Local Salad Farm Stars on BBC’s Escape to the Country

One of the first contributors to this website was Kate Monk of Gourmet Leaves, who sent us some inspiring articles about how her family salad farm near Spreyton was adapting to the Covid crisis. So when the BBC rang us earlier this year, looking for rural businesses to talk to in the Crediton area for their programme Escape to the Country, we immediately suggested Gourmet Leaves.  Here Kate reports on what it feltlike to have a BBC film crew turn up on her farm.

On a perfectly normal morning, pulling into the driveway after the delivery round; I received the most bizarre voicemail message that I have ever had. If I had been drinking at the time of listening, I would have almost certainly spat it out in surprise.

The BBC were asking if they could come and film with us at Gourmet Leaves! 

At first I thought it was a scam but couldn’t work out what kind of scam or who it would benefit, so I gave it another listen. We are such a tiny family farm, how on earth did they stumble across us? Why would anyone want to come and see us- we don’t feel particularly interesting! Turns out we have the Crediton In and Around team to thank for the opportunity!

An urgent mini family/business partner meeting was held to debate whether it was something we should participate in or not and it was decided that although it is definitely not something we would seek out doing, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a film crew visit for the day so we jumped at the chance.

After confirming that it indeed was not a scam and that it would only take a few hours of our time and that it was going to be on a day and time that we could squeeze into the farming schedule it was all booked and we turned our attention to the usually ignored aesthetics of our farm. We saw weeds, long grass, mess, toys and piles of random farm equipment. With just 7 days until the filming, it was all hands on deck to have a much needed tidy up, strim and a mow! Fortunately, the starring role played by our poly tunnels were looking incredible as they always do in April.

For the first time in the history of our farm, every single one of the 6500 holes that we grow in was full of something growing. We had beautiful lettuces, kale and cavolo nero all ready to harvest. It really was good timing as the first crop of the year is always the best, long before the usual aphids, mildews and other pests settle in for the year. Had they left it just one more week, we picked the lot and had big gaps in the system again so it really was meant to be!

I was incredibly nervous (this will no doubt show on the film) but I had to remind myself that no one really minds and that there is a reason that I am a farmer vs a film star. Hair and makeup was not needed as thankfully the role of farmer is not glamorous and I wouldn’t want to portray the role incorrectly!

Instant Images Embroidery in Torrington came to our rescue and supplied us with a lovely new uniform so that I looked the part on the day and we pulled off the mega tidy up so everything was in place.

The BBC film crew did not arrive in a crew van/bus as I had expected, but due to Covid they were all in convoy in their own cars. For an extremely rural hamlet, you can imagine the eyebrows that this raised as they came to a halt outside our gate.

The producer Nicky was lovely and set straight to work with a quick tour and overview of what we do and where the best views are before arranging for the sound man to attach the hidden microphone. The presenter Sonali (Escape to the Country) arrived shortly after I had forgotten the microphone and used the loo (poor sound man) and we started off in the meadow having a chat about what we do and why we do it. There were many takes and out takes but the team were exceptionally patient and professional so hopefully the editors can use it!

After an hour or so in the meadow, we moved into the lettuce tunnel where we went into more detail on how we grow our leaves. Everyone had a taste of a few different leaves and we all had a giggle at some of the names of our lettuce. Brian was a big feature in the show as the sweetest and crunchiest on offer. We don’t name them - they legitimately have odd names like Doreen. 

We wrapped it up with some shots of our newer tunnel with the kale in where I had to wander down the tunnel looking busy. I planted a few coriander out, checked our pipes weren’t blocked and pretended to eat some kale. Acting is definitely not my strong point so hopefully it won’t look as weird as it felt on the day!

The team then sat down in the shade and used our superfast fibre broadband to send their footage back to head office in London for the long editing process to begin.

It was quite a long event and a long build up with the flurry of work it created, but we did enjoy ourselves and I am hoping that the footage is enjoyable, interesting and that it allows all of our lovely customers, neighbours and friends/family far away to see what we are doing whilst they can’t visit us.

You can watch Kate on Escape to the Country here. (you will need to sign in with your BBC ID or register)