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Jimmy Doherty, 28, and star of BBC2's Jimmy's Farm did just
that, and has written a book about it: Jimmy Doherty On
The Farm.
"It
covers the whole trials and tribulations of setting up from
the start," he told this website on his way to a book
signing in Bristol.
"All
our progress is charted, plus hints and tips about keeping
chickens or goats, or growing vegetable patches, for example
- things we did."
Anyone
who watched the TV series, shown earlier this year, will be
familiar with Jimmy's ethos: using traditional farming methods
to rear several breeds of rare pigs and produce quality pork
for farmers' markets and his farm shop.
Jamie
Oliver
Direct
contact with the public was the plan, and often seemed to
be the farm's saving grace during the documentary, which showed
how hard it was to get it all up and running - and turning
a profit.
But
Jimmy insists things are turning around.
"We
have stopped losing money, the shop is busy and we plan to
be at various food shows - including at the NEC - and continue
at the farmers' markets.
"I
have also bought more sheep and a bull, and plan to do some
bee-keeping.
"Our
Essex pigs have produced three litters and Blaze - the farm's
boar - is proving himself now," Jimmy added.
No
doubt this will come as some relief to regular viewers of
the documentary; which
showed Jimmy's childhood friend, Jamie Oliver, involved in
financing the project.
The
BBC came to him, Jimmy said: "I took part in a pilot for something
that was never shown. The TV people took me aside afterwards
and I told them about my plans, which they said they wanted
to film as a documentary."
Previously,
Jimmy's background was in academia, studying insects.
"The
farm comes first," he said when I asked if he planned
to do any more TV work.
"Although
if it helped promote agriculture and rare breeds, I would
consider it," he added.
A
Christmas special is planned, and a second series could soon
be on its way.
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