The Hard Working Day Of A Victorian Farmer | Victorian Farm | Absolute History

In this episode, the team embarks on a trip by steam train, Ruth begins a tough task in the dairy, Alex tries his hand at beekeeping, the sheep are sheared using the latest time-saving technology, and the lengthening summer days allow Alex and Peter to try out the new Victorian sport of cricket. It is also time for the hay harvest, weather permitting.
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[@Sylvael2002]

I am so enamored with this series, these people and the attention to detail of this whole show, Bravo!

[@yoitired]

It's like Lord of the Rings, if there was no Sauron and the hobbits just stayed in the Shire.

[@Muck006]

99,999999% of Hobbits did stay in the Shire ... and they were seduced / subdued by Saruman ... just like we were. At the end of the "Wartime Farm" series they are talking about "not forgetting the effort of british farmers to allow them to win the war, but only a few years later that has been forgotten and it becomes all about the price and global trade.

[@kristinespencer7301]

Yes!!!!!

[@kimmoxie2160]

Hahaha exactly!! No wonder why I’ve watched this series a hundred times too! 😁😂

[@RavenOakYT]

Accurate! 😂🤣

[@BasementRuthie]

Idéal, really 😂😍

[@shaeflatt8428]

imagine driving down the road and seeing a man dressed in full victorian garb chasing sheep down the lane

[@flamingpieherman9822]

If I ever see a man dressed as a Victorian....im marrying him.

[@danielmoulton4117]

And the Border Collie not being allowed to help round them up.

[@WATCH-IT-BUSTER]

You'd think you were in an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE 🙄

[@ericmueller6836]

Here we call them Amish

[@Deasvier34]

🤭😄😂🤣

[@marycanary86]

ruth goodman cackling and shoving at a cow refusing to budge is just so damn pure

[@thegracklepeck]

Agreed! She's got good spirit

[@kathychildress18]

Cackling is right

[@Jeremy_the_unfallible_n-a]

unlike your comment about it lol

[@utej.k.bemsel4777]

Yes, they can be really stubborn!

[@yesseniaalonso3533]

Peter has such a soft spot for the piggies! Can’t get over it

[@neffyg35]

Its hard not to when you really taking care of them like this.

[@yusufnoel569]

I dont mean to be so off topic but does any of you know of a method to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would love any help you can give me.

[@kylenleonidas1131]

@Yusuf Noel Instablaster :)

[@yusufnoel569]

@Kylen Leonidas Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out now. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@danielmoulton4117]

Anyone who has had pigs on a small holding will tell you they have more character than any other farm animal by far.

[@candicehay3823]

I think Absolute History needs to publish some cookbooks 😍 I'd love the ginger beer recipe

[@lisapena9043]

There are several books, written by the farm hosts. One for each season.

[@karahershey]

I was thinking the same thing

[@karahershey]

@@lisapena9043 do you know where you can buy them ?

[@angelwhispers2060]

It was originally made by BBC. Check their archives

[@SaidiLouise]

Ruth Goodman herself has written quite a few cookbooks. They are available on Amazon. I googled Ruth Goodman Cookbooks and several Amazon listings popped up. Good luck. Let us know how it turns out!

[@15Anime4Ever15]

"i just got a bee on my meat and two veg" hi hello yes american here and i've heard a lot of euphemisms for that particular body part but this has to be one of the funniest

[@archaeogal]

I hope Catherine follows in her mother's footsteps... she's such a lovely young lady and a natural in these series!

[@jeffburnham6611]

Mr Acton must be a time traveler to be able to get his hands on a bike from the 1950's, for use in an 1880's period setting.

[@tuvia4082]

Absolutely a fantastic series, thanks for your ongoing efforts and diligence. Cheers with a ginger beer!!

[@tigerz8174]

Thank you Ruth and Peter!! And Alex thanks for being on show!!

[@piercethelutheran]

here here!

[@eddiesroom1868]

4:40 he should shear that hear a little in the back ...

[@JKelly756]

Ruth and her daughters are so cute together!

