03x01 - The Bears and the Bees

[bunniefuu]

Man: this could be crazy.

[ Buzzing ]

♪♪

You got bear magnets here.

Everything I care about
is in these boxes,

So I'm not moving
these bees right now.

Holy [bleep]. They're swarming.

Watch out.
It's getting serious.

You've gotta
get these bees, man.

-Marty, come on. Let's roll.
-Okay. Let's do it!

-Whoa! Whoa!
-Whoa!

-What do you need?
-Don't crush his hand, dad!

Watch out! Watch out!

We might be in trouble.

♪♪

Narrator: marty raney
has been building homesteads

For 40 years.

Marty:
I was raised off-grid

In the toughest place
on earth --

Alaska.

And I've taught my kids
everything I know.

Missy: a homestead needs to be
nurtured every day.

You get out what you put in.

Matt: I have the utmost respect
for wildlife.

Hunting is a privilege
and a necessity.

Narrator: together, the raneys
save homesteads...

-Missy, shut her down!
-...on the edge of disaster.

That's going to get
by struck by lightning.

-Let's get out of here!
-This is crazy.

Look out!

[ Crying ] I'm really worried
that we're not gonna make it.

Marty: matt!

My résumé?
I'll show it to you right now.

--Captions by vitac --
www.vitac.com

Captions paid for by
discovery communications

Marty: how about a little
north carolina trivia?

Okay.

Guess what the largest
black bear weighs.

-Okay, 550.
-Okay. Bigger than 550.

-600.
-Bigger.

-675!
-675, Still too small.



Too big.

-880 Pounds.
-No, what?

Now, you think this place
has big bears?

Narrator: the raneys
are answering an s.o.s. Call

From north carolina,

A remote homestead
in the smoky mountains.

The long harvest
makes the tar heel state

Attractive to both
homesteaders and predators.

Bobcats, coyotes and black bears
thrive on abundant game,

Such as turkey
and white-tailed deer.

And in the middle of this
wind-blown mountain wilderness

Lies a homestead
with no water or power,

Acting as a honey pot to bears.
[ Buzzing ]

[ Sniffling ]

[ Loud bleat ]

Oh, look.

Look, look, look,
eating this plant.

There's, like, a goat.

-Where?
-Right there.

-Wow.
-Oh, my god.

Matt: that thing is bear bait.

-This is not safe. Hey, bud.
-Marty: is he okay?

How you doing? I don't know.

-[ Bleats ]
-he seems to be okay.

♪♪

Hello!

Hey!

We found something
in the woods.

-Man: oh, you found elvis.
-[ Laughs ]

-Elvis?
-Yeah, he gets out all the time.

Matt: elvis has left
the building.

-Nice to meet you.
-Hey.

Welcome to our homestead.

This my garage,
where I keep my drums.

Narrator: five years ago,

Brook sheffield
gave up his job in sales

To pursue a lifelong dream
of living off-grid

And becoming a beekeeper.

I wanted to start homesteading
because I really love honeybees,

And beekeeping is
one of my biggest passions.

Narrator: he spent his $70,000
life savings on 5 acres of land,

Built a cabin,

A pen for livestock

And introduced six beehives.

This is definitely my happy
place here on the homestead,

Right here with all these bees.

Narrator: brook's bees
soon became his priority.

So all the homestead fixes
were put on hold.

My attempt at homesteading
was becoming a failure,

And I couldn't let that happen.

Narrator: so 5 months ago,
brook called for help

From cousin drew
and his wife, lydia.

Lydia: we don't have water.

We don't have power either.

Washing dishes in the rain
is the bane of my existence.

And over here is our bathroom.

Where we poop in a bucket.

Lydia: it's gross.

Moving here, I thought it was
going to be, like,

Rainbows and butterflies.
[ Laughs ]

I had no idea what I was
getting myself into at all.

Narrator: living in
such primitive conditions

Doesn't bother brook.

He spends all the time he can
tending to his precious bees

And making honey.
-We're getting these bees out.

We're getting these bees out.

Narrator: every harvest,
his six hives produce

Over 150 pounds of organic,
spicy sourwood honey,

Selling for 20 bucks a jar.

Brooks: this is what
it's all about...

The honey.

Narrator: but brook's obsession
has put everyone in danger.

The first night we moved in,
we were laying in bed,

And we could actually hear
bears around brook's beehives.

It was nuts.
It was very scary.

