1975: 'Crank Peasant' JOHN SEYMOUR on SELF-SUFFICIENCY | Living on the Land | BBC Archive

Author John Seymour, a self-professed “crank peasant”, has been self-sufficient since the mid-1950s. It wasn’t deliberate – he just bought a cow, and things snowballed. But he’s still seen as a trailblazer for the self-reliance movement.

With a bit of everything on his farm – crops, pigs, hens, ponies, a horse, a herd of cows and a batch of home-made beer – he reflects on the ups and downs of his simple, if demanding, life.

Clip taken from Living on the Land: Self-Sufficiency at Fachongle Isaf, originally broadcast on BBC One, Friday 5 September, 1975.

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[hoilst]

His books are glorious. Helpful, but with a loving dose of romance and some fantastic illustrations.

[fidelcatsro]

Wow the man lived another 29 yrs after this interview, died at age 90!

[jq]

Wonderful. Love that they broke into a gospel song over their beer 🍺!

[pauldurkee]

Dogs looks up to you, cat's looks down at you, and pig's treat you as equals.

[xanmontes]

My great grandparents were very self-sufficient!

I wish it was feasible to go back to that life.

[lifeafterdev]

Amazing. BBC used to be a great source of quality.

[PABElectrical]

Is there any chance of getting Living on the Land where it features Len Ward?

[mid-walesrover]

We can't all be peasant farmers (there is not enough land to go round) but we could all live a simpler life, grow some veg in our gardens, waste less, fly less, make do and mend, which I think was Seymour's message.

[andydixon]

Would trade places with this man any day.

[NoosaHeads]

1914-2004.
Born into a well-to-do family.

[johncarter]

I like the idea. I think in 2023 in uk too much red tape

[Vinesy]

The dog had the right idea. Nah mate not for me that beer or singing 😅

[theautumnalcyclist]

So this documentary should have been called Sally Seymour on Self-sufficiency

[DaraM]

So this film should’ve been about the wife.