[@sherimaldonado1889]

I love all of them in their own way, Ruth is very brave and knowledgeable, Alex has a curiosity and Peter doesn't let anything bother him. They are a lot of fun as well as facsinanting to watch!! 💙🤍💙

[@furmamafur2]

Thank You to All ... Mr. Acton and His Family Ruth, Peter, Alex and the Entire Team involved... I've learned a lot in just a few short weeks of Watching, than I did in my school years history classes growing up in the 60's & 70's

[@audrey9561]

Oh man, I know they said those bees were more docile than average but I would not have the courage to shake a branch of bees barehanded

[@motherlessgoat72]

Oh I know! I would have been like, "Glad the bees are nice. Have fun cause you're on your own!"

[@AirborneAirAssault6565]

Very interesting! I've learned so much from these documentaries! Ruth is a good, strong smart and quite Lovely Gal! My respects to her. The Boys humor makes the difficult work go by quicker and easier! Thank you for the wonderful History of moments in time!

[@Skye_Writer]

I love Ruth's daughter! She's a star in the making.. :) I hope we see her again in more of these series.

[@johnblack9038]

I keep bees, the bit where he had a bee on his meat and two veg... I felt that. I've been stung there, and I nearly doused the hive with gas and lit it on fire afterwards.

[@VeiLofCognition]

Ruth is the best!

[@theresabajorek]

Peter dropping the Family Save-all had me in stitches when he was making the gingerbeer that now I want to also make gingerbeer just so I can drop my own cookbook into it after XD But seriously, this is an incredible sneak peak into history that I hope we can see more of. I'd love a program like this but of life in different countries because it would be amazing to compare things.

[@thomasbecker9676]

Wait, are Ruth's daughters identical twins? I was confused when the narrator called her daughter "Katherine."

[@M0NCHY]

No, they just look similar. I'm pretty sure katherine is the younger daughter and eve is the older.

[@deezimmo4814]

Relatives in my family look so similar that my friends refer to my family as 'Children of the Corn'...

[@mcaskey358]

I know! I have watched all three of the farm series before and it is just now that I realized there was two of them. I'm not sure if they are twins, but they definitely look alike. But then I had a friend with three younger sisters, none were twins, but they all looked identical.

[@sherryrunslate9678]

I have only two children, both girls, 3 years apart. These girls even have me, their mother, guessing at times when going through old photographs about which one is who. Now they are 27 and 30. They still look close to twins but not identical ones. The youngest is almost 6 ft. While my oldest is 5’ 3”. That is the easiest way to tell them apart. Both have extremely long dark brown curly hair down to their waist and both usually sport a messy bun by some point throughout their day. The youngest has a pronounced widows peak as well. When her hair is pulled back there isn’t any doubt which one is which, even when they are both sitting or laying down during the holidays after feasting & waiting for their food to digest before cleaning up begins!

[@josefinbjork7746]

She has two girls and both look like there mother so its easy too get mixtup

[@thomaisdefois]

These 6 episodes were my favourite documentary series ever!!!!! Thank you for that! I enjoyed every moment. The team is fantastic and the filming crew did a great job!!! Well done beautiful people! You're amazing ❤️️

[@pinkyvdt]

Do u know they have other series like this set in different times? There's Edwardian, Wartime both ww1 and ww2, Tudor Monastery, and a few more but those are the ones I've watched and can recommend. Look in the playlists section of this channel. Cheers xx

[@thomaisdefois]

@@pinkyvdt yes dear, I know. Thank you!!! I watch them often 😊 Cheers ❤

[@fatherofchickens7951]

The boys looked quite handsome in their cricket gear❤️

[@beauson1983]

2:40 But if they're all Sean how will you tell them apart? I'll see myself out, lol

[@sheilaboston7051]

By their Bandaids?

[@BridgeChele]

You know, I never wanted to think of cheese as the compressed baby sick of a cow.

[@peterbrazukas7771]

Watching all of these series, you can literally see Katherine growing up lol

[@mollymoore2374]

I made ginger bear once and the bottles exploded in the cupboard. 😂

[@essaboselin5252]

Well, the poor bear probably wanted to stretch his legs.