If we can't keep the bees
on the property,

We can't keep
the finances rolling.

I'm not happy about it.

Narrator: with no fixes in sight
and bears stalking the property,

Tensions are rising.

Give me a second, please.

Getting to know how to live
with other people

Is quite a challenge.

I'm glad to have them here.

They haven't gotten a lot done,

And if we can't fix
a lot of these failures,

There's going to be a problem.

-I say we get right to it.
-Yeah.

All right. Let's do it.

Narrator: the raneys have 1 week
before they visit

Their next family in crisis.

All fixes must be paid
from the $3,000 of honey

Brook's hives produce
every year.

[ Buzzing ]

But marty's first concern
has nothing to do with bees.

What's going on here?

-Is it for drinking?
-It is.

It's for drinking.
It's for cleaning.

It can be for handwashing.

So you're hauling water
every single day?

-Every day. Yeah, we have to.
-Oh, okay.

Where's the outhouse?

I mean, what is it?

It's just a bucket
with some sawdust.

[ Sighs ] I think you need
to think about

The young lady here,
because I'll guarantee you

That no young lady

Is gonna start her life out
like this and be happy.

-Is this young lady happy here?
-I don't know. Probably not.

Marty: brook seems like the kind
of guy, quite frankly,

That is content
with pooping in a bucket.

Yeah, right there.

It doesn't matter whether
you're in alaska or here.

The homestead needs water.

[ Buzzing ]

I want to see this beehive.

Narrator: drew takes matt

To the source
of the homestead's income.

You got bear magnets here,
and that's all I see.

Yeah.

What do you think a bear
is going to do

When it's got boxes of honey
just waiting for it?

Those bees are bringing beers
right up to the doorstep.

And once those bears get
comfortable on this homestead,

It's game over.

This looks exactly like a cabin
that you'd see in alaska,

And a close friend of ours,
she left her home,

And her shack
was literally ransacked.

The bear came in there,
ripped the door off.

Her whole entire life
was destroyed.

Plus there's livestock
running around.

I mean, there's elvis
right there.

Yep.

[ Bleats ]

It couldn't be much worse.

-[ Bleats ]
-come here, buddy.

Narrator: lydia shows misty
the homestead's livestock.

Missy: I've been here
only 90 seconds,

And the goat was out again.

Whoo-hoo!

I see a red flag straight away.

[ Oinking, clucking ]

Look in that pen.
You have very aggressive pigs.

You have that goat
that is super aggressive,

And in amongst that
crazy mix is a baby goat.

In 5 months, what have you done
on this homestead?

The gate. [ Laughs ]

-The gate?
-Yeah.

-In 5 months?
-Yeah. To keep warm.

Okay. So are you happy
living here?

Um...

-Like, the honest.
-Okay.

I think the biggest issue for me
is I have 5-year-old daughter,

And she's not able to be here.
-Okay.

Because of the sanitary issue,
she can't be here,

And she hasn't been here
at all.

So this is maddie.

Narrator: lydia's daughter lives
with her ex-husband

Over 3 hours away,

So she only sees her
every 2 weeks.

Without madison here, there's
definitely, like, a hole.

If madison is not there,
it's just not right.

So we basically have a custody
agreement set into place,

But, legally, I have to have
sanitary bathroom.

If this isn't change within
the next month, then I'm out.

Like, I'm done. I'm gone.
I gotta go.

I have a 5-year-old.

I couldn't imagine if, um...

He couldn't come to my home.

[ Voice breaks ] yeah. It sucks.
It's really hard.

Yeah. So I'm sorry.

I don't even know what
that would feel like.

That can't be
a good feeling.

Mnh-mnh.

No. [ Chuckles ]

Okay.

Hearing that her 5-year-old
can't visit here

Unless we fix certain
big issues,

I mean, the pressure is on.

That's the only thing
that matters to me.

They need water.

Marty: what's that thing
over there?

That's where the well is.

We got the best water
in the world



-Are you serious?
-And we can't even get to it.

What do you mean
you can't get to it?

-Is there a pump in it?
-There's a pump in it.

Okay, so what's the problem?

Well, we don't have
electricity to run it.

Okay. Guess what?
You don't have a water problem.

You have a power problem.

-Correct.
-Yeah.

So we have to figure out
a power source

To get that water
from there to the goats,

To the pigs,
and, most importantly,

To you and the other people
on the homestead.

Let's put this cap back on.

