Homegrown

City: Atlantic

Director: Ben Cummings

Genre: Lifestyle

Homegrown follows two modern homesteaders Ben & Nicole as they navigate and learn how to grow a garden and raise animals. After mishaps with their bees, predator problems and their pigs making a run for it, they seek help from local farmers and businesses to learn what they can do to become more self-sufficient.

To watch Homegrown:

If you are already a Bell Fibe TV customer, go to channel 1, or watch it on demand with the Bell Fibe TV App.

If you are not a Bell Fibe TV customer, click here to learn more about Bell services.

Episodes

Episode 1 - What is a homestead?

Ben and Nicole have committed to a goal of self-sufficiency, but unfortunately it’s proving harder than they thought. Atlantic Canadian winters are becoming more difficult than ever before as they get their two-wheel drive truck stuck on their way to the feed store.

Episode 2 - Winter Woes

The saying “six months of winter” comes true, as Ben and Nicole run out of dry firewood before the season is over. Regardless, looking back at the year before proves helpful in moving forward with this year’s garden plans.

Episode 3 - Spring Cleaning

As winter thaws, Ben and Nicole set out to tidy up the yard and prep the garden. With cleanup well underway, they pick up a new honeybee hive in hopes of being able to pollinate their garden and reap some sweet, sweet homegrown honey.

Episode 4 - Honey, Honey

After Ben gets a nasty sting from his honeybees, he ventures out to MacPherson’s Apiary and Farm to learn the ropes of what it takes to be a beekeeper. With his newfound knowledge, he’s confident enough to even harvest his own honey.

Episode 5 - Let’s get Cracking

For the first time, Ben and Nicole set out to hatch chicks from their own eggs. While waiting for hatchlings, they reap the first bounty from their garden.

Episode 6 - Foraging Fun

Ben and Nicole join the Bubar family to pick fiddleheads and River Valley Blueberries to learn about blueberries. Unfortunately, not everything foraged is safe to eat and Ben learns his lesson about mushroom misidentification.

Episode 7 - Chicken Chaos - Part 1

Ben, Nicole and Ben’s parents decide to try their hand at raising meat birds. However, they neglected to take into account that 100 chicks quickly turn into 100 chickens. A lack of room forces them to think on their feet and quickly move them outdoors.

Episode 8 - Predator Problems

When dealing with predators, there’s no easy out. After losing too many birds to raccoons over the last couple years, Ben and Nicole set out to catch their criminal and protect their meat bird investment in hopes of still filling the freezer with meat for the winter.

Episode 9 - Chicken Chaos - Part 2

After resolving the predator problem, the chicks still have only six more weeks before they’re ready for the chopping block. As their end grows near, Ben visits a local butcher to learn the ropes on how to cut and prep meat.

Episode 10 - Filling the Freezer

After a long 8 weeks, the meat birds are finally ready for the freezer. Family and friends band together and join Ben & Nicole in hopes of being able to feed both them and Ben’s parents for the winter.