[@darianle190]

sounds quality seems good!

[@civlyzed]

2:39 Momma sheep shoots a look like "shorn, me?"

[@meanjeanmcqueen6171]

The funniest episode by far! 😄

[@___LC___]

Sadly, the milk did not arrive fresh to homes and mothers added borax to make it not smell off.

[@pipsqueex]

peter is such a darling

[@peggylindenthaler6169]

I think Peter is so sweet and handsome. I like him.

[@DarkInos]

I am in awe as they just pick up any old "trashy" equipment.. rusty and that.. and expect it to work instantly, instead of trying to clean it a bit.. grease it up etc O.o

[@lynnleigha580]

She could also use a little of her hoards of vinegar

[@trymenot81]

Peter's trousers had a soft spot for Peter.

[@ggEmolicious]

I could have gone my entire life without seeing fleece infected with maggots. Oh god, I wish I hadn’t seen that, I can feel my skin crawling. Not nearly as bad, but still made me fast forward a bit were the bees. >.

[@marcjackson9571]

I love watching this trio

[@RandomsFandom]

The trick with chicken wire is to make panels, and then put the panels together. A 4' wide panel is the key

[@richardsanchez5444]

3:11 is that Henry from wartime farm?

[@HannibalFan52]

Rounding up the sheep: the stuff that comedy films are made on...

[@brynotar]

For the last few years I have been having night terrors.

[@deborahklinlger8565]

I felt sad when the runt of the pig litter died. When i was a child my cousin who lived next to me, got attached to the pig her dad brought to slaughter for winter & her dad had Mrs. Oink Oink slaughtered & 'Joy' refused to eat her. Food animals should never be named or thought of as family pets. I'm not a killer.

[@sherimaldonado1889]

Can anyone tell me when this series was made?

[@drthmonkey42]

So, did only graveyard landscapers get married?

[@emilys3638]

I wonder why they wouldn't have gone ahead and cut the hay by hand with scythes or some such tool? I don't know much about farming, but it seems to me that people were able to cut hay from their fields even before the big machines were invented! It may have been more work, but it would have prevented the waste of an entire year of labor, as well as the valuable hay itself... But I'm always happy to give the benefit of the doubt that there is more to the situation than a short episode can afford the time to explain...

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

Still too wet, I think - cutting even with a sharp scythe is hard work and with both wet grass & new grass tangled together, seems like it'd be a nightmare. I wondered about the possibility of sileage/baleage instead, given that doesn't require dry plants, but dunno if that requires lucerne or can be made with just hay...?

[@Delicate_Disaster]

The pig just crawling on top of all the other pigs 🤣🤣🤣

[@zagrizena]

Seeing them handle the bee swarm and hearin they were a docile kind, I thought they might have been Carniolan and I started swelling with pride. Hearing then that they were italian and not much good almost made me angry. 🙈 Just a little annoyed they referred to them as being bought in from "Slovenia, northern Italy", but I guess it's a history not geography chanel, so there you go.

[@catharineredacted4931]

How to you become part of something like this it seems like a hard but beautiful fulfilling life

[@grendel_nz]

There are reenactment places you can visit and get to know. Like Tudors at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk, UK.

[@tigerz8174]

It's Alex's birthday, so I'm giving him the gift of hard work as it is the one thing he doesn't have!!!!

[@purplepimple2610]

Ruth might be the kind of woman that thinks a man at rest is just a man without a task.

[@___LC___]

That hay will be no good. We have always done haying in the hellish heat of August.

[@Luubelaar]

I have exactly zero farming experience but I do understand how you can't cut the hay when it's sodden. Much like how it's really difficult cutting your lawn when it's sodden. Could they not dry out the wet cut hay somehow? Like lay it out on a rack of some sort under shelter?

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@Luubelaar They would need a rack bigger than the field, would they not?

[@utej.k.bemsel4777]

You can mow hay 3 times in a year. At least in Germany.

[@StanHowse]

Poor Clumper.

[@sheilaboston7051]

We never did see if the salve worked, but that had me a bit confused because in the previous episode they said his leg was strained. Not sure what a salve on the hoof would do for a strain.