-All right.
-Watch your fingers.

This homestead
needs power today.

So I've got some ideas,

And we will get the water
out of that well.

Hey, let's cut to the chase.
We gotta get water, right?

-Yes.
-Yes. [ Laughs ]

So, for me -- don't take this
personally -- right now,

Bees are not
a priority for me.

The driving force for me
is to reunite this young lady

With her daughter
on this homestead.

-Yes.
-Okay.

We're going to put
in a full-blown septic system

And a full-blown bath house.

Narrator: the raneys have
a battle ahead

To save this homestead.

Matt must find a way to stop

Brook's lucrative bees
attracting more bears.

Misty must separate
the warring livestock

And build a new
predator-proof pen.

And marty's mission is
sourcing the power

To pump water to a new outhouse

So lydia's daughter
can finally visit.

-Does that make you happy?
-Absolutely, yeah.

-Makes me really happy.
-Okay.

I just think it's going
to change everything,

'Cause I don't hate it here,
by any means.

It's just my kid
is number one, so...

[ Sniffling ]

We understand that
loud and clear.

I'm starting to understand,
you know, the bigger picture.

This isn't fixing a homestead.

This is reuniting a family.

-Narrator: coming up...
-That sound is getting serious.

...marty hunts down
a bee swarm

With an excavator.

-What do you need?
-Calm down for a second.

I'm the one who's about
to get [bleep] here.

Narrator: and his power fix
comes unstuck.

Marty: watch that axle!

-Whoa!
-Whoa, whoa, whoa!

♪♪

Narrator: in the smoky mountains
of north carolina,

The raneys have just 6 days to
save bee-lover brook's homestead

From bears and warring animals.

Where's the outhouse?

Narrator: but marty's priority
is delivering the water

For a new outhouse

So lydia can be reunited
with her daughter.

The strong winds that blow
through the smoky mountains...

Look at this.
Look at how long these guys are.

...inspire marty to hunt through
brook's junk pile...

What's this down here?

...on the hunt for parts to
power the water well.

Lawn mower power?

-One, two, three.
-Hold on.

One, two, three.

Don't let it crush me.

Are you thinking
what I'm thinking?

No.

Marty: we will get water
on this homestead.

I arrived in alaska


We hauled water by hand,


Over the years,
we developed springs

And lived off
a gravity-feed system.

We've drilled wells
and powered it by the sun.

The point -- water is life.

Without it, the homestead
will wither and die.

♪♪

[ Whirring ]
-ah!

♪♪

Hold that vertical, please.

-Yeah.
-Just like that.

Oppose him right there.

Ah, I think I know
what you're doing.

Turbine.

Narrator: with wind speeds
of 15 miles per hour,

Marty plans to build
a wind turbine

To pump water from the well.

Wind will rotate the oil drums,
turning a metal shaft.

The lawn mower crank
will convert rotation

To back and forth linear motion,

Driving a pump on the water,

Providing the outhouse
with running water.

What do you think?

You think you and I
can get this welded together?

I hope so. I definitely got
some concerns, marty.

This.

I understand the concept of
reusing and recycling,

But I know the difference
between trash and real treasure.

For 5 years, have you had
a better idea than this one?

No, I don't think so.

Okay. Let's get rolling.

Okay.

♪♪

Not bad.

Okay.

What?!

Oh, [bleep]!

Got to keep your hat
on your head, I guess.

Oh, god.

That's a nice hat...

Or it was.

I don't mind getting
my hands dirty

Or my boots dirty,

But this is
totally unacceptable.

The stetson...

Is tarnished.

Ugh!

Now I have a real motivation
to get water out of that well.

[ Whirring ]

Narrator:
across the homestead,

Misty is wasting no time
recycling materials

From a derelict shelter.

♪♪

-Oh, god.
-[ Laughs ]

Narrator: now she needs lydia's
help to build a new pig pen.

In the last couple months,
you and drew

Haven't contributed
a lot to the homestead.

But this is going to be
a beginning-to-end

Project for you.

These animals need
to be separated.

Definitely, I agree.

And we're going to start
rotational grazing here.

Narrator: misty wants to move
the pigs to a new pen a.s.a.p.

The cabins will protect them
from predators at night,

And a movable electric fence

Will give them a large area
to forage during the day,

Leaving the goats to enjoy
the old pen undisturbed.

Okay, so grab a post-holer.

Do a little digging.

