Wartime Farm Episode 2
The team tackle the conditions faced by British farmers in 1940, when the full impact of rationing took hold and which also saw Britain face the onslaught of Nazi bombing in the Blitz. Ruth finds out how about the impact rationing had in the kitchen as food became strictly limited – and also explores the temptations of the black market. Alex and Peter are confronted with vastly reduced supplies of feed for the animals, so attempt a method encouraged by the government: making “silage”. This involves not only finding alternatives sources of feed to store for winter, but also creating a container to store them in. And for this they find out how the Women’s Land Army could be of help. Along they way, they also discover how racial prejudice reared its ugly head during Land Girl recruitment – only to be overcome by the actions of a local farmer. Ruth goes on a canning drive – gathering fruit to preserve and donate to the war effort – with the local Women’s Institute. Wartime Farm was produced by the BBC in partnership with The Open University.