[@CelticPrincess]

@@sheilaboston7051 If you watch "Victorian Farm - Christmas" which was done one year later, they reunited with Clumper. He had fully recovered and they actually put him to work in the fields.

[@tweezerjam]

I split a pair of jeans right down my ass crack playing kickball a few years ago. Luckily I chose to wear boxers that day. 😂

[@aggieyerex8175]

Sure beats curling.

[@AutodidactEngineer]

Imagine killing a calf just to make cheese

[@sheilaboston7051]

The calf would have been killed for the veal, with the remaining bits going for other usage.

[@tebelshaw9486]

You can make cheese with vinegar or lemon juice. I have!! 🧀

[@passionate_possum_pal]

help I just got an ad for adf skdndn

[@blacksheepk]

The dream life.

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

I'm sure those sheep were laughing

[@WyattRyeSway]

Why the hell would you sow hempseed in a graveyard looking for your one true love? I’d be afraid some zombie would rise up or something. I mean, I see some serious drawback to this folklore. Good grief. However, I’m an 18 year old in high school so the thought of scaring some poor young lass to death seems funny. I’m just kind of mean though. Lol lol. Kidding, I wouldn’t do that but it would be wicked funny.

[@kathychildress18]

Pigs are so fun to be around

[@Angie-GoneSoon]

"I can't say Happy Birthday.." a few minutes later... "I can't say Happy Birthday.." uhh.. I think she just did!

[@Ridley369]

Uhh.. I believe you're overthinking the joke!

[@seraphilight]

"Sold all over the world today." You know, all the places they play cricket that aren't Britain.

[@naomikriss5208]

I want that cheese press for tofu

[@Cherry01449]

28:48 😂😂😂

[@craigdonald551]

Not Britain’s, England’s

[@LUCiFER-LYNN]

It's a bit of a fun ride ahahah

[@TotalNoobAtEverythin]

I do like to see them trying to help the horse, even though you couldn’t get away with shooting a lame horse nowadays. In America, at least, at this time the farmer would shoot the lame horse and eat it, since it’s going to cost him money to keep him

[@JoMarieM]

It would also depend on how severely lame the horse was. If it was something that could be cured with a few days' rest, the horse was usually just kept stall-bound until the leg was healed up. But if it was something more serious, like a broken leg, then the horse would be put down.

[@CelticPrincess]

@@JoMarieM According to the professional vet it was really just a sprain and putting down the horse wasn't necessary. Watch "Victorian Farm - Christmas" which was done one year later. There they reunited with Clumper. He had fully recovered and they actually put him to work in the fields and he was completely fine.

[@RandomsFandom]

I'm a dude, but the tea party for a birthday would be cool

[@mcaskey358]

It doesn't matter how many times I watch Peter getting emotional over the pigs, it always melts my heart.

[@___LC___]

Me too. He is too precious.

[@marialiyubman]

I’m a simple woman, I see Alex, Peter or Ruth - I watch.

[@stevenmclaughlin7817]

I like peter the most out of the 2 men.he works hard and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty

[@___LC___]

I love all of these series!

[@tigerz8174]

Minus Alex

[@animequeen78]

I'm a simple man and I'll do the same. These history videos are helpful in giving me ideas on frugal living.

[@No_Fuse8771]

Is it just me or does Peter seem like a cool dude to hang out with?

[@neffyg35]

I would love to see this but as maybe a seamstress or a merchant or maybe someone upper class in how they lived too. The detail in this show is incredible 😍

[@dougbrowning82]

Have you seen Victorian Pharmacy?

[@ljb8157]

@@dougbrowning82 i was just going to suggest that!

[@kumaahito3927]

Yeah, it'd be amazing to see different versions for even more classes.

[@tauceti8341]

You should see the one where they renovated the castle interior with all the amazing opulent color!

[@eddiesroom1868]

I agree, it's my new favorite thing to watch at night, I have had no nightmares :)

[@ILovHelloKitty13]

I love Peter, Ruth and Alex so much! What wonderful sports.