Narrator: misty puts lydia
straight to work

Installing posts
for the electric fence.

All right.
Good job, lydia.

Keep your cuts
close to your bar.

Keep your bar level.

-You've got your eyewear on.
-Yeah.

And then just make
a clean cut.

Narrator:
now this virgin homesteader

Must learn to rock a chainsaw.

-So, like, there?
-Yeah.

[ Whirring ]

♪♪

-Like a boss.
-[ Laughs ]

Okay.

That was way easier than
I thought it was going to be.

To actually see how excited
lydia is about this build...

I mean, this is what
it's all about.

It's about remotivating,
you know,

The love for the homestead,
and that's happening right now.

[ Laughs ]

♪♪

Narrator: it's the rainy
second day in north carolina.

♪♪

Everybody awake?

We got work to do!

Narrator:
the newly inspired lydia

Helps misty's pig pen build...

...and marty is focused
on giving the homestead water.

Meanwhile, matt wants brook
to make a sacrifice

For the good of the homestead.

What I see is a bear magnet.

You know, you might have
a 5-year-old girl here,

And, I mean, the threat
is too dangerous.

I want to move them all
right now.

Well, the reality is,
that's just not going to happen.

Everything I care about
is in these boxes,

And the closer they are to me,
the better for me.

This bear threat is
real, man,

And all it takes
is that one time.

I'm not moving
these bees right now.

I'll think about moving some
other bees when they come in,

But these bees aren't
going anywhere right now.

You're bringing more bees
onto this property?

Yeah, we got to.

We need more bees
to make more honey.

Right now, this homestead
has a serious threat.

Brook won't move
any of these hives.

I mean, not even
a bee-stinger length away.

I'm worried about the lives
of these homesteaders.

This danger is real.

Narrator: in the smoky mountains
of north carolina,

The raneys are
battling predators,

Warring livestock,
and a lack of running water.

To reunite a mother
with her daughter...

She can't be here, I'm out.

...this desperate homestead
needs a sanitary outhouse.

[ Shouts indistinctly ]

Narrator: to supply the toilet

With water
from the 200-foot well,

Marty's connected
a lawn mower crank

To a shaft,
engineering a windmill.

What does this remind you of?
And I'll give you one clue.

Choo, choo, choo, choo,
choo, choo, choo.

Narrator: it's going to take
some real muscle

To raise this
half-ton power source

And position it precisely
into a 9-inch hole

Where it can pump water
out of the well.

Hey, guys.

If there was ever a day
we didn't want wind, it's today.

-Right?
-Yeah.

'Cause this could be crazy.

The bad news is this thing
doesn't work without wind.

Hold on.
Just one quick question.

How are we not going
to destroy it?

By being careful.

-Let's go.
-Okay.

Hang on! Watch out!

Hey! [ Whistles ]
don't get under it!

-I'm not under it.
-Look!

I got you.

I'm trying to keep it
all from...

[ Whistles ]
don't get underneath it.

Marty is kind of intimidating,
and his hands...

He's got the big rough hands
of somebody who works every day.

He reminds me of just a big old,
big mountain man.

-Ready?
-Okay!

Narrator: the structure's weight
and fragile mechanics

Make this a delicate operation.

-Oh, it's good.
-Yeah, dude.

-That's good.
-That's good!

You guys, watch that axle!

-Whoa!
-Whoa, whoa, whoa!

-[Bleep]!
-Hold on, hold on, hold on.

-Stop right there.
-Whoa! No.

The axle is going right
in the ground.

The hook came undone.

Everybody,
look at that hook.

It's wrong.

Narrator: the chain has slipped

Almost completely off
the excavator.

Yeah, that was just luck.

I don't believe in
the word luck, okay?

This coming undone,
hooking back into itself

Has nothing to do with luck.

It's coincidence.
It's happenstance.

But...i think we got lucky.

[ Laughter ]

Narrator: chain safely attached,

Marty's makeshift windmill
can rise again.

Okay. Can we get it over
to the hole?

Keep coming, marty.
Keep coming.

-Oh, hold on, hold on, hold on.
-Whoa!

Whoa. Don't do that.

-Yeah!
-[ Laughs ]

-That's actually gonna work!
-Dude.

[ Laughs ]

♪♪

Good job.

I just wish
we had some wind.

Follow me.

All we have now is a pole
sticking out the ground

With a bunch of junk on top.

From day one, brook has not
been a believer

In this windmill idea.

