treat - typical blocky shape. Stone walls are such a thing of beauty - well worth all the hours and days put into them.

[@aronyak1]

I like the going in for the handshake and realizing oops, we can't do that right now. Lovely weather, we're getting a snowstorm here in NE US.

[@mikefisher9240]

Love that Harry’s busily farming in my ‘going out’ shirt

[@TheByard]

Through my life I've been very lucky to see and use many of the old crafts. I used to live near The Forest of Dean and witnessed the Free miners who worked small coal mines. Then travelling the roads of the Cotswold's the stone walling, But best of all was an Irish carpenter who had worked for Harland & Wolf Belfast, fitting out passenger ship cabins. He carried all his hand tools in a small suitcase type wooden tool box. No power tools, or extension cables just worn from years of work not abuse hand tools. What he did with those saws, planes and chisels and an odd bit of wood is amazing. Best of all he was passing on all his skills to his apprenticed son. Harry reminds me of Raymond Baxter who I had the pleasure of knowing in his later years, we shared a passion for the old Dunkirk Little Ships. It's the easy going but to the point narration, well done Harry.

[@marcomarco7099]

10:05 How to build a stone walls… Very interesting! Thank you.

[@trevordixon672]

Always fascinating , happy looking cows and neat stone wall .

[@seanmcneill8899]

Harry for small plots i.e. grass seed / bird cover, i find the fiddle works fine. Plus you get free exercise. Love your film's Harry..Good luck from Ireland.

[@jeffreyhodge5564]

What a uplift just watching this ,the skills of farming ,the depth of knowledge,a heart of passion for the farm ,I live in North Yorkshire ,a lot of dry stone walls , it amazes how some people have no respect for the countryside ,driving to fast and knocking walls down,parking and ploughing the verges up ,stupid barbecues starting fires and fly tipping ,why do these people do this when people of good honest endeavour are day by day 365 days of the year putting food on our plates ,walling and hedging are such skills ,thanks Harry looking forward to next production ,come on people support uk farmers ,buy uk seasonal food ,badger your mp for support to our precious uk farms ,

[@ajadrew]

The stone wall is very interesting so looking forward to updates!

[@neilpatching7443]

Bloody fabulous artistry there Harry. You didn't introduce your lovely little dog. Love this channel Harry have no interest in farming myself but with you as the star they are great you have a knack my friend

[@Trendyflute]

Harry, you're an absolute role model. A world where every farmer, rancher, or large land owner (not to mention _person_ ) was as considerate, thoughtful, and conscientious as you would truly be a much more lovely world, thank you!

[@simonspencer7017]

That bloke Mark must be the very best stone waller, he listens to the very best radio station, Planet Rock.

[@FitzieJJ]

Farming in a Patek Philippe. Love it.

[@jemroberts6507]

a real pleasure to watch the dry stone section

[@andrewmarlow7303]

I'm in Cotswolds near Woodstock

[@jonathanrichards7733]

Hi Harry, I love these short films. I've made a documentary for a farming group here in Yorkshire and followed the farming year throughout, and it's transfixing to see how much knowledge you have and how much detail you pack in to each of these films. Thank you and keep going!!

[@tomgreene2282]

Great to hear a farming video which does not give almost all the time to talking about machines.

[@edwardrook6246]

Another very interesting video of life on the farm. The dry stone walling is a real art and the chap building the wall must be very skilled in his profession . Well done to him.

[@superdooperoofer8941]

Love it Harry. We really are just custodians of the land. Its up to us to look after Mother nature an all the good things past generations left behind.

[@cmadk3423]

Can't wait to see the finished wall. Nice to see what it takes for a craftsmen to build the wall.

[@judih.8754]

Thank again for showing us all the thought that goes into a modern farm albeit one that tries to adhere to older ways. I love that you put seed down to feed the birds and provide coverage for ground nesters. Cheers.

[@OOpSjm]

Got to love Harry. True educator.

[@reggief340]

I could watch that stone walking all day. Would be great to see in stop motion as it’s such a beaut

[@aukanmeister]

I appreciate you keeping the stone wall builder busy! It is really as you say, an art form. It makes the area beautiful, and you are doing your part to keep the heritage alive.

[@huss1205]

What a beautiful sunny breezy warm day. You can't beat the beauty of country side, no chance...

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

Hello Harry. IL be inspecting that walling. Up to the last foot and mouth hecademic I was a Dry stone Waller of 35 years experience. I'm retired from the walling job now. I'm 66 .

[@alansheard553]

Interesting to see your walls, due to go on my 2nd dry stone walling course here in Yorkshire. Technique similar but stones very different. The great thing is they will be there In a 100 years time !!

[@atastefortheroad4475]

I didn't realize they offered courses. Sounds cool!

[@edwinporter3574]

Wonderful episode Harry, thank you.

[@borjastick]

Looking very well healed there Harry old chap.

[@victor-emmanuel7485]

Fantastic stuff Harry! Wish you all the best

[@scott9494]

I have many memories building stone walls here in pennsylvania.

[@18echosf]

I’m having a new home built in Texas and my wife absolutely loves everything “British.” So, I’m considering having a stone wall built on our property to make her smile everyday. I sure wish Mark loved near Georgetown, TX. He’s a true craftsman! Thanks for the wonderful video, Harry.

[@MsMesem]

If u have appropriate stones on your Land all good otherwise ridiculous.

[@peternash6206]

You picked a good day to film Mark - I bet he sees some filthy Cotswold weather where you are. Great skill - thanks for sharing.

