A bit late, but has anyone been really inspired by the Victorian Farm programme?

[MrsTittleMouse]

I keep finding myself thinking about it and how everything had a use and nothing was thrown away. I find it really inspirational. Using old tea leaves to clean and grinding old bricks to make a kitchen cleaner. Not that we're able to do as much as I'd like while we rent (I want a compost heap!), but I've found myself saving loads of paper etc that I'd "just" recycle for DD1's crafts, and I found myself collecting all the glitter from the bath after my Lush bathbomb last night thinking "that'll come in handy!".

I loved that program.

My mother talks about life in the 40s being like that - even broken crockery was put in field gates in the muddy bits, old tin cans were used to strengthen ploughshares and nails were staightened out and reused. Until recently, DH also rescued andstraightened nails! We heat our house almost totally from wood from skips - does that count?

i loved this programme to- have just found the book from the series. have ordered it can't wait for it to come

I loved this programme! Link to the book please?

here

It was interesting but I have no desire to live like that tbh.

No running hot water, washing machines etc

Although I agree the make do and mend way of thinking is a good one (to borrow a phrase from a post Victorian era!)

here

sorry no idea how i managed to post that twice- sorry

Oh yes, the laundry was the worst. Well, I'm sure that in the actual Victorian era that dentistry and dying in childbirth would have been worse, but you know what I mean.

I just loved the way that they got the full use out of everything though. It makes me so sad that we live in such a disposible culture. I would love to pay more for things that would last and we would use forever, but I'm not sure if they even exist any more. Mind you, DH and I are still wearing some of the clothes that we had when we met almost 12 years ago. My dressing gown is 18 years old and going strong - I am determined that it will last at least 20 years - that way I'll only need one other until I'm almost into retirement!

it is terrible the way things are no longer built to last. i have had my own home for 11 yrs, and am on my 3rd washing machine! when i bought my latest one i was told that they are not buiilt to last as people want things for as cheap as poss. personally i'd rather pay more and have it last a lot longer!!
i also wear my clohes til they fall off, and then i have made cltohes for dd out of the bits that are still useable

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I came to it late, which was a real shame as the 2 programmes I saw I really enjoyed. Hope it gets re-shown. What I particularly liked was the enthusiasm and interest of the presenters - professional historians revelling in getting hands-on with their subject.