1
00:00:02,100 --> 00:00:05,000
All right, so this adobe
structure is inside
2
00:00:05,167 --> 00:00:06,501
that forest?
- Correct.
3
00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:07,567
OK.
4
00:00:07,734 --> 00:00:09,067
And what do you call
these trees?
5
00:00:09,234 --> 00:00:10,633
Trees of heaven.
6
00:00:10,634 --> 00:00:13,367
It doesn't look very heavenly.
Look at this right here.
7
00:00:13,534 --> 00:00:15,701
It turned and grew
right onto the house.
8
00:00:15,868 --> 00:00:19,000
What?
These trees look like
they have a mission.
9
00:00:19,167 --> 00:00:20,801
- Yes.
- I mean, you have
all this property,
10
00:00:20,968 --> 00:00:22,601
and then they chose
11
00:00:22,767 --> 00:00:24,100
to take over the house.
12
00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:26,367
I've never seen this before.
13
00:00:27,767 --> 00:00:31,767
I'm looking at a shelter
that looks like a bomb went off.
14
00:00:31,934 --> 00:00:34,267
You've lost
50 pounds of food.
15
00:00:34,434 --> 00:00:35,968
Oh, what, the grid
failed them?
16
00:00:36,133 --> 00:00:38,601
There's a lot working
against these homesteaders.
17
00:00:38,767 --> 00:00:41,067
I don't know how much longer
we'll be able to survive
18
00:00:41,234 --> 00:00:42,767
like this.
- Back it up!
19
00:00:42,934 --> 00:00:44,767
- Dad!
- Watch out!
20
00:00:46,067 --> 00:00:49,100
Your dream to move
into this adobe structure,
21
00:00:49,267 --> 00:00:50,701
I'm not sure
how realistic it is.
22
00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:56,200
Succeeding with this homestead
means everything to me.
23
00:00:56,367 --> 00:00:57,367
Yeah!
24
00:00:57,534 --> 00:00:59,100
Have you ever made
an adobe brick?
25
00:00:59,267 --> 00:01:01,167
- I have not.
- Neither have I.
26
00:01:01,334 --> 00:01:04,000
We have challenge after
challenge, but the question is,
27
00:01:04,167 --> 00:01:06,467
can we save this homestead?
28
00:01:06,634 --> 00:01:09,901
Well, Obi-Wan Adobe,
you're our only hope.
29
00:01:10,067 --> 00:01:11,100
What?
30
00:01:30,167 --> 00:01:32,267
There it is, the Rio Grande.
31
00:01:32,434 --> 00:01:34,701
It's the lifeblood of
this valley right there.
32
00:01:34,868 --> 00:01:36,868
We've never been
to New Mexico ever.
33
00:01:37,033 --> 00:01:38,300
First time.
34
00:01:39,167 --> 00:01:41,868
It's early winter,
and the Raneys respond
35
00:01:42,033 --> 00:01:45,367
to their first-ever rescue
in the land of enchantment,
36
00:01:45,534 --> 00:01:49,300
New Mexico, where a young
couple struggles to claim
37
00:01:49,467 --> 00:01:51,200
their homestead
from Mother Nature.
38
00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:56,667
In this wild and extreme
region, scorching summer heat
39
00:01:56,834 --> 00:02:01,567
and drought turns to winter ice
and snow, and while fierce
40
00:02:01,734 --> 00:02:05,667
winds off the southern reaches
of the Rockies wreak havoc,
41
00:02:05,834 --> 00:02:09,567
native tribes found prosperity
in the rejuvenating waters
42
00:02:09,734 --> 00:02:11,367
of the Rio Grande.
43
00:02:11,534 --> 00:02:13,968
This was one of
the first parts of North America
44
00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:16,000
that actually
was self-sufficient.
45
00:02:16,167 --> 00:02:18,567
The Pueblo people,
indigenous to this part
46
00:02:18,734 --> 00:02:21,467
of New Mexico,
they figured it out.
47
00:02:21,634 --> 00:02:24,801
Everything they needed
to survive was grown right here
48
00:02:24,968 --> 00:02:26,300
in this valley.
49
00:02:26,467 --> 00:02:29,400
For centuries,
the Pueblos have thrived here
50
00:02:29,567 --> 00:02:32,167
and were among the first
to utilize adobe
51
00:02:32,334 --> 00:02:35,367
as their construction method,
pioneering a unique
52
00:02:35,534 --> 00:02:38,868
architecture that still
blankets the Southwest.
53
00:02:39,033 --> 00:02:41,400
But for novice settlers,
without the knowledge
54
00:02:41,567 --> 00:02:44,467
of traditional building
and survival methods,
55
00:02:44,634 --> 00:02:46,501
northern New Mexico can be
56
00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:49,701
an unbearable and dangerous
place to tame.
57
00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,367
- I'm Taylor.
- And I'm Jacob,
58
00:02:55,534 --> 00:02:58,400
and we live together
on this five-acre homestead
59
00:02:58,567 --> 00:03:00,367
in northern
New Mexico.
60
00:03:00,534 --> 00:03:04,067
We moved to this
property about three years ago.
61
00:03:04,234 --> 00:03:05,701
It was everything
we'd been looking for.
62
00:03:05,868 --> 00:03:09,767
It had water, it had some
preexisting buildings.
63
00:03:09,934 --> 00:03:14,167
Our main goal is to regenerate
the land, grow our own food,
64
00:03:14,334 --> 00:03:17,467
be self-sustaining,
and start a family.
65
00:03:17,634 --> 00:03:21,367
But we didn't expect our dream
of homesteading here to become
66
00:03:21,534 --> 00:03:24,167
our life's greatest challenge.
67
00:03:24,334 --> 00:03:27,767
Having a historic,
existing adobe home gave them
68
00:03:27,934 --> 00:03:31,400
hope they were two steps ahead
to achieving their dream.
69
00:03:31,567 --> 00:03:34,567
But then, reality hit.
70
00:03:34,734 --> 00:03:38,267
The adobe structure
is not livable.
71
00:03:38,434 --> 00:03:40,901
It's been neglected for so long
that it's covered in
72
00:03:41,067 --> 00:03:42,701
these trees called
tree of heaven.
73
00:03:42,868 --> 00:03:45,868
They're extremely invasive
where we live.
74
00:03:46,033 --> 00:03:50,167
They grow like a mat of roots,
so they're hooked underneath
75
00:03:50,334 --> 00:03:52,300
the foundation of the house.
76
00:03:52,467 --> 00:03:56,467
I've been chainsawing
down trees relentlessly,
77
00:03:56,634 --> 00:03:59,300
and they come back up
like a Medusa.
78
00:04:10,701 --> 00:04:15,367
If we aren't able to win
the battle against these trees,
79
00:04:15,534 --> 00:04:16,868
it is going to turn into
80
00:04:17,033 --> 00:04:18,467
their homestead
instead of mine.
81
00:04:20,367 --> 00:04:24,100
The lack of suitable shelter
is just the first of many
82
00:04:24,267 --> 00:04:27,200
problems on
the unforgiving homestead.
83
00:04:27,367 --> 00:04:31,501
Due to the region's extreme
climate, the couple also faces
84
00:04:31,667 --> 00:04:35,167
challenges with their livestock
and food production.
85
00:04:35,334 --> 00:04:37,400
We have ducks,
but the one thing that we have
86
00:04:37,567 --> 00:04:40,667
been struggling with is getting
them an appropriate pond.
87
00:04:40,834 --> 00:04:42,567
We've tried some kiddie pools.
88
00:04:42,734 --> 00:04:46,601
They disintegrate and break in
the sun within a couple months.
89
00:04:46,767 --> 00:04:49,167
And in the winter,
they ice over.
90
00:04:49,334 --> 00:04:50,968
Currently,
we're not growing any food.
91
00:04:51,133 --> 00:04:53,868
We tried, but have not
had any success because
92
00:04:54,033 --> 00:04:57,567
of the temperature changes here,
and our greenhouse isn't able
93
00:04:57,734 --> 00:05:01,100
to maintain any sort
of semblance of warmth.
94
00:05:01,267 --> 00:05:06,467
We want to be off-grid
because we learned a hard lesson
95
00:05:06,634 --> 00:05:07,901
with power outages.
96
00:05:08,067 --> 00:05:11,868
I had harvested a few ducks
and four geese,
97
00:05:12,033 --> 00:05:14,767
but during the last power
outage, the freezer wasn't
98
00:05:14,934 --> 00:05:19,267
working, and so we lost about
50 pounds of meat, and that was
99
00:05:19,434 --> 00:05:21,167
all of our food storage.
100
00:05:21,334 --> 00:05:25,100
Succeeding with this homestead
means everything to me.
101
00:05:25,267 --> 00:05:27,167
I don't know how much longer
we'll be able
102
00:05:27,334 --> 00:05:28,601
to survive like this.
