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Return to River Cottage: Season 5

River cottage season 5 2006

  • 2006-05-24T23:00:00Z on Channel 4
  • 30m
  • 5h (10 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
  • English
  • Documentary
In 1999 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall decided to quit the bustle of London and take on the life of a smallholder at River Cottage, a former gamekeeper's cottage in Dorset. The aim: self-sufficiency; to grow his own vegetables and raise his own animals for food. Over the years several series have been produced covering his experiences and watching his rural empire grow.

10 episodes

Season Premiere

2006-05-24T23:00:00Z

5x01 Tales from River Cottage: Getting Started

Season Premiere

5x01 Tales from River Cottage: Getting Started

  • 2006-05-24T23:00:00Z30m

Hugh looks back on his early days at river cottage offering advice to other as to how to start their own adventures into small holding.

Hugh looks at how he has made the best use of the land that he has.

The story of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's three years as a smallholder in Dorset. He reminisces about his adventures with his pigs - from buying his first pig to training his breeding sow to hunt for truffles.

Good friends and helpful neighbours are an essential part of the rural idyll. Hugh recalls his initiation into the rural Dorset community.

Hugh believes that to achieve a thoroughly good living, you need to be ready to barter and heckle. He charts the rise of his own little enterprise, from the local farmers market to the tough streets of London.

The difference between a vegetable garden and a smallholding is livestock, and every smallholder needs chickens. Hugh recalls his poultry learning curve.

Hugh tells us about some of the local customs he learnt.

Hugh explains how the river and sea offer the free food - from crabs and cuttlefish to eels and pike.

Hugh explains why wild food should be a part of the smallholder's diet.

Hugh decides to continue as a small farmer - but how far should he go?

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