The good life.......

[Snadger]

I've just been looking at all the dissent about the present gardening programmes and got to thinking........

A programme I would gladly watch on a weekly basis is a remake of The Good Life....for real.

To follow the trials and tribulations on a weekly basis from the inception of a family who have decided to give the good life a try. Not for just one season though........maybe a five year span?

A Scottish crofters life would also make very interesting television.

I don't watch much television so I'm sure someone is going to point me in the direction of programmes that have already done this?

[Two_Sheds]

I think the problem is that gardening isn't 'sexy' enough for TV. That's why they keep tinkering with the format of GW, to try and appeal to the short-attention-span generation

[bobleponge]

I'm not sure its the short attention span generation, more the "not sexy enough" tv.
Such a programme would only probably get a half hour slot, and try and put a weeks worth of such stuff into a half hour slot wouldnt at all be representative of the efforts of said folk.
There wouldnt be a tv company (I'm willing to bet real money here) that would dedicate the half hour or more a day that would really show just how difficult the life of a smallholder type person really is. Anything shorter than that (imho) wouldnt really show it for how it is......ie it wouldnt be sexy enough.

[rainbowbrite]

i suppose the closest show to 'the good life' in real terms would be the one monty did recently where he had people setting up a new small holding or farming business, it was quite good but it was more about monty giving advice then the day to day gritty stuff the family went through.

i personally want more gardening programmes dedicated to growing veg, i love gardeners world but i get bored at the flowers bit.

[Glutton4...]

With ya there Snadge! I subscribed to Country Smallholding magazine a couple of years back. They have stories in there, but a TV version would be fantastic. I suppose the nearest I've seen was Jimmy's Farm, which I enjoyed.

If I ever have enough money to buy the land then a Smallholder I shall become. Don't want to be filmed though!

[ginger ninger]

OH would watch gardening programs if "Charlie Dimmock" was on, He all way's watched Ground Force, said she had a great pr off...water features .

But I agree Snadger, I also like to watch program's that are also doable,for me anyway I like the idea of the good life, but living in a mid terrace house with an 20'' x 15' back yard that I converted in to a garden, keeping pigs , sheep and chooks isn't an option...even if the neighbours didn't object

[zazen999]

But who would offer to present it, when they get ripped to shreds for it? [Can I nominate Raymond Blanc's 2 sons, just for eye candy appeal].

I believe that the BBC are filming a lottie programme at the moment, just waiting to hear back on whether this is a palming off/holding response, or a real one.

[Glutton4...]

But who would offer to present it, when they get ripped to shreds for it? ....

Ooooh hark at her!!!

Mind you, it's a valid point. No one seems to be 'acceptable' nowadays. The TV companies seem to like trying new faces, when us fussy b*ggars don't seem to like change.

It'd have to be Monty Don or Kevin McCloud for me. But I guess they wouldn't appeal to everyone, either.

[pjh75]

i personally want more gardening programmes dedicated to growing veg.

Same here which is why I lean towards the Alys Fowler programme, Carol Klein and the chefs James, Jamie etc who do a bit of growing and then cook it.

[SarzWix]

The BBC are looking for people for a smallholding experiment programme. Can't remember where I read that, but it sounded like an interesting premise for a programme.

[Tractor Boys]

There was the progamme with Dick Strawbridge and family called Its Not Easy Being Green where Dick and his family grew their own veg and converted a stream to provide electricity. I did enjoy the show.

[Jeanied]

I'd like to see Tamasin Day Lewis's new garden in Somerset and see how she gets on growing and cooking her produce - there was a great slot in one of her programmes where she went to a friend's garden and he had built a clay outdoor oven. They had roasted/ baked purple and red potatoes.

[Tractor Boys]

Now that is spooky just looked on the website for Its Not Easy been Green and they have feature on how to build a cly oven in a day.

Newhouse Farm - Sustainable Living & Green Technology Courses in Cornwall.

[two brews]

pjh75 james martin digs deep is on good food channel monday at two oclock followed by grow your own veg with carol klein a new series i think

[Seahorse]

where she went to a friend's garden and he had built a clay outdoor oven.

Bet it wasn't as good as our own dear PW's