103
00:05:28,767 --> 00:05:32,067
It feels like I'm never gonna
be able to actually move us
104
00:05:32,234 --> 00:05:34,367
into the house or figure
any of this out.
105
00:05:34,534 --> 00:05:37,267
- Marty, Misty, Matt...
- We really need your help.
106
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,601
OK, here they are, folks.
Let's do it.
107
00:05:53,567 --> 00:05:55,267
- Hello.
- Hello.
108
00:05:55,434 --> 00:05:56,367
- Hey.
- Hi.
109
00:05:56,534 --> 00:05:58,267
- Hi, guys.
- Wow.
110
00:05:58,434 --> 00:05:59,767
- Jacob.
- Jacob, nice to meet you.
111
00:05:59,934 --> 00:06:01,200
- And?
- Nice to meet you.
112
00:06:01,367 --> 00:06:02,299
- Taylor.
- Hi, I'm Robert.
113
00:06:02,300 --> 00:06:03,667
- Tracy.
- Nice to meet you all.
114
00:06:03,834 --> 00:06:05,234
This state is rugged.
115
00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,000
- Also, it's colder
than we thought it would be.
- Yeah.
116
00:06:08,167 --> 00:06:09,300
Are you from here?
117
00:06:09,467 --> 00:06:11,567
Yeah, we're both--
we're both born and raised here.
118
00:06:11,734 --> 00:06:13,100
Here in this part
of New Mexico?
119
00:06:13,267 --> 00:06:14,801
- In Santa Fe.
- About an hour away, yeah.
120
00:06:14,968 --> 00:06:16,400
We moved here
about three years ago.
121
00:06:16,567 --> 00:06:20,000
- That little trailer there.
- That's your house?
122
00:06:20,167 --> 00:06:22,667
You keep warm enough
in that during the winter?
123
00:06:22,834 --> 00:06:23,867
- No.
- No.
124
00:06:23,868 --> 00:06:26,200
- How hot does it get here?
- It gets 100-plus.
125
00:06:26,367 --> 00:06:27,300
- 100-plus.
- Summer.
126
00:06:27,467 --> 00:06:29,100
Do you stay cool enough
in that trailer?
127
00:06:29,267 --> 00:06:30,399
- No.
- No.
128
00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,400
There is an adobe house
right over there.
129
00:06:32,567 --> 00:06:34,267
Why don't you
live in there?
130
00:06:34,434 --> 00:06:37,901
We haven't been able to get it
to a point where it's safe
131
00:06:38,067 --> 00:06:42,400
to live in yet.
And trash is a big issue.
132
00:06:42,567 --> 00:06:44,567
This place was
practically a junkyard
133
00:06:44,734 --> 00:06:47,901
when we first came here.
- Previous owners buried trash.
134
00:06:48,067 --> 00:06:49,400
- Oh gosh, OK.
- Yeah.
135
00:06:49,567 --> 00:06:51,467
How's the last
three years been?
136
00:06:51,634 --> 00:06:54,100
- Difficult and challenging.
- Yeah.
137
00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,601
We met through mutual friends.
138
00:06:58,767 --> 00:07:01,868
They have a homestead
in Northern California
139
00:07:02,033 --> 00:07:04,367
and that was
where we fell in love.
140
00:07:04,534 --> 00:07:08,067
We were living on that
property helping them out
141
00:07:08,234 --> 00:07:13,100
and we just worked together
so well that we never stopped.
142
00:07:13,267 --> 00:07:16,000
And then we decided
to move back here and look
143
00:07:16,167 --> 00:07:17,467
for a place of our own.
144
00:07:17,634 --> 00:07:20,267
Now we are engaged,
and we wanna start
145
00:07:20,434 --> 00:07:21,399
a family here.
146
00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,801
I want to leave this place
as my legacy.
147
00:07:24,968 --> 00:07:27,567
It's very important to me
to get the homestead functioning
148
00:07:27,734 --> 00:07:29,467
before we can start a family.
149
00:07:29,634 --> 00:07:31,868
We don't really feel confident
in doing that yet.
150
00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,868
I have no experience
in homesteading like Taylor did.
151
00:07:37,033 --> 00:07:39,868
I grew up on
a 40-acre homestead
152
00:07:40,033 --> 00:07:42,767
in northern New Mexico.
We had a orchard.
153
00:07:42,934 --> 00:07:45,868
We had chickens, ducks, goats.
154
00:07:46,033 --> 00:07:47,667
I didn't know
what I wanted to do
155
00:07:47,834 --> 00:07:48,801
with my life.
I was--
156
00:07:48,968 --> 00:07:51,267
I feel like I was
wandering a lot.
157
00:07:51,434 --> 00:07:54,267
This place has really just
given me that much purpose
158
00:07:54,434 --> 00:07:57,267
that I really feel like I have
the conviction that I will
159
00:07:57,434 --> 00:07:58,767
spend the rest of my life here.
160
00:07:58,934 --> 00:08:03,400
But now everything is stacking
up, and I don't feel like
161
00:08:03,567 --> 00:08:05,701
I have the knowledge
and skill to do
162
00:08:05,868 --> 00:08:08,534
a lot of the things
that need to be done here.
163
00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,567
All right,
so this is the structure?
164
00:08:12,734 --> 00:08:14,067
- Yeah.
- And it looks like
165
00:08:14,234 --> 00:08:15,267
you're already
in the process
166
00:08:15,434 --> 00:08:16,701
of trying to get rid
of these trees?
167
00:08:16,868 --> 00:08:18,166
Yeah.
168
00:08:18,167 --> 00:08:21,100
The homesteaders have
chosen to live on five acres.
169
00:08:21,267 --> 00:08:25,367
However, they live in a RV
that reaches temperatures
170
00:08:25,534 --> 00:08:28,767
of 90 and 100 degrees inside.
171
00:08:28,934 --> 00:08:31,767
The question is, what's
going on with this adobe house
172
00:08:31,934 --> 00:08:33,767
that they want to resurrect?
173
00:08:33,934 --> 00:08:37,601
All right, so this adobe
structure is underneath these
174
00:08:37,767 --> 00:08:40,701
modern-day framed additions
covered in stucco?
175
00:08:40,868 --> 00:08:42,167
- Correct.
- OK.
176
00:08:42,334 --> 00:08:46,501
This back half here
is the original adobe
177
00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:50,367
and they put the last
top addition on there,
178
00:08:50,534 --> 00:08:51,968
I think in haste.
179
00:08:52,133 --> 00:08:54,701
There's a giant hole in
the roof that's coming through.
180
00:08:54,868 --> 00:08:57,701
So that it's leaking
and it's being contaminated
181
00:08:57,868 --> 00:09:00,868
by the elements?
- Yes, definitely.
182
00:09:01,033 --> 00:09:03,501
- In the one day
that I've been here...
- Uh-huh.
183
00:09:03,667 --> 00:09:04,968
...you see a lot of adobe.
184
00:09:05,133 --> 00:09:06,267
Why?
185
00:09:06,434 --> 00:09:09,167
That was the way houses
were built traditionally.
186
00:09:11,067 --> 00:09:14,501
Adobe is one of the oldest
building materials dating back
187
00:09:14,667 --> 00:09:17,100
to the eighth century B.C.
188
00:09:17,267 --> 00:09:20,667
Designed for warm,
dry climates, it naturally
189
00:09:20,834 --> 00:09:23,868
regulates heat
and resists insects.
190
00:09:24,033 --> 00:09:28,300
Made from sand, clay,
water, and straw, adobe bricks
191
00:09:28,467 --> 00:09:31,267
are shaped by
hand and sun-dried,
192
00:09:31,434 --> 00:09:33,767
a technique still used
in traditional
193
00:09:33,934 --> 00:09:35,701
and sustainable building today.
194
00:09:36,968 --> 00:09:41,767
- Is this
on a concrete slab?
- Yes and no.
195
00:09:41,934 --> 00:09:43,767
There's a hollow floor
in that side.
196
00:09:43,934 --> 00:09:46,467
I think this one's hollow, too.
197
00:09:46,634 --> 00:09:49,167
I'm looking at
a tremendous amount of work.
198
00:09:49,334 --> 00:09:51,667
I mean, it's a Frankenstein.
199
00:09:51,834 --> 00:09:55,868
So why would you guys not just
build a house on this property?
200
00:09:56,033 --> 00:10:00,467
We were born and raised here
in New Mexico, and we've always
201
00:10:00,634 --> 00:10:03,767
wanted to raise a family
out here one day.
202
00:10:03,934 --> 00:10:07,067
And it's been our dream
to live in a adobe house.
203
00:10:07,234 --> 00:10:08,367
You know, I'm looking
at all this.