I mean, he's content
with just focusing on bees.

Narrator: but right now,
brook's full attention

Really does need to be on
his buzzing buddies.

Holy [bleep].

They're swarming.

Narrator: a queen has escaped,
taking thousands of honeybees

And the homestead's
only income along with her.

This is crazy, man.

Brook: that's basically dollar
bills just flying out the door.

Matt: this is like a bee exodus
is happening.

These bees can
easily fly 5 miles.

Does anybody see
if they're going anywhere?

'Cause this thing is going to
make a decision to go somewhere.

We got to follow it.

Narrator:
if a swarm is provoked,

Bees can sting in defense.

What's that?

That's a honeybee swarm forming
right on that apple tree.

Narrator: the queen settles
on a nearby branch,

Attracting the rest of her hive.

We're going to get
an opportunity to get them back.

♪♪

All right, can some people
help me think creatively

Of how to get up there?
-Missy: go get the excavator!

Get the excavator.
We need it.

It's just got
to be fast, though.

You got to get that branch cut

And bring that branch into
this empty hive.

How do you want to do it?

I got to get in this bucket.

Okay. Let's do it.

Don't crush me in
this damn thing, marty!

What are you going to do?

Just get me up there.
I'll take care of the rest.

Just get me up there.

Narrator: the swarm must not
be disturbed.

While matt steadies
the branch...

Matt is going to help.

...misty prepares
to cut it free.

Forward and side.

-Forward.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa.

-Whoa.
-Stop, stop, stop.

Missy: don't crush
his hand, dad.

Everybody just calm down
for a second.

I'm the one who's about
to get [bleep] up here.

[ Bleep ]
I don't like this.

We're all going to get stung.

-What do you need?
-All right.

Hands off the controls.

I'm going to be using
my hands for a second.

All right. Cut the limb.

I'm cutting. Here we go.

Oh!

-They're free.
-You're good?

Get me down fast, marty.
Come on. Let's roll.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Watch out for that branch.

I'm going to visit
a million homesteads

And never experience
this again.

Let me get over the box.

We're going to shake them off.

♪♪

It's all good.

-Whoo!
-That's badass.

Narrator: with the hives
continuing to act

As a honey magnet for bears
and now a dangerous bee swarm,

This homestead remains
a no-go zone for lydia's child.

Matt: okay, I mean, protecting
this homestead from bears

Is my main priority.

I want you to move
those bees.

This swarm has made me rethink

My relationship
with drew and lydia.

I need help here

Despite the fact
that I'm set in my ways,

So I've got to fix it for them,
if anybody,

'Cause if they leave,
then I'm in trouble.

Well, I think we need to find
a new spot on the homestead

To keep everybody safe.

-That's amazing.
-Missy: yeah.

So, by sunrise, we need
to have these bees

In a new, safe bee yard.

Narrator: but before the bees
can be safely moved tonight,

Matt and drew begin to make
the homestead sanitary.

The $4,000 project will
be funded

By brook's growing
sourwood honey business.

♪♪

-Got it?
-Yep.

All right.
Septic tank going in!

That's awesome.

Done!

Unhook it!

Whoo!

Narrator: matt and drew have
installed a septic tank.

They'll build an outhouse
close the cabin,

But the next job is to clear
trees for the leach field

That will cleanly dispose
of the wastewater.

[ Revving motor ]

While drew fells trees,

Matt clears the fallen lumber

From the leach field
beside the cabin.

Hey, be careful!

Oh, it's going for the house.

Holy [bleep]. Watch out!

Oh, my god.

I thought that was taking
out your house, dude.

Drew: plan was for the tree to
fall down in the valley,

But it had vines attached
and actually came back

And almost took out
the corner of our tiny house.

Lydia would have been
pretty upset,

So got lucky on that one.
It was a close call.

♪♪

Well, let me tell you, all this
work we're doing right now...

Yeah.

...this leach field
and everything,

It's all useless
without water,

So hopefully
my dad's plan works.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator:
in north carolina,

The raneys
have just 3 days left

To make this homestead safe
and build a sanitary outhouse

For lydia's 5-year-old daughter.

She and misty build new pens...

Perfect.

...to separate the livestock
and keep them safe.

But across the homestead,
marty's ingenious machine

For delivering water
stands motionless.

♪♪

Have you ever seen
that windmill turn?

Nope.