[@yendub]

When they were chasing down the sheep at the beginning of the episode I was half expecting the Benny Hill music to be playing.

[@happilyl0w]

I'm sure no one cares after this long, however every single person is AMAZING! I'm so very thankful for the luxurious life that my parent's worked so hard to give me. I am humbled and I thank you all.

[@AnthonyLeighDunstan]

I think it’s worth mentioning. I agree. 😊

[@MrTryphodemos]

I always wonder with these series; how well do they "debrief" once the year is up? Living a certain lifestyle for a full year doesn't just rinse off after a day.

[@kailawebb]

Ruth has published a few blogs and interviews about it if you Google em!

[@andyjohnson4485]

Living in Spain, my TV viewing now consists of watching this series! These three have a great chemistry and I look forward to each new program! Keep up the fantastic work and thanks!

[@terranceparsons5185]

Hold on chaps, got a bee on my meat and 2 veg. Hilarious.

[@Colanah]

As someone terrified of both bees and maggots, this episode caused a lot of squirming and wincing. But it is so fascinating to learn about all of this stuff!!

[@sherierodriguez7708]

I think Absolute History should recruit people to try their hand at the 1900's village for a year. I would love to apply for the opportunity.

[@nonamonsod]

I would pay to be able to do this! Imagine like a board and lodging place like this!

[@Muck006]

@Celto Loco ... but since the BBC has completely turned into REBRANDED COMMUNISTS, they wont do it either, because british farms didnt have enough diversity back then!

[@lspthrattan]

That wheel-powered shearing machine could also have benefited from a foot pedal, like a spinning wheel. But the bike was pretty inventive, too. I love these videos; where can a person get a place living on one of these historical farms? Does one have to be an actual historian? It looks like a fantastic way to spend a year! I have a farm background, and we had horses and herding dogs, too, so I'd take to it like a duck to water, I bet! Well, next best thing is watching these programs. Thanks for posting!

[@sueclark5763]

Maybe look up the Living History sites and check with them? Consider opening your own!!

[@lovebirdbaby1]

Have a look around for reenactment groups perhaps? It is a literal hobby that comes with insurance and events and all sorts.

[@randomrainbow4479]

I know that just outside of Detroit, Michigan, Henry Ford started a historical village that has all kinds of historical buildings and reproductions demonstrating everything from farming to glass blowing to daily life and innovations throughout 300 years of American history. It's been around since the late 1940's. I don't believe that any of the employees actually reside in the village itself, but it would be a neat experience to be in there on a daily basis, living the lives if only for a portion of each day. There must be other places that would have historical villages like that elsewhere that could use experienced hands, too. I've been to historical sites before, but not like Greenfield Village, which is like an outdoor museum that you can go through and discover on your own, each visit unique. Rather than an hourly repeated performance, these people go about the daily lives of the people of the era, and the guests come in at whatever point they come in. It's a lot of fun!

[@eddiesroom1868]

Oprah did it didn't she?

[@JuriAmari]

@@eddiesroom1868yeah. She did something like this while on a road trip with Gayle King. I forgot where it was though

[@thtyeyo]

the sheepman never misses an opportunity to roast the boys....love him

[@chrisleech1565]

Just adore the whole Victorian Farm Series!!

[@judysmith5777]

Enjoying this series so much - a great insight to the past. I didn't realize how "recent" the Happy Birthday song is ! They probably would have sang For He's a Jolly Good Fellow in those days I'm thinking.

[@Rinnytintin25]

The way Ruth said you can pay your rent with the cheese money had me almost spitting my food out. Her face was just so serious and cheese money is a weird phrase lol.

[@MoniqueAO888]

Everybody is doing really great and I love Ruth's doughter...Hugs from Germany :-)

[@Michael-dy7zp]

I laughed so hard when Peter splits his trousers!

[@Textile_Courtesan]

I keep bees as a hobby and I was lecturing him when he was pinching the queen cell! You don't pinch off the queen cells until you confirm you still have a laying queen.

[@--enyo--]

I'm guessing it's pretty heavily edited and the expert bee keeper told him what to say and do first.