204
00:10:08,534 --> 00:10:09,867
I get it.
205
00:10:09,868 --> 00:10:14,868
I mean, I'm more of a log cabin
guy because I live in a place
206
00:10:15,033 --> 00:10:16,667
where there's lots of trees.
207
00:10:16,834 --> 00:10:19,767
Trust me, if I lived here,
I'd be an adobe guy.
208
00:10:19,934 --> 00:10:21,667
- Yeah.
- But your dream
209
00:10:21,834 --> 00:10:25,567
to move into
this building, I think, is...
210
00:10:25,734 --> 00:10:27,167
I'm not sure how
realistic it is.
211
00:10:28,501 --> 00:10:30,000
I'm a little concerned.
212
00:10:30,167 --> 00:10:34,000
Jacob and Taylor, they've got
a big dream, a big plan to get
213
00:10:34,167 --> 00:10:39,000
out of that RV,
but can we resurrect this
214
00:10:39,167 --> 00:10:43,000
adobe structure?
Because it is literally broken.
215
00:10:47,501 --> 00:10:49,968
How cold does it get
during the night right now?
216
00:10:50,133 --> 00:10:52,901
Uh, last night
it was 17 degrees.
217
00:10:53,067 --> 00:10:55,767
- What?
- So we have
this greenhouse.
218
00:10:55,934 --> 00:10:58,100
There's just cacti
in it right now.
219
00:10:58,267 --> 00:11:01,100
I tried these raised beds
because the dirt here,
220
00:11:01,267 --> 00:11:04,100
there's so much trash that
we dig out that I'm not sure
221
00:11:04,267 --> 00:11:05,600
how to grow in the ground.
222
00:11:05,601 --> 00:11:09,000
Yeah, as soon as I heard
the previous owner was burying
223
00:11:09,167 --> 00:11:13,300
trash, there could be some
huge concerns health-wise.
- Mm-hmm.
224
00:11:13,467 --> 00:11:15,868
How many loads of garbage
left do you think?
225
00:11:16,033 --> 00:11:17,200
Probably endless.
226
00:11:17,367 --> 00:11:19,868
I'll show you some
of the worst of it later.
227
00:11:20,033 --> 00:11:21,767
Oh.
228
00:11:21,934 --> 00:11:23,567
What is the acequia?
What is that?
229
00:11:23,734 --> 00:11:25,801
The acequia is
an irrigation ditch.
230
00:11:25,968 --> 00:11:30,267
So when the Spanish came
out here, they dug trenches
231
00:11:30,434 --> 00:11:32,801
that come off of the river.
- Cool.
232
00:11:32,968 --> 00:11:34,033
- Can you show me?
- Yeah.
233
00:11:35,467 --> 00:11:37,267
I've never been
to New Mexico before.
234
00:11:37,434 --> 00:11:40,000
Kind of surprised
by the climate.
235
00:11:40,167 --> 00:11:41,868
We're at elevation.
236
00:11:42,033 --> 00:11:46,067
Clearly things aren't thriving
here when it comes to plants.
237
00:11:46,234 --> 00:11:50,868
So there's
some definite concerns
as far as gardening goes.
238
00:11:51,033 --> 00:11:52,167
Why does it look
like it's dry?
239
00:11:52,334 --> 00:11:56,100
So it's dry
from November to April.
240
00:11:56,267 --> 00:11:57,467
Oh, they block it.
241
00:11:57,634 --> 00:11:59,066
You have property
on the other side?
242
00:11:59,067 --> 00:12:01,367
- We have property on the other
side that we could irrigate.
- What?
243
00:12:01,534 --> 00:12:03,367
So we're trying to go
up here and over?
244
00:12:03,534 --> 00:12:05,000
- Yeah.
- Oh, man.
245
00:12:06,701 --> 00:12:09,767
So this is an apple tree that's
a couple hundred years old.
246
00:12:09,934 --> 00:12:11,901
- You have food!
- That is food, that's true.
247
00:12:12,067 --> 00:12:13,501
That's the only food
on the homestead.
248
00:12:13,667 --> 00:12:15,367
That's the only food.
I can't access it
249
00:12:15,534 --> 00:12:16,767
when the water's going, though.
250
00:12:18,501 --> 00:12:21,300
The acequia does cut through
a chunk of our property
251
00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:24,100
and there's an acre and a half
on the other side of it
252
00:12:24,267 --> 00:12:28,167
that we can't access as soon
as the water gets turned on.
253
00:12:28,334 --> 00:12:31,868
Acequias are
essentially an inlet from
the Rio Grande river
254
00:12:32,033 --> 00:12:36,100
and the water goes past
the farmland and then it exits
255
00:12:36,267 --> 00:12:38,901
back into the river so that
it's always replenishing
256
00:12:39,067 --> 00:12:40,667
the water cycle.
257
00:12:40,834 --> 00:12:44,567
- So, everything uphill
from this ditch be dry?
- Mm-hmm, yeah.
258
00:12:44,734 --> 00:12:46,701
- Everything downhill has water?
- Mm-hmm.
259
00:12:46,868 --> 00:12:49,067
So this, to me,
this is where you wanna be.
260
00:12:49,234 --> 00:12:51,300
- Yeah.
- The problem is
you can't get here.
261
00:12:51,467 --> 00:12:53,400
Especially if there's water
in that thing, you're not
262
00:12:53,567 --> 00:12:55,667
getting here.
That's a bummer.
263
00:12:55,834 --> 00:12:59,000
I visited enough desert
homesteads to realize you are
264
00:12:59,167 --> 00:13:01,767
gonna have challenges when it
comes to growing food.
265
00:13:01,934 --> 00:13:03,667
But on this homestead,
there's a lot
266
00:13:03,834 --> 00:13:05,100
working against it.
267
00:13:05,267 --> 00:13:08,767
You got access,
extreme temperatures, and trash.
268
00:13:08,934 --> 00:13:11,567
Growing food here,
it's not gonna be that easy.
269
00:13:19,801 --> 00:13:21,667
I'd like to take a look
at the ducks.
270
00:13:21,834 --> 00:13:24,767
- OK.
- So this looks
really quaint.
271
00:13:24,934 --> 00:13:28,767
At first glance, when it comes
to all the basics like food,
272
00:13:28,934 --> 00:13:31,667
water, and shelter,
these homesteaders have barely
273
00:13:31,834 --> 00:13:33,367
scratched the surface.
274
00:13:33,534 --> 00:13:37,100
And so I want to find out more
about the livestock and food
275
00:13:37,267 --> 00:13:39,367
that they have
on this property.
276
00:13:39,534 --> 00:13:42,167
- This part is a good start.
- Yes.
277
00:13:42,334 --> 00:13:44,467
Taylor, she struggles
in the wintertime a lot
278
00:13:44,634 --> 00:13:47,567
because in the summer, she puts
out these kiddie pools.
279
00:13:47,734 --> 00:13:50,801
But now in the wintertime, all
she has are these feed buckets.
280
00:13:50,968 --> 00:13:53,367
They wake her up in the morning
to come break the ice.
281
00:13:53,534 --> 00:13:54,868
- Because they freeze.
- Because they freeze.
282
00:13:55,033 --> 00:13:56,667
- Because it freezes.
- OK.
283
00:13:56,834 --> 00:13:59,567
Then they had the problem
with the freezer.
284
00:13:59,734 --> 00:14:02,167
They had geese.
Then they harvested the geese.
285
00:14:02,334 --> 00:14:04,067
- Yeah.
- And they had 50 pounds,
286
00:14:04,234 --> 00:14:05,667
and then we had the loss
287
00:14:05,834 --> 00:14:09,167
of electricity
for almost 24 hours.
288
00:14:09,334 --> 00:14:11,467
50 pounds of food
has been lost
289
00:14:11,634 --> 00:14:14,367
because the grid went down.
- Correct.
290
00:14:15,868 --> 00:14:19,501
These homesteaders
have a very good start
291
00:14:19,667 --> 00:14:20,868
raising ducks.
292
00:14:21,033 --> 00:14:23,667
I'm confident that we can
come up with a better solution
293
00:14:23,834 --> 00:14:25,667
to their small tubs.
294
00:14:25,834 --> 00:14:28,868
But I don't like to see
homesteaders this reliant
295
00:14:29,033 --> 00:14:32,400
on the grid, so we need
to figure out food storage.
296
00:14:41,267 --> 00:14:44,667
All right,
here in this part of New Mexico,
297
00:14:44,834 --> 00:14:48,367
the Pueblos and others thrived
298
00:14:48,534 --> 00:14:53,267
because they dug trenches
like this.
299
00:14:53,434 --> 00:14:59,167
They have the lifeblood
acequia running through
300
00:14:59,334 --> 00:15:01,167
their homestead property.
301
00:15:01,334 --> 00:15:03,100
They should be able
to make it out here.
