Monty on t'elly

[Bigmallly]

He had to charge so much for his coops because he spent far too much time dithering around and fannying on to make it cost effective. No thought was given to flat packing for delivery either.

I 100% agree, he just wasn't a businessman. His costings were guesswork & a day late.

[binley100]

I enjoyed last nights programme more than last weeks at least there were some veg growing. But, what is it with these people , pricey duvets and now coops. Handcrafted items always work out expensive cos of the time involved ( I know from experience ) and your average guy just isn't going to pay it.

[winstonwobble]

I enjoyed the program its really hard to make a living from a couple of acres best to keep it for enjoyment and earn money some other way specially when you have a young family to provide for they must come first surely

[SlugLobber]

I watched this last night and have to say, the chicken coops weren't very practical at all. Although very pretty, who on earth would want to spend that much on a small coop and then put in our in the wind, rain, snow... you get the idea!

The Wendy Houses were much better in principle and I think he'd have a market for doll houses, too. I thought his Mrs was doing pretty well with the veg, though and I would kill for that polytunnel!!

[basketcase]

Were we watching the same programmes?! Was it not a bit more Grand Designs for Smallholders, rather than a How to Do it programme.

Yes, Monty made some good points last night, especially regarding business plans etc, and perhaps they were a bit too ambitious. But encouraging someone to drop their work on the properties where all their money was tied up wasn't very bright either.

As for the first one, did he really have to keep banging on about the man's arthritis? Especially in front of his children? And they may well have felt the need to get the pig out of the ditch because they feared that the sequence could be cut to make "good TV" by implying that the 'ignorant newbies' just wandered off and left a valuable sow in a ditch. Not saying they would, but they might have done...

[sagegreen]

A nice family in Cornwall last night; but with no plan and going into smallholding on a 'wing and a prayer' I though Monty's quite hard, but practical advice absolutely right. Despite all the minor criticisms I think this is turning out to be a very watchable series.

[Snadger]

One thing I did wonder was why Monty, a writer who gardens, should set himself up as an authority on smallholding management.........or did I miss something?

[Bigmallly]

One thing I did wonder was why Monty, a writer who gardens, should set himself up as an authority on smallholding management.........or did I miss something?

He's gotta make his money somehow........

[sagegreen]

A fair point, Snadger. Monty bought a hill farm in the Black Mountains some three years or so ago, which gives him some creedence. And he only says he has been 'involved' with farming at the start of My Dream Farm. I think the best thing to do is just enjoy the series!!

[bramble]

I thought the couple on last week were great and would say they will definitely make a success of it.
This week i wasn't so sure. Don't think the guy has what it takes to make a go of it.
Enjoyed Monty Don though.

[Snadger]

A fair point, Snadger. Monty bought a hill farm in the Black Mountains some three years or so ago, which gives him some creedence..............!

So thats why! Is there a programm I've missd that shows how he got on?
PS I did enjoy last nights programme and just wondered what his credentials were!

[Hilary B]

We had a dream; it never worked enough to live on, needed another income and that made it something we had to get out of, because we were living at opposite ends of the country. There will always be questions that you didn't realise you should have asked. Sometimes they can be got round, sometimes they are a deal breaker. ALWAYS go into these things knowing that you will have such matters.

[Snadger]

We had a dream; it never worked enough to live on, needed another income and that made it something we had to get out of, because we were living at opposite ends of the country. There will always be questions that you didn't realise you should have asked. Sometimes they can be got round, sometimes they are a deal breaker. ALWAYS go into these things knowing that you will have such matters.

Better to have tried and failed than not have tried at all was the way I justify my time in self employment! (Must admit, it is nice to have a guaranteed paycheck at the end of each month though!)

[zazen999]

I nicknamed last night's chap Hugh Fearnley Sitting-Still.

He'd have been better off coming on here and asking for advice before scraping all that topsoil off his veg patch.