As the series opens, Hugh travels to meet Paul at River Cottage Australia – a former dairy farm nestled between the pristine Sapphire Coast and the imposing Mt Gulaga – a place of enormous significance for the indigenous Yuin people. Together Paul and Hugh will hear first-hand their powerful message of sustainability – as well as discover how the mountain is central to their Dreamtime stories. On the farm itself, Hugh and Paul map out a sustainable plan for the future, discover fantastic bounty as they forage locally for food, and share the products of their culinary skills with the locals - who in return will try to help them overcome the challenges of living off the land.
With Hugh back in the UK, Paul finds himself alone at River Cottage Australia – but not for long. He’s about to welcome a new best friend to the farm – Digger the border collie pup. With his new mate nipping at his heels, Paul sets about getting his winter vegetable crop fed – and that involves an organic fertiliser recipe that makes use of some of the farm’s most unwanted products. It’s Festival time in the local village of Central Tilba, and Paul’s keen to make an impression with his cooking skills. But will his home-made relish - using locally gathered produce – cut it with the locals? Further afield with the help of local hunters, Paul discovers how a notorious pest can be turned into a delicious meal - and he welcomes his first dairy cow to River Cottage. But will he ever learn how to milk it.
With his cows, chooks and veggies thriving, Paul decides it’s time to explore the nearby coastline and he discovers an abundant source of seafood delicacies. He meets a local lobster expert, and together they catch a crayfish brunch and Paul introduces him to a deliciously different way of eating them. Back on the farm, Paul’s busy building a pig pen, before taking delivery of a small herd that will hopefully one day feed him. Before that, he prepares a pork dish using one of the tastiest and most under-used parts of the animal. Then, it’s off to the local harvest festival bake-off. With the help of a country cooking champion, Paul enters his pumpkin scones into the hard-fought contest. But will his entries rise to the occasion?
With a malfunctioning water tank, and no dams to rely on, Paul is suddenly faced with a farmer’s worst fear – a critical shortage of water. His cows, pigs and veges all depend on a steady supply, so Paul enlists the help of a local farmer to see if they can tap on old spring on the property. But will it be enough to save the farm? Meanwhile, as Paul settles into his new rural community, he discovers one of the joys of country life – the local food swap. Armed with seafood he’s foraged nearby, Paul scores a boxful of unusual fruits, vegetables and wild game, which he uses to create a hearty winter meal.
Paul’s dream is to one day make River Cottage Australia self-sufficient – and he’s well on the way. With his own herbs, vegetables, eggs and cream - from Bessie the cow - he whips up his first ever “all from the farm” meal. But not all is going so well. Flies are a constant issue – especially in Paul’s country kitchen. So he meets a local sustainable farmer who introduces him to an ingenious all-natural solution. Down by the coast, it’s Oyster Festival time. Paul tries his hand at the oyster shucking contest – and then creates a traditional coastal favourite - a delicious oyster pie.
River Cottage Australia land-holder Paul West is keen to restore the gully which acts as a natural watercourse on his farm – but it’s almost totally overgrown with blackberries. Paul learns he can hire a herd of hefty eaters to deal with the problem – but will they have the appetite for such a massive job? Meanwhile, Paul hatches a plan to create new life at River Cottage with the help of Ron - his brand new rooster. At the same time, he has a tough task to perform – Big Boy the pig is ready for the butcher, but is Paul?
The local CWA ladies have a big job for Paul – and there might be a sweet reward in return. If he can help them paint their headquarters, they’ve offered to share some of their cake–making secrets with him. How will his Hazelnut Loaf cake stand up against some of the finest in the district? Back on the farm, Paul’s been collecting old chook feathers - but what on earth for? Could there be something fishy going on? And as we head to the coast nearby, Paul learns that there’s more to seaweed than meets the eye. Not only is it good for the garden, he has an idea for a crispy new recipe.
It’s been nearly four months since Hugh returned to River Cottage in the UK to let Paul to go it alone. But now he’s back, and he’s amazed at what he finds. Where there used to be rundown enclosures and sheds, there are now homes for chickens, ducks, pigs and a dairy cow. The vegetable beds they laid out together are now a mass of leafy winter greens, and the citrus grove is thriving. They decide to harvest what they can as a starting point for a huge community cook-up they’ve got planned. But they’ll need more food to feed the hungry throng. At the beach, Paul instructs Hugh in the fine art of beach-worm catching – but will they be able to catch the bait, let alone enough fish for a feed? And as they prepare for their final feast, the pair reflect on the journey so far. The seeds of River Cottage Australia have well and truly been planted, and the future looks bright indeed.