302
00:15:03,267 --> 00:15:06,567
- They just haven't really
started homesteading yet.
- Mm-hmm.
303
00:15:06,734 --> 00:15:12,667
And just in the last week,
they lost all of their
stores of meat.
304
00:15:12,834 --> 00:15:15,267
And it really goes to show you,
just because you live
305
00:15:15,434 --> 00:15:19,868
on the grid doesn't mean that
freezer is always gonna work.
306
00:15:20,033 --> 00:15:23,000
So I looked around
and the promised land is
307
00:15:23,167 --> 00:15:26,100
on the other side
of the acequia.
308
00:15:26,267 --> 00:15:28,267
There's grass growing.
309
00:15:28,434 --> 00:15:30,567
The ground is like,
rich and moist.
310
00:15:30,734 --> 00:15:32,467
The problem is,
is you can't get there.
311
00:15:32,634 --> 00:15:34,601
This thing has water in it
most of the year.
312
00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:38,501
So I've no idea what
the solution is, but I do know
313
00:15:38,667 --> 00:15:40,000
that these guys need food.
314
00:15:40,167 --> 00:15:43,000
And if you plant it in
the ground, the ground might be
315
00:15:43,167 --> 00:15:47,267
poisoned by the previous owner
and burying all the trash.
316
00:15:47,434 --> 00:15:49,300
So this is a difficult one
for me.
317
00:15:50,667 --> 00:15:53,968
I don't think we've ever faced
anything as daunting
318
00:15:54,133 --> 00:15:56,100
as that adobe structure.
319
00:15:56,267 --> 00:15:59,200
Do we think
like rational people
320
00:15:59,367 --> 00:16:01,167
and tear down this structure?
321
00:16:01,334 --> 00:16:06,767
Or do we attempt at fulfilling
this less than normal dream
322
00:16:06,934 --> 00:16:10,167
to try to save
an 80-year-old adobe house?
323
00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,300
Well, we meet again.
324
00:16:21,467 --> 00:16:23,200
Here's what I've learned
in the last few hours
325
00:16:23,367 --> 00:16:24,567
on this homestead.
326
00:16:24,734 --> 00:16:27,400
We've got several
boxes to check.
327
00:16:27,567 --> 00:16:30,467
Number one is shelter.
328
00:16:30,634 --> 00:16:33,901
Listen, if we roll the dice on
that thing, which we can't even
329
00:16:34,067 --> 00:16:36,367
see, by the way,
we could find mold.
330
00:16:36,534 --> 00:16:39,367
We could find structural
integrity is not there.
331
00:16:39,534 --> 00:16:42,100
We're not gonna know any
of these things until we start
332
00:16:42,267 --> 00:16:45,701
demolishing,
demolishing your home.
333
00:16:45,868 --> 00:16:47,167
That's the first step.
334
00:16:47,334 --> 00:16:50,667
I'm warning you,
it could be a mistake.
335
00:16:50,834 --> 00:16:52,000
Is this something
you wanna do?
336
00:17:04,601 --> 00:17:08,701
2
Do you really want to not
pursue building a traditional
337
00:17:08,868 --> 00:17:13,267
home without any surprises,
or you guys wanna roll
338
00:17:13,434 --> 00:17:15,567
the dice on that thing,
which we can't even see,
339
00:17:15,734 --> 00:17:16,868
by the way, from here?
340
00:17:21,501 --> 00:17:26,367
Yes, if it's feasible,
we want to save the house.
341
00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:29,901
The adobe is much
more efficient.
342
00:17:30,067 --> 00:17:34,767
It'll be 98 degrees inside
the trailer, and I will walk
343
00:17:34,934 --> 00:17:38,467
over to the adobe house,
and it will be 65 degrees
344
00:17:38,634 --> 00:17:40,567
in there.
Same for wintertime.
345
00:17:40,734 --> 00:17:44,601
It's 10 to 20 degrees warmer,
even without any supplemental
346
00:17:44,767 --> 00:17:46,701
heat or anything.
347
00:17:46,868 --> 00:17:49,000
The culture and history
of adobe, I think
348
00:17:49,167 --> 00:17:52,100
it's an important thing
for me to carry forward.
349
00:17:53,801 --> 00:17:56,267
I think it's at least
take a first step and get
350
00:17:56,434 --> 00:17:59,701
the dilapidated second floor
off and evaluate it.
351
00:17:59,868 --> 00:18:01,267
- Are you in?
- Absolutely.
352
00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,100
So we are, we're gonna roll
the dice and we might
353
00:18:06,267 --> 00:18:08,400
possibly go all in.
354
00:18:08,567 --> 00:18:11,801
I appreciate that adobe
structures could still survive
355
00:18:11,968 --> 00:18:15,901
that could still stand 80 years
after they were built,
356
00:18:16,067 --> 00:18:17,100
but can this one?
357
00:18:18,801 --> 00:18:19,868
See you in the morning.
358
00:18:31,767 --> 00:18:32,801
Yoo-hoo!
359
00:18:32,968 --> 00:18:33,868
What's a good word?
360
00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,100
We have to talk
about some stuff.
361
00:18:42,467 --> 00:18:44,601
Let's talk about bigger picture
plans when it comes to this
362
00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:47,501
garden and this greenhouse
and this house.
363
00:18:47,667 --> 00:18:50,501
I just want to, like, be really
clear on what we're trying
364
00:18:50,667 --> 00:18:53,000
to do before we move anything
and do anything
365
00:18:53,167 --> 00:18:54,634
with an excavator.
- OK.
366
00:18:55,868 --> 00:18:59,100
When we show up on people's
homesteads, we are constantly
367
00:18:59,267 --> 00:19:02,400
trying to figure out what is
the perfect solution for these
368
00:19:02,567 --> 00:19:04,467
homesteaders on the fly.
369
00:19:04,634 --> 00:19:08,100
And you don't know until
you start these crazy problems
370
00:19:08,267 --> 00:19:10,868
what the crazy solution's
gonna be.
371
00:19:11,033 --> 00:19:14,667
We were hoping to turn this
room into a passive solar room.
372
00:19:14,834 --> 00:19:16,367
When you say this room,
what room?
373
00:19:16,534 --> 00:19:18,267
This room on the front.
374
00:19:18,434 --> 00:19:20,767
We have the glass panels
for it.
375
00:19:20,934 --> 00:19:23,167
OK, here's the problem.
376
00:19:23,334 --> 00:19:26,167
We can't even get to the house
because of these trees, right?
377
00:19:27,467 --> 00:19:30,767
I don't want to rain on
anyone's parade, but this huge
378
00:19:30,934 --> 00:19:36,501
piece of equipment is about
to remove all of these invasive
379
00:19:36,667 --> 00:19:38,767
elm and trees of heaven.
380
00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:43,167
I would rather you guys
not build anything on
381
00:19:43,334 --> 00:19:45,567
this structure while
we're working on it.
382
00:19:45,734 --> 00:19:50,167
We do want the greenhouse
inside of the adobe house.
383
00:19:50,334 --> 00:19:52,300
We want what you guys want.
384
00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:54,767
This isn't me saying no,
and this isn't my dad
385
00:19:54,934 --> 00:19:56,868
saying no.
Why don't we do this, then?
386
00:19:57,033 --> 00:19:58,701
Why don't we check back?
387
00:19:58,868 --> 00:20:00,000
Yeah, because we really
don't know...
388
00:20:00,167 --> 00:20:01,501
- We don't know.
- ...until we
389
00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:04,067
tear into it whether it's
going to be viable
390
00:20:04,234 --> 00:20:05,167
or not, so...
- Yeah.
391
00:20:05,334 --> 00:20:06,300
OK.
392
00:20:06,467 --> 00:20:08,000
So, some of these trees
are big.
393
00:20:08,167 --> 00:20:09,100
We're gonna take them
all out.
394
00:20:09,267 --> 00:20:10,367
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
395
00:20:10,534 --> 00:20:12,400
That's step one.
Let's get after it.
396
00:20:12,567 --> 00:20:13,667
- OK.
- Thank you, guys.
397
00:20:15,167 --> 00:20:18,267
To get the couple out
of their unsafe RV
398
00:20:18,434 --> 00:20:19,868
and into their adobe home
399
00:20:20,033 --> 00:20:23,067
with proper insulation
and facilities,
400
00:20:23,234 --> 00:20:26,567
Marty will first clear brush
and the invasive trees
401
00:20:26,734 --> 00:20:28,400
that have engulfed
the structure.
402
00:20:28,567 --> 00:20:32,868
Next, he'll demolish the broken
roof addition and clear out
403
00:20:33,033 --> 00:20:36,567
decades of debris to determine
if the home is truly
404
00:20:36,734 --> 00:20:38,868
salvageable for permanent
living quarters.
