Our very own farm

Our very own farm

Episode 1 (30 min) – Kickoff of the New Season

They are a special family. Helmut (46) and Cindy (43) live in the countryside, run a huge farm, and are raising nine children! Three years ago, the family took over an organic farm in the Soester Börde region. Sixty hectares of land, a small farm shop, 30 dairy sheep, and a big plan to make a living from farming.

First aired on: 10/10/2025 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 2 (30 min) – New Summer, New Luck

This year’s vegetable harvest has gotten off to a good start. But there’s no time to rest. The grain harvest is just as important for their farm. The family has to harvest over 20 hectares of wheat at just the right time. Will there be enough in the end for high-quality flour, or will it only be good for cheap animal feed?

First aired on: 17/10/2025 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 3 (30 min) – Race Against Time

There’s good news from the potato field. It’s been a long time since the harvest was as good as it is this year. That calls for a celebration: Cindy is planning a surprise for her husband and their nine children at a harvest festival. After all, everything they’ve achieved, they’ve done together.

First aired on: 24/10/2025 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 1 (30 min) – An Extended Family of Vegetable Farmers

Helmut (45) and Cindy (42) Ahrenhold have eight children and are taking over a 60-hectare organic farm on the outskirts of the Soester Börde. The land has previously been used to grow grain, potatoes, clover grass, and sugar beets. They are the new tenants and intend to continue this practice. Helmut is a trained farmer and, with his family of ten, is taking the plunge to run his own farm.

First aired on: 29/11/2024 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 2 (30 min) – Beef and Vegetables from an Organic Farm

Maria (40) and Sebastian (39) von Müller have been searching for a suitable farm for years. And finally, in East Westphalia-Lippe, they find the Alleenhof, located between Detmold and Paderborn, with 80 hectares of farmland and pasture, cattle, chickens, vegetables, potatoes, and bread from their own farm bakery: an absolute dream for the farmers and their three children (ages 4, 7, and 10).

First aired on: 06/12/2024 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 3 (30 min) – The First Winemakers of the Lower Rhine

Gianluca (34) and Christina (34) Antoniazzi are true pioneers. They’re the first winemakers in the Lower Rhine region! Where potatoes once grew, the first grapevines now stand. Can this work? Gianluca says: “Of course—climate change makes it possible.” And since 2016, viticulture has been permitted in the Lower Rhine region as well. But will it actually work?

First aired on: 13/12/2024 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 4 (30 min) – Dairy Farmers in the Märkischer Kreis

“Maybe it was courage, or maybe it was recklessness,” says Dominick Hannuschke (30) of his decision to take over a dairy farm in the Sauerland region for 2 million euros—together with his wife, Joana Bäcker (33), and their young son, Hannes. But the year has some adventures in store for the family: major crises are shaking up their lives, and a second baby is on the way.

First aired on: 20/12/2024 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 1 (30 min) – Free-range pigs in the Tecklenburg region

Tim (33) and Vera (32) from Lienen in the Tecklenburg region are completely turning their lives upside down. Together with their children, they plan to raise free-range pigs on an old farm there. The young family’s dream is to sell high-quality, locally sourced meat. But that’s anything but easy in an area where pigs are rarely seen grazing in the meadows.

First aired on: 26/06/2023 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 2 (30 min) – Animal Sanctuary in Portugal

They’re turning their backs on Germany and trying their luck under the southern sun: Nina (38) and Stevo (42). They’re trading the big city of Cologne for a piece of wild land in Portugal. Here, they want to start an animal sanctuary—saving animals from the slaughterhouse and giving them a good life. To do that, they’ll need a lot of patience!

First aired on: 26/06/2023 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 3 (30 min) Sheep Farming in the Lower Rhine Region

Shepherdess Dunja (51) and her husband Stefan (53) are finally hoping to get their Naturhof Kevelaer farm off the ground. In Season 1, we followed them as they moved with their huge flock of sheep from a small farm in the Ruhr region to the large estate on the Lower Rhine. They have been living here for six months now with their children Lennart (16) and Marla (13), as well as Dunja’s mother Elfriede (85).

First aired on: 03/07/2023 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 4 (30 min) – Dairy Cows in the Sauerland

Dominick (29) is turning his childhood dream into reality. He’s training to be a farmer, taking out a million-euro loan, and buying a farm with over 180 dairy cows near Lüdenscheid with his partner Joana (31). Their son Hannes has just been born and is turning their daily routine upside down. Then the heat and the dry summer take their toll on the young farmers. Their cows can no longer graze in the pasture.

First aired on: 03/07/2023 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 5 (30 min) – Swedish Self-Sufficiency

Vivian, Alex, and their two children dream of a self-sufficient life in Smaland, Sweden. They’re starting out on a small farm in the Smaland region, 5.0 kilometers from the nearest major town. Four hectares of meadows and woods, a few sheep, and a beautiful house. Here, romantic Bullerbü-style moments collide with harsh reality.

First aired on: 15/05/2023 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 3 (45 min) – Horses and sheep in Münsterland and Wittgenstein permaculture

Holger (46) and Peter (44) have fulfilled their dream of owning their own farm in Münsterland. In Ennigerloh, the two vets are passionate about keeping rare sheep, geese and chickens. And special, valuable horses: Trakehner. They are aiming high with their breeding.

Friederike and Frank from Erndtebrück have a big goal: they want to stop wasting energy and resources. They grow fruit and vegetables and keep chickens.