Paul is about to experience his first summer on the land. Will he have enough water and produce to keep the farm thriving during the dryer months? He has big plans to increase his livestock but he quickly learns you can't control nature.
Paul's plan to increase his livestock is a success as he becomes mother hen to fifty baby birds. In order to earn extra income he visits the farmers' market for the first time and how will he cope saying goodbye to another farm favourite?
Paul gets some goats but the going gets gruff when he tries to milk them for the first time as he enters into the world of cheese making. The event of the month, the Bega Show, is just around the corner, but are Paul's hens up to scratch?
Paul needs to take action to turn his deficit into dollars on the farm and gets expert help to build a new oven. The CWA ladies arrive at River Cottage seeking Paul's skills with an important charity event. Can Paul come up with the goods?
Paul's poultry have all grown up and it's processing time. Abattoir guru Chris is back to share his knowledge and Iain returns to give Paul a hand building a BBQ grill before taking it to the Bermagui Seaside Fair to host his second stall.
Paul welcomes home his dairy cow Bessie but it's not the homecoming he was hoping for. Taking advantage of the rain, he drops into old mate Darcy's place to dunk traps in his dam, and Paul needs to make the most of his troubled tomato crop.
Paul learns how to forage for seaside food from a friend but it's not for free and he faces a chef style challenge. And before he becomes a full time father to a litter of piglets, he takes a break from the farm and tries to catch trout.
It's the end of summer and the farm is full of baby animals. Paul sets himself a challenge for the final feast at River Cottage by using produce only sourced from within sight of Mount Gulaga but will he be able to satisfy 30 hungry guests?
After more than a year at River Cottage farm in picturesque Central Tilba, chef-turned-farmer Paul West is about to discover he’s in a little too deep. With mid-winter bearing down on the farm, Paul is struggling to cope with his litter of 18 fast-growing piglets, not to mention eight goats, fifty chickens, dairy cattle, ducks and a misbehaving dog. This series, it’s time for Paul to get real about the farm’s future.
There's trouble on Paul's farm and his goats go missing. He's questioning Bessie's future and needs to find out if she's pregnant. It's also time to turn the winter veggie patch into his first cash crop.
Tough times for Paul when he asks home butcher and friend Matt to help him slaughter his first goat. When Paul helps to rebuild a community garden, the goat goes to a good cause.
In an attempt to make a quicker profit, Paul decides to add hens and honey to his farm. Digger proves he's got the nose for truffle hunting and the first piggy's go to market.
Paul welcomes visitors to the farm. His Dad arrives for the first time and they go on a camping trip to hunt feral deer. Then the Latimer sisters, who grew up at the farm, drop by and give Paul a history lesson.
Paul goes on a wild bee hunt and builds a hive for the farm, then he picks up whey from a local cheese factory and creates macadamia nut cheese. Paul faces the hard task of taking his pigs to the abattoir.
Paul learns about foraging for food in natural bush land and catching eels from indigenous local and chef Noel Butler. Then he makes pale ale with local brew master Toby and sells his first eggs and veggie boxes.
After months of training it's time for Digger to shine at a local dog competition. To welcome the start of summer Paul hosts a cricket match at River Cottage to raise money for his farm.
In the last year Paul's family has grown and so he employs a local guy called Harrison as his part-time farm hand. With the fencing an ongoing issue for Paul he finds a way to change the face & shape of the farm. Paul has grand plans to take his food message on the road with a retrofitted food van but has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Paul gets important advice on how to transform the farm's future. Digger is reunited with someone very special and Paul bravely takes his food truck for its first test run at the local farmers markets but he's a little unprepared!
After ironing out some of the food van fumbles, Paul drives it over the mountains and into the "big smoke". In Canberra, he's overwhelmed by the urban growers he meets along the way and challenges the van to its ultimate test.
While Paul is away Harrison is left to manage the farm. There's a sweet surprise ready for harvest that's been brewing for over a year, and Paul rises to the challenge at a community event that makes him sweat for his supper.
Paul heads to Griffith and Narrandera and meets up with inspirational farmers who have reinvented themselves to survive. Can the knowledge he's gained apply to his own patch of paradise in Tilba?
Still in the Riverina, Paul visits a wheat-farming mate who has changed the future of his town with beer. At the Wagga Wagga farmers markets, Paul uses produce he's gathered to create an afternoon tea that delights the shoppers.
Back on the farm it's time to make some much needed changes. Digger brings joy to some people in need. Darcy returns to solve a long time problem on the farm - can they get the water from the dam to all the gardens and livestock?
As a way of celebrating the talent, artists and producers in the area, Paul hosts a huge field day on the farm. Paul proves he's not afraid to strip down for fashion before wowing the crowd with a special tribute to Tilba.