405
00:20:44,801 --> 00:20:47,767
We've never laid eyes on,
let alone have we ever
406
00:20:47,934 --> 00:20:49,767
worked on an adobe structure.
407
00:20:49,934 --> 00:20:54,868
And I'm not convinced we can
save it, but we'll never know
408
00:20:55,033 --> 00:20:58,067
'till we kick out
the current occupants.
409
00:20:58,234 --> 00:21:02,467
The trees of heaven
that are not so heavenly.
410
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,400
Brought from China to
New Mexico in the 1700s
411
00:21:07,567 --> 00:21:11,701
as an ornamental tree, the tree
of heaven quickly spread,
412
00:21:11,868 --> 00:21:16,100
thriving in the region's
poor soil and dry conditions.
413
00:21:16,267 --> 00:21:19,300
But its beauty hides
a destructive nature.
414
00:21:19,467 --> 00:21:23,000
Its massive root system tunnels
deep underground,
415
00:21:23,167 --> 00:21:27,167
cracking foundations,
lifting walls, and even forcing
416
00:21:27,334 --> 00:21:29,267
its way through
adobe structures.
417
00:21:31,567 --> 00:21:32,567
Here we go.
418
00:21:42,267 --> 00:21:43,567
All right.
419
00:21:43,734 --> 00:21:44,601
Like it.
420
00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:50,267
This is amazing.
421
00:21:50,434 --> 00:21:53,200
I've been doing this at
a lot slower of a pace
422
00:21:53,367 --> 00:21:57,400
for three years, so watching
this all happen at once is like
423
00:21:57,567 --> 00:22:00,200
all the weight of the trees
being lifted off my shoulders.
424
00:22:09,467 --> 00:22:11,767
OK, so here's the deal.
425
00:22:11,934 --> 00:22:14,501
This fenced-in area
is the only thing I've seen
426
00:22:14,667 --> 00:22:17,300
that screams homestead
to me, um,
427
00:22:17,467 --> 00:22:18,767
on this whole property.
428
00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:25,667
As soon as I saw this fenced-in
area, I saw the beginning of
429
00:22:25,834 --> 00:22:27,467
an actual homestead.
430
00:22:27,634 --> 00:22:29,968
These homesteaders
are not gonna live in
this fenced-in area
431
00:22:30,133 --> 00:22:33,567
forever, and the fact
that we have a nice area where
432
00:22:33,734 --> 00:22:37,801
there's some ducks but a lot
of space means we can really up
433
00:22:37,968 --> 00:22:41,467
our homesteading game
and set them up for success.
434
00:22:41,634 --> 00:22:44,167
Jacob and Taylor have had
to think about things in
435
00:22:44,334 --> 00:22:47,067
a small scale, but I'm thinking
about the future,
436
00:22:47,234 --> 00:22:50,667
and this fenced-in area,
you could have goats in here.
437
00:22:50,834 --> 00:22:53,100
You can have a lot of animals.
438
00:22:53,267 --> 00:22:56,100
And so, I think we build
a pond inside here.
439
00:22:56,267 --> 00:22:59,167
This really is the perfect
place to really step up
440
00:22:59,334 --> 00:23:00,701
the homesteading game.
- Mm-hmm.
441
00:23:00,868 --> 00:23:04,567
- And I think the pond
will be a first start...
- Yeah.
442
00:23:04,734 --> 00:23:10,667
...to maybe snowball and get
the homestead up to step.
- Going, yeah.
443
00:23:10,834 --> 00:23:12,067
Yeah, I think so, too.
444
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,868
To create a secure habitat
that will keep eight ducks
445
00:23:17,033 --> 00:23:20,868
ice-free in winter and cool
in the summer, Matt will dig
446
00:23:21,033 --> 00:23:24,968
a 30-by-20-foot pond five feet
deep in the ground.
447
00:23:25,133 --> 00:23:29,501
Next, he will add a dark liner
to absorb heat and reinforce
448
00:23:29,667 --> 00:23:31,100
the existing fence,
449
00:23:31,267 --> 00:23:33,501
keeping the ducks in
and predators out.
450
00:23:38,367 --> 00:23:39,367
All right.
451
00:23:40,467 --> 00:23:42,601
So this is 25 centered.
452
00:23:42,767 --> 00:23:44,801
Just make a mark with your foot
right there.
453
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,567
I'm feeling grateful for all
that's happening and overwhelmed
454
00:23:50,734 --> 00:23:54,667
in the fact that I never thought
there'd be so much happening.
455
00:23:54,834 --> 00:23:57,467
A little bigger, it's 30.
456
00:23:57,634 --> 00:24:00,067
My kids are finally
gonna get help that
457
00:24:00,234 --> 00:24:02,000
they desperately need.
458
00:24:02,167 --> 00:24:03,701
All right, here we go.
459
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,901
I, you know, was a single mom
and have seen Taylor go through
460
00:24:11,067 --> 00:24:14,968
so many things that
this is her dream.
461
00:24:15,133 --> 00:24:20,901
And however
I can help, I'm so honored
and I'm so thankful
462
00:24:21,067 --> 00:24:22,767
and appreciative that
this is happening.
463
00:24:22,934 --> 00:24:24,467
It's just surreal.
464
00:24:31,968 --> 00:24:35,400
All right, before we start
building anything attached
465
00:24:35,567 --> 00:24:39,367
to the adobe home,
let's talk about the garden.
466
00:24:39,534 --> 00:24:42,100
I would love to put
one in the ground,
467
00:24:42,267 --> 00:24:44,567
but there's trash
all around us.
468
00:24:44,734 --> 00:24:47,200
This is like some of
the worst of the trash.
469
00:24:47,367 --> 00:24:48,767
This is
the worst trash, OK.
470
00:24:48,934 --> 00:24:51,901
This is a pretty crazy day.
There's some setbacks.
471
00:24:52,067 --> 00:24:54,300
I have some concerns for sure
when it comes to
472
00:24:54,467 --> 00:24:55,667
the adobe home.
473
00:24:55,834 --> 00:24:57,667
We don't know in this moment
if we're gonna be able to
474
00:24:57,834 --> 00:25:00,367
put in a greenhouse
to grow food year-round.
475
00:25:00,534 --> 00:25:02,767
So I want to give this
homestead a garden.
476
00:25:02,934 --> 00:25:07,701
However, there's a lot of trash
that's been buried.
477
00:25:07,868 --> 00:25:09,868
I feel like there's probably
a little bit less that way.
478
00:25:10,033 --> 00:25:12,267
I know it's closer
to the house.
479
00:25:12,434 --> 00:25:15,701
I don't mind walking over there
if I have to be in the trailer.
480
00:25:15,868 --> 00:25:18,767
Everything that I would do on
this homestead if it were mine,
481
00:25:18,934 --> 00:25:21,100
would be on the other side
of the acequia,
482
00:25:21,267 --> 00:25:23,167
downhill from
the irrigation ditch.
483
00:25:23,334 --> 00:25:26,567
But there's no access to that
part of the homestead, so I had
484
00:25:26,734 --> 00:25:29,667
to figure out what is
the safest solution to be able
485
00:25:29,834 --> 00:25:31,767
to feed these homesteaders.
486
00:25:31,934 --> 00:25:36,167
Over here gets pretty similar
sunlight to over there.
487
00:25:36,334 --> 00:25:38,667
I've known you one day,
and I can tell you're a super
488
00:25:38,834 --> 00:25:40,200
optimistic person.
You want to know why?
489
00:25:40,367 --> 00:25:41,533
Why?
490
00:25:41,534 --> 00:25:45,601
Because you moved the outdoor
garden to the doorstep
491
00:25:45,767 --> 00:25:47,901
of the adobe house.
- I know I did.
492
00:25:48,067 --> 00:25:50,868
You are, like, 100% convinced.
493
00:25:52,767 --> 00:25:56,100
To provide the homestead
with a vital food source,
494
00:25:56,267 --> 00:25:59,467
Misty will tackle
a two-part project.
495
00:25:59,634 --> 00:26:03,567
First, she will dig underground
garden beds in an area without
496
00:26:03,734 --> 00:26:08,100
buried trash, complete with
a surrounding protective fence.
497
00:26:08,267 --> 00:26:12,868
Later, if deemed possible after
Marty has freed the adobe home,
498
00:26:13,033 --> 00:26:16,067
she will utilize one
of the south-facing rooms,
499
00:26:16,234 --> 00:26:19,100
turning it into a solarium
greenhouse that can provide
500
00:26:19,267 --> 00:26:23,300
both warmth to the home and
growing space for more food.
501
00:26:25,767 --> 00:26:29,701
I still am not 100% convinced
that there's no trash,
502
00:26:29,868 --> 00:26:31,767
so we'll start digging
and see what we find.