[@MrDemonchild71]

Nobody likes to be lectured. You sound like my cranky know-it-all grandfather. Explaining something is different again

[@mosart7025]

@@MrDemonchild71 I think she meant she was yelling at the TV (I hope)

[@ljb8157]

@@MrDemonchild71 yes I'm sure you've never watched someone on TV doing something you know to be wrong and said "No! What are you doing? You don't do it like that!"

[@Qaz416]

Please make more Farm series !!!!!!! Medieval , ironage , different cultural farming through time

[@angelamewes4176]

I learn so much from Ruth. She makes it so fascinating. Alex and Peter also have some extreme learning stuff going on!

[@Vikanuck]

Whoever the first people to even just experiment with cheese making were must have had some seriously high aspirations, a hell of a lot of time, and some seriously strong stomachs having never smelled such a thing before haha 😂

[@sans-seraph]

The sound I made when I realized *nothing* in that dairy had been scalded was inhuman-and almost as bad as the one I made at seeing the nasties floating in the milk! Even then, milkmaids and dairies were clean for a reason!

[@--enyo--]

Yeah, and hair not tied back or anything. But I think that what they do in front of the cameras is more for show than actually making produce. For 'real' stuff perhaps they go back and do it properly? Hope so.

[@pinkyvdt]

My thoughts exactly. I was thinking "love u Ruth but come on now"

[@nhager]

Oh good I was not the only one who nearly had heart failure at the hay in the milk bucket. I used to milk my grandparents cows and the hygiene before the milking was extensive. Yes that was only 60 years ago but they cleaned their homes extensively so I am guessing the edwardians had an idea of the need to clean the buckets and the cow.

[@e.urbach7780]

@@nhager A lot of 19th century housekeeping manuals tell the housewife or farm wife to not only scald everything that touches the milk, before and after it is used, and strain the milk, the first thing, when it is brought into the house after the cow is milked. That's why! There isn't really any way of milking into an open bucket that keeps straw and cow hair out of the milk bucket.

[@kumaahito3927]

@@e.urbach7780 I think the scalding and such were properly shown in the Tudor farm, so they left it out here to give screentime to other stuff. (Ruth made cheese there too, I believe.)

[@stephanielynn608]

***EPISODE NUMBERS WOULD REALLY HELP*** Love the shows but could you guys please number the videos? 🙏 Thanks!

[@mikkelnpetersen]

22:56 I'm on Ruth's team

[@Crux161]

Peter imho is ridiculously adorable 🥰

[@shannonrobinson262]

I love how Peter is the one who understands the machines but how he’s always seen as labor by Alex. Alex couldn’t do the heavy work alone, where Peter would have been an amazing farmer back in the day. They should put one of the types of livestock onto that failed hay, suck as the sheep. They could eat up, fatten up and be sold off for meat or bred for a bumper crop of lambs

[@FigaroHey]

Alex injured his back when doing the Green Valley series. It might have been when he fell off a roof (which is mentioned in the series). After that point, he mentioned a few times in the Green Valley series that he had recurring pain. Apparently he also has a heart condition. So while it seems he slacks off and lets Peter do all the heavy lifting, in fact, he can't do the heavy lifting because of the state of his health.

[@slaveNo-4028]

@@FigaroHey interesting, thanks for the info! At first I didn't enjoy the vibe Alex gave me as much in that regard, but re-watching the series I came to appreciate him very much too, he tries his best too, and came I to love the banter they have going on, even if Peter's often the butt of the joke. But he's always a good sport about it, and his clumsiness here and there and the interaction between them both is comedy gold.

[@Muck006]

The absolute WORST place to get stung by a bee is on the head / among the hair. It is close to your brain and the poison will result in a decently strong headache. So having a proper HAT and restraining any "flowing hair" is important. *_Bee in your bonnet ..._*

[@rypefot]

"Sheep might die from old age" 🤣

[@trinathebookworm8977]

I'm curious, did they have to discard the infested wool?

[@cheyannerockett8870]

It’s always fascinating watching history be relived. I wish my school could do something like this. It really makes me appreciate modern day while also wanting to incorporate some of the past