First aired on: 10/07/2023 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 7 (30 min) – Self-Sufficiency in Sweden: Winter Edition

The harsh climate in the north allows for only a very short growing season. As a result, the harvest is correspondingly small. Vivian is counting on a heated greenhouse, but will Alex be able to finish the challenging construction project in time for the start of the season? The trained carpenter actually works full-time at a sawmill and only has time on the weekends — and even then, there’s plenty of other work to do.

First aired on: 12/01/2024 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 8 (30 min) – Cattle Rancher Anna in the Bergisches Land

Anna has big plans. She wants to raise Shorthorns—the world’s oldest cattle breed, which is threatened with extinction—and build a large herd in the Bergisches Land region. Her father is also a cattle rancher; he raises Fleckvieh and Limousin cattle. Life on a farm is hard, which is why Anna’s parents are skeptical about whether this is the right path for her.

First aired on: 24/05/2024 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 1 – Family move with flock of sheep

150 sheep, two children and a grandmother: Dunja and Stefan dare the animal move with the whole family. They want to fulfill their dream of owning their own sheep farm. So it goes from a small farm in the Ruhr area to a large estate in Kevelaer, where the family wants to build a new existence. Full of enthusiasm, even 84-year-old Grandma Elfriede decides to move with them. Also: extraordinary chickens, self-sufficiency from our own garden and Asian vegetables in the middle of the Ruhr area.

First aired on: 07/02/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 2 – Sick sheep

They wanted to earn money with sheep’s wool, skins and meat – but Dunja and Stefan had to postpone the opening of the farm shop. The other farmers are also facing challenges: the bad weather is not good for the tomatoes. In order to save the harvest, Kati and her husband David all have to lend a hand. In addition, a tomato house is urgently needed for protection. Kati and David paid 400 euros for the kit for a shelter – but the construction will still cause a lot of trouble.

First aired on: 07/02/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Tiny house for chickens

Mira and Daniel’s rare Swedish flower hens have offspring: the chicks get a new home in a converted trailer. The other farmers also rely on their young animals: Holger and Peter from Münsterland are training the foal Santa Gracia for the first competition. Meanwhile, Kathy and Sven take a big step with their sons Tom and Teo: they start a new life as organic farmers and breed pigs, goats, sheep and chickens. Kathy relies on old, rare breeds and wants to set an example that animal husbandry can also be sustainable.

First aired on: 14/02/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 4 – About foal shows and piglet births

Tension at the horse breeders Holger and Peter: can the foal Santa Gracia convince the jury at the foal show? Also: pig farmer Kathy experiences the first piglet birth. A great day for her whole family! Meanwhile, Kati and her husband David are starting their first gardening season, a dream that finally comes true. Kati also infected David’s mother Christine with her enthusiasm. Born in Poland, she wants to cook bigos, a Polish herb dish, from Kati’s first white cabbage. Neighbor Adrian is to judge whether it succeeds.

First aired on: 14/02/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 5 – Big plans

Kathy and Sven want to get into the organic egg business – but that takes a lot of energy and money. And the other farmers also have big plans: Marcella and Sebastian’s children have entered their garden in a competition. Will they become the most insect-friendly garden in the region?

First aired on: 21/02/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 6 – Major project pig paradise

Sun protection for the pigs turns out to be a complex, large-scale project for Mira and Daniel. They just want to make their pigs happy. And the other farmers are also struggling with challenges: the vegetable harvest of Irfan and Aynur is threatened by a plague of snails. Meanwhile, after the costly move with 150 sheep, Dunja and Stefan hope to finally get some money back into the till – with an improvised farm shop sale. Will people accept your project and shop?

First aired on: 21/02/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 7 – Goat control

Goats must also be officially recorded. An employee of the goat breeding association comes to check on Kathy and Sven. They experience a real miracle. Meanwhile, the self-supporters Mira and Daniel have to realize how tedious their task is and how much they are at the mercy of the whims of nature. They bring in crop failures. Bitter, because they have invested a lot of money and time in their sideline. The hope that chicken breeding will be successful is all the greater.

First aired on: 07/03/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 8 – Slaughter chickens

Kathy loves her chickens, but she also needs to be able to make a living from them. That’s why visiting the mobile butcher is particularly difficult for her. Kathy must have 160 animals processed into soup chickens. Irfan and Aynur are self-catering with a large garden. But Irfan is still looking for new ways to make more of his piece of land. With another greenhouse, they want to extend the season and grow winter vegetables. The plan sounds good – but whether it really works is not in his hands alone. The native Koreans Kim and Kimi also provide themselves with all kinds of vegetables. How does it work with the green fingers?

First aired on: 07/03/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 9 – A pigsty for the winter

The pigs Pumba, Rosa and Primel live outside all year round. Before the frost, Mira and Daniel have to winterize the stable. Do the pigs like that? Dentist Irfan and lawyer Aynur from East Westphalia are self-sufficient, with vegetables and fruit, chickens, geese and quail. A chick hatched two days ago and the couple don’t know if it will survive. There are also problems with the quail: they simply do not lay enough eggs. But animal lover Irfan quickly has a solution for this.

First aired on: 14/03/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY

Our very own farm

Episode 10 – Pregnant or butcher

Sow Else just won’t get pregnant. But without offspring, the pig is not profitable for its breeders. Kathy and Sven have to make a decision: do they dare to try another boar or will Else be slaughtered? Meanwhile, exciting times are ahead for Holger and Peter. Because they take care of special offspring. Two of her four foals were under observation after an operation. Now they are setting up a new flat-sharing community on their farm. The question is: will the four young mares get along?

First aired on: 14/03/2022 and in the ARD MEDIA LIBRARY