503
00:26:31,934 --> 00:26:33,367
- All right.
- Maybe it's gold.
504
00:26:33,534 --> 00:26:35,567
Spanish gold.
505
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,167
I have a degree in nutrition,
so I'm really passionate about
506
00:26:43,334 --> 00:26:45,567
where my food comes from,
so I'm really excited
507
00:26:45,734 --> 00:26:47,400
that Misty's working
on the garden.
508
00:26:47,567 --> 00:26:50,968
Jacob and I both grew up in
New Mexico, and it's our dream
509
00:26:51,133 --> 00:26:55,167
to heal this piece of land
because it's been neglected
510
00:26:55,334 --> 00:26:57,367
for so long.
- Really good.
511
00:26:57,534 --> 00:27:01,467
The last couple years
have been so hard, so I'm just
512
00:27:01,634 --> 00:27:04,000
overwhelmed and speechless
and so grateful.
513
00:27:07,467 --> 00:27:09,167
All right.
Yeah!
514
00:27:09,334 --> 00:27:10,667
So far, so good.
515
00:27:10,834 --> 00:27:12,567
There's no garbage,
which is amazing.
516
00:27:12,734 --> 00:27:14,868
I'll take it.
517
00:27:15,033 --> 00:27:20,000
We do, however, just have sand
only, so clearly you're not able
518
00:27:20,167 --> 00:27:23,567
to grow anything in this soil,
but there's no garbage,
519
00:27:23,734 --> 00:27:26,801
there's nothing toxic,
and I think this is exciting,
520
00:27:26,968 --> 00:27:28,601
and we'll just deal
with the soil later.
521
00:27:30,601 --> 00:27:33,000
Somebody has put
a chain in here.
522
00:27:33,167 --> 00:27:35,400
It's not a good sign that we're
just gonna find things
523
00:27:35,567 --> 00:27:36,868
we've never seen before.
524
00:27:37,033 --> 00:27:40,601
How are we gonna get to
a place where we leave them
525
00:27:40,767 --> 00:27:43,000
with an authentic
adobe building?
526
00:27:43,167 --> 00:27:44,100
I don't know.
527
00:27:52,767 --> 00:27:54,667
2
Clint!
Boom up.
528
00:27:54,834 --> 00:27:57,067
With most of the trees
now cleared around
529
00:27:57,234 --> 00:27:58,266
the adobe home...
530
00:27:58,267 --> 00:28:00,367
It's gonna get
a little bit western.
531
00:28:00,534 --> 00:28:04,067
...Marty prepares to dismantle
rotting additions.
532
00:28:04,234 --> 00:28:05,100
Kind of sketchy.
533
00:28:07,067 --> 00:28:08,067
Lift.
534
00:28:10,367 --> 00:28:11,701
Whoa!
535
00:28:14,701 --> 00:28:15,734
OK, so
536
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,701
this I've never seen before.
Check this out.
537
00:28:19,868 --> 00:28:22,767
So these are most likely
16-inch block boards
538
00:28:22,934 --> 00:28:24,200
solid with concrete.
539
00:28:24,367 --> 00:28:26,901
But somebody has put a chain
in here.
540
00:28:27,067 --> 00:28:29,067
Now, we can't get it all off.
541
00:28:29,234 --> 00:28:35,200
Six heavy chains are holding
that together from the post.
542
00:28:35,367 --> 00:28:36,868
So we have to grind
the chains off.
543
00:28:37,033 --> 00:28:38,367
I mean, it's gonna
break the strap.
544
00:28:38,534 --> 00:28:40,567
Look at these guys grinding!
I mean, it's crazy!
545
00:28:40,734 --> 00:28:42,567
Because there's high wind?
Why?
546
00:28:42,734 --> 00:28:44,567
Could be from high
winds, actually.
547
00:28:44,734 --> 00:28:46,868
Somebody had a bad experience
with high winds?
548
00:28:47,033 --> 00:28:48,000
Absolutely.
549
00:28:49,267 --> 00:28:52,968
Once upon a time,
someone built an original
550
00:28:53,133 --> 00:28:55,067
authentic adobe structure.
551
00:28:55,234 --> 00:28:57,667
But over the years,
different people have lived
552
00:28:57,834 --> 00:29:00,667
here, added on,
and put a second story on it.
553
00:29:00,834 --> 00:29:03,367
And that's when things
went bad.
554
00:29:03,534 --> 00:29:05,701
It's not a good sign that
we're just gonna find things
555
00:29:05,868 --> 00:29:07,767
we've never seen before,
but we've got to grind
556
00:29:07,934 --> 00:29:09,200
that chain off.
557
00:29:09,367 --> 00:29:12,968
How are we going to get to
a place where we leave them
558
00:29:13,133 --> 00:29:15,100
with an authentic
adobe building?
559
00:29:15,267 --> 00:29:16,200
I don't know.
560
00:29:19,601 --> 00:29:21,467
Oh, God.
561
00:29:21,634 --> 00:29:23,100
Lift is your friend.
562
00:29:25,567 --> 00:29:26,868
The work's over here.
Get over here!
563
00:29:27,033 --> 00:29:28,200
Grab this!
You!
564
00:29:28,367 --> 00:29:30,167
All right.
565
00:29:30,334 --> 00:29:31,367
Hold on there, sunshine.
566
00:29:33,367 --> 00:29:36,968
I'm a little bit worried,
but I'm more excited
567
00:29:37,133 --> 00:29:38,333
than anything else.
568
00:29:38,334 --> 00:29:41,100
Hook that anywhere you want,
long as it comes with us.
569
00:29:41,267 --> 00:29:45,100
We don't know if the house
is fixable or not, or if we just
570
00:29:45,267 --> 00:29:48,267
wasted a whole bunch of time.
- Hand me that chain.
571
00:29:48,434 --> 00:29:51,267
In any case, because
most of my work has been in
572
00:29:51,434 --> 00:29:54,200
the restaurant industry...
- Back it up!
573
00:29:54,367 --> 00:29:57,100
...while the Raneys are here,
I wanna learn everything I can.
574
00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:24,000
A lot of people don't know this,
but I speak duck and I'm gonna
575
00:30:24,167 --> 00:30:25,868
communicate with these ducks
and tell them they're gonna
576
00:30:26,033 --> 00:30:27,968
have a pond real soon.
577
00:30:28,133 --> 00:30:31,567
Quack, quack, quack, quack.
578
00:30:37,501 --> 00:30:40,100
As a new day begins on
the Johnson family's
579
00:30:40,267 --> 00:30:41,767
New Mexico homestead...
580
00:30:41,934 --> 00:30:43,467
All right, watch out, parents.
581
00:30:43,634 --> 00:30:46,567
I'm gonna swing back over
and I'll get this finished.
582
00:30:46,734 --> 00:30:49,767
...the footprint for the new
duck pond nears completion.
583
00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,767
This pond is gonna allow
the ducks to clean themselves.
584
00:30:54,934 --> 00:30:57,100
It'll keep them a lot
healthier, and that's a good
585
00:30:57,267 --> 00:30:59,868
thing because this is
the only source of protein
586
00:31:00,100 --> 00:31:01,868
the homestead has.
587
00:31:02,033 --> 00:31:03,000
It's getting close.
588
00:31:03,167 --> 00:31:05,000
We're getting close, yeah.
589
00:31:05,167 --> 00:31:08,367
Like we always say,
water is life.
590
00:31:08,534 --> 00:31:10,667
These ducks need water.
591
00:31:10,834 --> 00:31:12,868
It's gonna help them live
longer, makes them happier
592
00:31:13,033 --> 00:31:14,467
and more productive.
593
00:31:14,634 --> 00:31:18,267
And it's a big enough pond
that they can actually expand
594
00:31:18,434 --> 00:31:20,300
their duck population
in the future.
595
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:23,601
This is looking pretty
quack-tastic.
596
00:31:23,767 --> 00:31:26,067
- It is.
- We need to get
a pond liner in here,
597
00:31:26,234 --> 00:31:27,901
get some water in here,
598
00:31:28,067 --> 00:31:30,200
and then it'll be
quack-tacular.
599
00:31:30,367 --> 00:31:31,300
Quack, quack.
600
00:31:37,033 --> 00:31:38,667
All right, Taylor,
let's talk plants.
601
00:31:38,834 --> 00:31:41,267
- OK.
- These sunken beds
are designed
602
00:31:41,434 --> 00:31:43,100
to get the plants out of
these elements,
603
00:31:43,267 --> 00:31:45,467
out of the wind
and the extreme temperatures.
604
00:31:45,634 --> 00:31:48,501
It also retains
that much more moisture,
605
00:31:48,667 --> 00:31:51,167
and it can even
collect rainwater.