[ Both laugh ]

Listen, we just built
a windmill.

But what does a windmill need?

Exactly.

And right now...

There's no wind.

We might be in trouble.

♪♪

Narrator: as night falls,
brook delivers on his promise

To move the bees to
the edge of the property.

Matt: we had to wait
till sundown

Before we could move these bees.
I mean, why is that?

Brook: well, the bees are
out working in the daytime,

So we got to get them
all to come home

Before we can pick them up
and take them somewhere,

Or else we might
leave some out.

I can hear them, man.
They do not sound happy.

Listen.

[ Buzzing ]

What do you think
that means?

I think it means I'm going to
let you carry the hive first.

I want to just
take it easy, man.

I mean, if I can
get out of here,

Off this homestead
without being stung,

I'd be real happy.

Stay calm, because
the minute they pick up

On you stressing out,
one little thing goes wrong,

There's going to be
a world of hurt.

Those boxes aren't really
nailed shut.

I mean, the lid just comes right
off, so, I mean, one false step,

You drop that hive,
and all those bees...

I mean, 10,000 bees
are going to come out

And they're gonna
pick a fight with you.

♪♪

Oh, [bleep].

All right,
I'm just taking it slow.

Yeah, just take it slow.
Watch your step.

[ Buzzing ]

All right. I'm gonna help you
land this one.

-Okay, you got it?
-Yeah, I got it.

We're going to go straight down
and move it towards you.

Okay. Set it down.
We on there?

Yeah, it's amazing,
and I didn't even get stung.

Narrator: the first hive
is safely in place,

Away from the homestead's
human inhabitants.

I think this is a really
good compromise,

But it's going to have
to be bear-proofed.

[ g*nsh*t in distance ]
-um..

-Brook: oh, what was that?
-I don't know.

Do you hear g*nshots
out here a lot?

All the time.

I mean, I'm taking to brook
about predators,

And we hear a massive g*nsh*t,

And that could have been
somebody on their homestead

Warding a bear right off
their front porch.

So it's a big issue here.

We need to get these things
bear-proof.

[ Grunts ]

♪♪

Narrator:
there are just 2 days left,

And the homestead
is a hive of activity.

Brook installs an electric fence
around his bees to deter bears.

All right, man.

Narrator: matt and drew
build the outhouse

For lydia's daughter.

Watch out! Watch out!

Narrator:
marty lays water pipes

In the hope his windmill
might start pumping.

I need that wind now.

Narrator: and misty and lydia
are ready

To separate
the warring livestock.

Okay.

[ Pig grunts, chicken squawks ]

-[ Elvis bleats ]
-well, I don't know

Of any pig pen
that has a skylight.

It's going to be amazing.

I really feel like it's going
to be, like, a solar heater.

And then look at our door.

It's a ramp/door.

[ Laughs ]
it just blows me away.

Okay.
Let's move the pigs over.

-Yes.
-Okay.

-Come on, pig, pig, pig!
-[ Speaks indistinctly ]

[ Laughs ]
come on, pig, pig, pigs.

Come on, baby.

Come on.

[ Laughs ]

Narrator: last week,

The pigs, chickens,
and elvis the goat

Were all cooped up
inside one pen.

Today, the pigs
have their new home,

So elvis can relax
in the old pen.

-Thanks. [ Laughs ]
-i'm really impressed by you.

So the next time I'm on
a job site with my dad,

I'm going to give you a call.

Lydia: I feel very empowered by
building those two structures.

I think that working with misty

Has kicked me out of this hole
that I was in.

I can't wait to bring
my daughter here.

Narrator: but all that work
will be for nothing

Unless marty delivers water.

[ Sighs ] okay, brook.

Who's going to be
the first one to say it?

I'm going to let you say it
'cause I've been thinking it

The whole time.

But, man,
this doesn't look good.

Well, it doesn't look good
because there's no wind.

I mean, look at the speed
of that pump.

I mean, you gotta think,
if...

That thing probably has to spin


Oh, man.

I gotta be honest with you.
[ Sighs ]

I'm worried that I might have
stepped over the line

As far as romantic
homesteading goes.

It looks good,
but it ain't moving.

At this rate, we're not
gonna get water.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator: seven days ago,

The raneys found a homestead
that was a honey pot for bears,

Plagued by warring livestock,

And with no sanitary outhouse.

Brook: it's just a bucket
with some sawdust.