[@footnfan]

Only you Harry could make farming interesting, and in a great manner! Wonderful content, thank you. Dan from Naples Florida

[@supaG-1.0]

Absolutely fascinating. Thanks Harry.

[@ianmasters8344]

Fantastic Harry, that segment on dry stone walling was most enthralling.

[@geriatricmotorcars9516]

Class act Harry ' Love the Cotswold stone walls and buildings ' Great tradition

[@bobkendall1805]

Thanks Harry, great video, I enjoy the livestock and pasture management content, you and Greg Judy, Regenerative Rancher, are my favourites, both very informative, especially for me, an armchair farmer. Thanks

[@tonyhansom3160]

Thank you for taking the time to give us an insight into the working of your farm, it’s extremely interesting to see the highs and lows. Looking at the weather and condition of the soil now and then we look back several months to when you were wading in three feet of water. Keep them coming, look foreword to the next one. A big thank you to you and to your assistants.

[@christophernewman5027]

And that's my Saturday off to a flying start. Thanks, Harry.

[@andrew.l.5493]

Great video especially the craft work in building the wall. Interesting that one needs a high end time piece when out doing the hard yards.

[@rvpsilva9213]

The stonewall guy has very good points, such an hability

[@pompeydan3]

That stone wall is very very interesting, cheers Harry 👍

[@flatsix666]

Fantastic enjoyable & educational series. Much loved in our family. Thank you !

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

The Angle is called a batter.

[@saratoga123321]

Real farmers do their plowing in a James May shirt ™ and have a Patek on their wrist

[@bikesqump]

JOlevnikk pretty sure his tractor would be a Lamborghini too

[@chunkychinn]

Excellent Harry its so interesting to see other Professions at work. Thankyou. Brilliant

[@Bull761]

so different to here (Oz). Just finished sowing our winter Oats crop, but we also broadcast some pasture seed. Check often, it is guesswowk! Get some deep rooted perrenials established in the clay soil and rotational graze. cheers.

[@nigelw512]

Thanks Harry, another great video and as usual I learn something new. It's also helping me keep sane in these mad times.

[@MrBerry67]

Love Mark’s work - superb

[@CauliflowerMcPugg]

Very interesting nice to see a real craftsman at work. What a great way to spend a sunny day.

[@ncprealty3844]

God bless Harry and Mark, good people.

[@Nickgantz12]

Very interesting to see about the stone walls! They are very fascinating and I can't wait to see it completed

[@slamcrank]

Wow - I really enjoyed the bit about building the wall. Thanks for that, Harry!

[@RickCT2000]

Mark is superb! Wish he were in the USA to help restore our dry stone walls across New England! We could use your "old world" skills!

[@rorymcloughlin2023]

Harry, Look after that man, the wall is amazing! what a craft

[@seanpburke]

Dry stone walling is the perfect solution, all the stones from the field used to build your borders. These are gorgeous compared the Connemara walls in the west of Ireland where I’m from, very functional

[@marcomarco7099]

Connemara… it's a wonderful place. I like it and I miss it. I went maybe 15x travelling. I suggest all travellers the Heritage Center Dan O'hara homestade with Martin Walsh who present it and sing old song.

[@bikesqump]

Sean Burke I built a dry stacked stone wall when I bought my house 25 years ago and it's still standing... it's only about 1 foot tall tho!

[@ruk2023--]

My granddad taught me how to build a drystone wall as a kid 30 years ago (not as good as this I suspect!). Looking back it was a lot of fun and I wish I had a reason to build one now.

[@etheroar6312]

Just build a wall. It would give you a little more time with your grandad. What better reason could there be.

[@taxus750]

Thanks for the stuff about the walls Harry. I did some study on dry stone walling many years ago and I know for a fact that takes some skill to do it properly.

[@patrickbrown3141]

harry, your a natural! i love your vids!!keep'em coming!!

[@nigeljames1109]

I really look forward to these farm videos. Keep them coming please.

[@caroldave4037]

As ex from Co durham and northumberland we had to build walls that basically river stone or rough stuff and it was hard getting them stay up I could only dream of that lovely stone on your spread. ..cheers from dave

[@elizabethcherry920]

I never knew you are a farmer, wow. Agriculture is my 2nd love, the first is Automobile/trucks, glad to see you have both covered, great video.

[@maxmartin-merrells3723]

Excellent video, Harry! We love you!

[@Balfour99]

Super video Harry, fascinating, really like the dry stone wall ! Thank you for sharing.

[@micheltebraake7915]

Nice look into the stone wall.

[@mrfrosty42]

Having been brought up around farming with most of my fathers side of the family being estate managers or tenant farmers it is in my blood - and along with my great love of all things automotive and engineering, Harry's Farm and Garage just hit the spot - in a way they are bitter sweet as I was pushed away from farming and indeed cars when I was stepping out into the wide world many years ago and ended up on a different path. So living vicariously through these video spots from Harry makes me think of a lot of what if's. I see Harry as a modern day - Jack Hargreaves - I think he could easily make a new 'Out of Town' type series - The Cotswold area being full of local trades that need to be brought to a wider audience but without losing the fact we live in 2020.

[@SorryIwasntListening]

In the garden watching Harry's Farm... gives me a warm feeling!. Stone walling is hard work! Skill.

[@mikeclifton7778]

I had a go at dry walling many moons ago, with very mixed results! Mark makes it look so easy, although my back aches from watching! Another excellent video Harry, thanks.

[@philhicks5818]

Another great video Harry, where unearth do the stone Wallers find there patience, fantastic job