606
00:31:51,334 --> 00:31:55,100
And hopefully, at some point,
we can score some topsoil
607
00:31:55,267 --> 00:31:57,000
on the other side
of the acequia,
608
00:31:57,167 --> 00:31:59,767
because when it comes
to this outdoor garden space,
609
00:31:59,934 --> 00:32:03,300
we're not gonna be
growing anything in the sand.
610
00:32:03,467 --> 00:32:06,300
First, we want to figure out
how we're protecting the garden,
611
00:32:06,467 --> 00:32:09,667
'cause there's a lot of critters
interested in that food.
612
00:32:09,834 --> 00:32:12,467
So I think at this point,
we just get this garden
613
00:32:12,634 --> 00:32:16,100
protected, throw up
the fence, and done.
- OK.
614
00:32:16,267 --> 00:32:19,767
OK, so we're gonna grab
a T-post and the T-post pounder
615
00:32:21,167 --> 00:32:25,868
and just go until
it's level with the dirt.
616
00:32:26,033 --> 00:32:27,367
OK, where do you think
it should go?
617
00:32:27,534 --> 00:32:29,467
- You think this distance?
- Oh, this distance?
618
00:32:29,634 --> 00:32:30,600
Yeah.
619
00:32:30,601 --> 00:32:31,868
Yeah, I guess
I'll come in a little bit.
620
00:32:34,100 --> 00:32:36,467
So you and Jacob,
are you guys married?
621
00:32:36,634 --> 00:32:38,200
We're about to get married
next month.
622
00:32:38,367 --> 00:32:39,500
- What?
- Yeah.
623
00:32:39,501 --> 00:32:41,467
So are you guys doing
a big thing, a small thing?
624
00:32:41,634 --> 00:32:43,167
No, just a little thing
with family.
625
00:32:43,334 --> 00:32:44,667
We might do it here because
626
00:32:46,067 --> 00:32:48,167
now it looks nice.
- What?
627
00:32:48,334 --> 00:32:49,267
No pressure.
628
00:32:51,167 --> 00:32:52,367
We are engaged
629
00:32:52,534 --> 00:32:54,667
and we want to start
a family here.
630
00:32:54,834 --> 00:32:57,968
But we don't have enough
comforts for ourselves,
631
00:32:58,133 --> 00:33:01,100
let alone bringing other lives
into the world.
632
00:33:01,267 --> 00:33:02,968
Yeah, I can't imagine
putting another being
633
00:33:03,133 --> 00:33:05,167
in that tiny trailer.
634
00:33:05,334 --> 00:33:06,801
How did he propose?
635
00:33:06,968 --> 00:33:09,567
- In the trailer.
- Oh, no.
636
00:33:09,734 --> 00:33:10,667
And you said yes?
637
00:33:12,934 --> 00:33:14,501
Yep.
638
00:33:14,667 --> 00:33:17,767
Well, hopefully this is
your wedding present.
639
00:33:17,934 --> 00:33:21,167
This is your beginning of
your life together, and, like,
640
00:33:21,334 --> 00:33:24,467
kids and the whole thing?
- Yeah, that's the plan.
641
00:33:24,634 --> 00:33:27,300
It's really special.
I didn't know that.
642
00:33:27,467 --> 00:33:29,467
- Yeah, congratulations.
- Thank you.
643
00:33:30,601 --> 00:33:32,167
It's so sweet
to hear from Taylor
644
00:33:32,334 --> 00:33:33,567
that they're newly engaged.
645
00:33:33,734 --> 00:33:36,868
This is the beginning of
their beautiful life together.
646
00:33:37,033 --> 00:33:39,701
No pressure.
But we got to set these guys up
647
00:33:39,868 --> 00:33:43,167
to where they can actually
be successful gardeners.
648
00:33:43,334 --> 00:33:44,334
All right, let's stand it up.
649
00:33:46,501 --> 00:33:50,100
- Yeah, Taylor.
- I grew up in an adobe home.
650
00:33:50,267 --> 00:33:51,901
This adobe structure,
651
00:33:52,067 --> 00:33:53,968
can you tell if it's still
good to build on?
652
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:03,767
2
Hit it!
653
00:34:05,167 --> 00:34:08,701
As demolition of the damaged
second floor is underway,
654
00:34:08,868 --> 00:34:11,767
exposing the original
adobe bricks...
655
00:34:11,934 --> 00:34:13,400
- How you doing?
- How you doing?
656
00:34:13,567 --> 00:34:16,367
...the structure is ready to be
assessed for durability.
657
00:34:17,601 --> 00:34:21,801
- So you're the governor.
- I'm a former governor.
658
00:34:21,968 --> 00:34:25,868
Living in a log home in Alaska
doesn't have anything in common
659
00:34:26,033 --> 00:34:30,267
to Pueblos living
in adobe structures.
660
00:34:30,434 --> 00:34:33,901
So I need to talk to an expert
like Patrick to make sure
661
00:34:34,067 --> 00:34:35,467
it's safe to move forward.
662
00:34:35,634 --> 00:34:37,667
- It's my first time here...
- Mm-hmm.
663
00:34:37,834 --> 00:34:40,767
...and we are working
on an adobe building.
664
00:34:40,934 --> 00:34:43,801
I don't know much about it,
just the basic history
665
00:34:43,968 --> 00:34:47,167
of Pueblo.
- My people are called...
666
00:34:47,334 --> 00:34:49,567
uh, Tewa-- Tewa people.
667
00:34:50,667 --> 00:34:54,567
I believe that the Tewa are
the ones that found this area.
668
00:34:56,601 --> 00:34:59,567
The name Tewa refers to
linguistically related
669
00:34:59,734 --> 00:35:03,100
Native American people
who lived in communities
referred to
670
00:35:03,267 --> 00:35:06,868
as Pueblos, a name applied to
them by the Spanish colonists
671
00:35:07,033 --> 00:35:09,267
in the late 1500s.
672
00:35:09,434 --> 00:35:12,267
A majority of Tewa-speaking
Pueblos lived in
673
00:35:12,434 --> 00:35:15,601
the southwestern United States
near the Rio Grande.
674
00:35:15,767 --> 00:35:18,667
The fertile area near the river
appealed to them because
675
00:35:18,834 --> 00:35:21,467
the Tewa were horticulturalists
who developed
676
00:35:21,634 --> 00:35:25,367
hydraulic irrigation,
such as the acequia, to water
677
00:35:25,534 --> 00:35:29,167
their principal crops of corn,
beans, and squash.
678
00:35:29,334 --> 00:35:32,601
Today, tens of thousands
of Pueblo people continue
679
00:35:32,767 --> 00:35:35,267
to preserve their heritage
across New Mexico
680
00:35:35,434 --> 00:35:36,567
and the Southwest.
681
00:35:37,601 --> 00:35:41,467
The engineering of the Tewa
people goes back into
682
00:35:41,634 --> 00:35:44,767
history again.
They knew how to lay bricks.
683
00:35:44,934 --> 00:35:49,868
What is it about the adobe
style that makes it perfect
684
00:35:50,033 --> 00:35:52,267
for this high desert?
685
00:35:52,434 --> 00:35:55,701
Both insulation to keeping
the warmth in.
686
00:35:55,868 --> 00:35:58,000
- Does it work?
- It works, yeah.
687
00:35:58,167 --> 00:36:01,367
Did you personally, with
your hands, do you have history
688
00:36:01,534 --> 00:36:03,501
building with adobe?
- Yes.
689
00:36:03,667 --> 00:36:06,667
- I grew up in an adobe home.
- How old was your home?
690
00:36:06,834 --> 00:36:08,868
Probably over 100 years old.
691
00:36:09,033 --> 00:36:12,167
And then I learned how to do
this kind of work.
692
00:36:12,334 --> 00:36:16,467
Foundation, adobe framing.
693
00:36:16,634 --> 00:36:20,000
I had a finger-- a hand on
in every part of the structure.
694
00:36:20,167 --> 00:36:23,167
So I don't have to worry
that this is 80 years old,
695
00:36:23,334 --> 00:36:24,667
that it's still good
to build on?
696
00:36:26,601 --> 00:36:28,567
I would say,
697
00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:32,100
if that's still strong,
it'll hold it up.
698
00:36:32,267 --> 00:36:35,467
Can you tell if that's
a good job or a bad job?
699
00:36:35,634 --> 00:36:37,100
So, uh...
700
00:36:42,367 --> 00:36:43,400
It looks good.
701
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,767
That's all I had to hear.
Thank you.
702
00:36:54,567 --> 00:36:56,400
OK, let's roll
this thing out.
703
00:36:56,567 --> 00:36:57,868
Over at the duck pen...
704
00:36:58,033 --> 00:36:59,267
I'm gonna be the anchor
and you're gonna
705
00:36:59,434 --> 00:37:00,801
be the puller.
- OK.