[ Sighs heavily ]

Narrator:
the family were divided

Because a mother's


Was not allowed to visit.

I have to have
a sanitary bathroom.

It's just not right.

[ Crows ]

Drew: it's been a long wait
for this.

Narrator: it's the final day.

The new outhouse is connected
to a 550-gallon water tank.

One, two, three!

I think I just pulled something.

Narrator: but marty's mission
to provide sanitation

Hinges on him delivering water
from the well today.

We're going on about
a week without wind.

Look up there.

Exactly. No movement.

And we've promised
these people water.

We got a bathhouse going in,
but no water.

So I'm hoping this is
the cure-all.

Narrator: marty's sourced
an old hand pump.

It doesn't need wind, just some
good, old-fashioned muscle.

It's exactly like
a bicycle pump.

Every time you pull up,
right, you're sucking water.

Every time you push it down,
you're pumping water out.

Here we go.

Come on. Come on.

It sure feels like there's...

Water coming.

Yeah!

[ Laughs ]

Whoo!

Look at that!

Matt!

Missy, come here!

You got water.

Do me a favor.

Am I going to...

-Whoo!
-Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my...that's good!

-That's sweet.
-What's going on?

Look what happened!

-Water!
-Whoo!

For a minute there, I thought
it was kind of a mirage.

I was shocked.

I keep going back over to it
and testing it to see

If it really works.

Right now, guys,
time's a-wasting,

And we might as well
start pumping.

Narrator:
while brook makes a start,

It's a race
to finish the outhouse.

Hopefully it's all worth it.

Narrator: marty fits
an off-grid hot water system

Using just a dark barrel.

Once it's full of water,
we let that north carolina sun

That just popped out,
heat this water all day.

It won't cost the homesteaders
one penny.

Homestead workout. [ Grunts ]

[ Grunts ]

Narrator:
finally, the tank has water,

And the outhouse is complete,

Costing just 400 bucks
in materials.

Go in there and show me
how this thing works.

-Missy: lydia, jump in!
-Really cool.

-Moment of truth.
-For the hot water.

Yeah, you go right ahead lydia.

Yeah! Whoo!

-Oh, my gosh.
-[ Laughs ]

How does it feel?

I'm really happy. [ Laughs ]

Narrator:
when the raneys arrived,

The homestead was in dire need
of sanitation,

With just a 5-gallon drum
for washing

And an outdoor 10-gallon bucket
for a toilet.

Today, the homestead has
a fully functioning outhouse

With bath, toilet,
and running water.

And with brook's bees relocated

And surrounded with an electric
fence to deter bears,

The homestead is now safe.

This just means that
I can bring maddie here,

And I can show her,
her mom can kick butt, you know.

Missy: yeah.

I want to teach her
how to be a strong girl,

And this is exactly what
this place is going to do.

When I first met lydia,

Her heart wasn't
in this homestead at all.

And now, in a real short time,

She's completely
a different person.

Now listen, I'm thinking
of a number between 1 and 10.

-All right, go.
-7.

-3.
-2.

The number is 2,

And you will be the first one
to flush the toilet.

Does it work?

[ Flushing ]
-yeah, listen to that sound.

-Lydia: oh, my god.
-Brook: that is so good.

Okay, guys, it's that time.

We're leaving.

Brook:
before the raneys got here,

We really weren't
a functioning family unit,

And now we're one step closer
to becoming

The family we need to be
to make this homestead work.

You know the expression.

A house divided cannot stand.

-For everything.
-No, thank you, marty.

-For everything.
-Yeah, thank you.

-Keep up the good work, darling.
-Definitely impressed.

And it's my hope
that another member

Rolls up this driveway
pretty soon.

-All right.
-Brook: see you, guys.

-Marty: see you, guys.
-Drew: thank you, guys.

♪♪

Narrator: it's been 2 months
since the raneys left...

-You brushing your teeth?
-Yeah.

...and the outhouse has
a new visitor.

With maddie here, it's amazing.
It's a great feeling.

It's a great place to learn

And to just
get your hands dirty.

This place -- mud puddles
I can jump in

And friends everywhere.

Narrator: elvis is enjoying
his space too,

And the homestead has several
thousand other new arrivals.

We started out the season
with just a few beehives,

And now look how many more
we have.

We're able to make more money.

Thanks again, raneys,
for coming to help us out

And making us
a better family unit.

Our homestead's
a better place for it. Thanks.

Thank you! Bye-bye!