706
00:37:00,968 --> 00:37:04,067
...while Matt installs
the new duck pond liner...
707
00:37:04,234 --> 00:37:05,968
- OK, keep pulling.
- Hey.
708
00:37:07,100 --> 00:37:08,367
What's happening?
709
00:37:08,534 --> 00:37:11,467
This is my mom
and her husband, Jim.
710
00:37:11,634 --> 00:37:14,200
...an extra set of hands
has arrived on the homestead.
711
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,167
OK, let's regroup
on some things.
712
00:37:18,334 --> 00:37:19,400
Ready?
713
00:37:19,567 --> 00:37:22,567
And with good news about
the adobe structure,
714
00:37:22,734 --> 00:37:24,868
Misty can begin
her greenhouse plan.
715
00:37:26,267 --> 00:37:29,767
It gets complicated when
you do anything with adobe
716
00:37:29,934 --> 00:37:32,701
because as you start to take it
apart, you can crack it
717
00:37:32,868 --> 00:37:34,667
and you can compromise
the structure.
718
00:37:34,834 --> 00:37:37,667
- If we take
this metal off...
- Mm-hmm.
719
00:37:37,834 --> 00:37:40,467
...we can commit
to just this section,
720
00:37:40,634 --> 00:37:43,267
this little 12 by 12 zone...
- OK.
721
00:37:43,434 --> 00:37:46,267
...which is what average
greenhouses are.
722
00:37:46,434 --> 00:37:50,767
And we try to turn this part of
your adobe home into a sunroom.
723
00:37:50,934 --> 00:37:52,167
- That's what I'm thinking.
- OK.
724
00:37:52,334 --> 00:37:53,367
Do you like that idea?
725
00:37:53,534 --> 00:37:55,300
- Yeah, let's do it.
- Let's go.
726
00:37:57,767 --> 00:38:00,467
Here's the plan.
So we'll start on this side.
727
00:38:00,634 --> 00:38:02,968
And as we peel back this metal,
hopefully we know what we're
728
00:38:03,133 --> 00:38:04,299
dealing with, right?
729
00:38:04,300 --> 00:38:07,000
And if this wasn't sketchy
enough, Clint is still in
730
00:38:07,167 --> 00:38:09,667
demo mode, but we don't have
time to man down.
731
00:38:09,834 --> 00:38:11,801
So we're just working
really cautiously.
732
00:38:11,968 --> 00:38:12,868
Cool.
733
00:38:17,367 --> 00:38:18,367
Whoo!
734
00:38:19,667 --> 00:38:20,667
Ugh!
735
00:38:21,868 --> 00:38:24,267
All right.
Little by little, here we go.
736
00:38:24,434 --> 00:38:25,767
Wee hoo!
737
00:38:25,934 --> 00:38:29,100
I'm very excited about
starting the greenhouse.
738
00:38:30,100 --> 00:38:32,701
This should definitely be
a game changer for me to be
739
00:38:32,868 --> 00:38:36,167
able to start stuff that needs
a long time to start,
740
00:38:36,334 --> 00:38:40,267
like peppers and alliums,
as well as keep our cacti alive
741
00:38:40,434 --> 00:38:42,467
in the winter.
It's awesome.
742
00:38:42,634 --> 00:38:43,633
It's so great.
743
00:38:43,634 --> 00:38:46,701
How's it feel to demo
your house and work?
744
00:38:46,868 --> 00:38:49,501
- Feels great.
- Feels a little sketchy
being up here right now.
745
00:38:49,667 --> 00:38:50,567
Yep.
746
00:38:54,767 --> 00:38:56,000
One, two, three.
747
00:38:57,667 --> 00:38:58,767
Woo.
748
00:38:58,934 --> 00:39:01,167
A lot of people go to therapy.
749
00:39:01,334 --> 00:39:02,167
I just demo.
750
00:39:05,767 --> 00:39:07,467
Oh.
751
00:39:07,634 --> 00:39:09,100
Dad!
752
00:39:11,267 --> 00:39:14,000
We're in the process of taking
off the metal one nail
753
00:39:14,167 --> 00:39:17,367
at a time, and it's not easy.
754
00:39:17,534 --> 00:39:20,868
And when it comes
to structures, it's a good idea
755
00:39:21,033 --> 00:39:22,901
to remodel and repurpose things.
756
00:39:23,067 --> 00:39:27,601
The problem is, is it takes
10 times longer to do that
757
00:39:27,767 --> 00:39:30,767
instead of just building
something from scratch.
758
00:39:30,934 --> 00:39:33,267
Let's go.
759
00:39:33,434 --> 00:39:36,367
So I'm calling in my dad
in the ex so he can just hook
760
00:39:36,534 --> 00:39:39,868
up to this thing and rip it
off, hopefully in one piece.
761
00:39:40,033 --> 00:39:41,767
OK.
762
00:39:41,934 --> 00:39:44,567
I've reached that point where
I'm getting a little, let's say
763
00:39:44,734 --> 00:39:48,501
nervous, about how much time
it has taken just to get
764
00:39:48,667 --> 00:39:52,067
to the house, how much damage
that we've encountered,
765
00:39:52,234 --> 00:39:54,901
and now we have to fix that.
At some point,
766
00:39:55,067 --> 00:39:58,167
we have to turn this around
from demo to actually
767
00:39:58,334 --> 00:40:03,300
rebuilding, resurrecting this
beautiful adobe structure.
768
00:40:03,467 --> 00:40:05,300
Here we go.
Stand back, please.
769
00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:07,400
Up!
770
00:40:08,868 --> 00:40:12,267
We're trying to preserve
this structure.
771
00:40:12,434 --> 00:40:14,267
Step out.
My dad's doing weird stuff.
772
00:40:14,434 --> 00:40:16,701
Misty is trying
to put in the greenhouse.
773
00:40:16,868 --> 00:40:20,968
What we can't have happen is
anything break through
774
00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:23,567
to the main floor,
because if it crumbles,
775
00:40:23,734 --> 00:40:25,601
this rescue is in trouble.
776
00:40:38,667 --> 00:40:40,400
Dad!
777
00:40:40,567 --> 00:40:41,501
Whoa!
778
00:40:53,767 --> 00:40:54,767
2
Look out!
779
00:40:58,167 --> 00:40:59,200
Oh, my gosh.
780
00:41:01,267 --> 00:41:03,067
Wow, that was close.
781
00:41:04,901 --> 00:41:07,901
Hey, bud, come on over.
782
00:41:08,067 --> 00:41:10,968
We're really getting close
to just having the structure
783
00:41:11,133 --> 00:41:13,167
that we want to preserve.
- Yeah.
784
00:41:13,334 --> 00:41:16,400
So let's get this addition
off the side of it.
785
00:41:16,567 --> 00:41:19,067
- Yeah, hopefully it separates
cleanly from the building.
- Yeah.
786
00:41:19,234 --> 00:41:20,300
And that's you.
So let's start
787
00:41:20,467 --> 00:41:21,567
on that side
over there, please.
788
00:41:21,734 --> 00:41:22,601
- All right.
- You ready?
789
00:41:22,767 --> 00:41:23,701
- Yes, sir.
- All right.
790
00:41:30,167 --> 00:41:31,167
You're good.
791
00:41:34,667 --> 00:41:36,100
Oh, yeah, man.
792
00:41:36,267 --> 00:41:38,868
You're coming off clean
from the house, the whole thing.
793
00:41:39,033 --> 00:41:40,467
- All the way down?
- All the way down.
794
00:41:41,667 --> 00:41:43,067
It's separating perfectly.
795
00:41:44,100 --> 00:41:45,566
Keep going.
796
00:41:45,567 --> 00:41:48,400
We're doing this invasive-type
demolition on this building
797
00:41:48,567 --> 00:41:52,567
because underneath
all of these additions...
798
00:41:52,734 --> 00:41:55,667
You can get down more.
Bite more into it.
799
00:41:55,834 --> 00:42:00,100
...is the bare-bones original,
authentic adobe structure.
800
00:42:01,267 --> 00:42:02,267
Yes!
801
00:42:09,300 --> 00:42:10,300
Whoo!
802
00:42:11,968 --> 00:42:12,968
Beautiful.
803
00:42:24,067 --> 00:42:25,667
OK, how we looking?
804
00:42:26,701 --> 00:42:29,300
It's the fourth day of work
on the Johnson family's
805
00:42:29,467 --> 00:42:31,100
New Mexico homestead.
806
00:42:31,267 --> 00:42:33,167
Looking really good.
807
00:42:33,334 --> 00:42:37,300
While Matt makes final touches
on the new spacious duck pond.
808
00:42:37,467 --> 00:42:38,701
OK, so...
809
00:42:39,767 --> 00:42:43,000
Misty and Taylor begin
lighting things up inside
810
00:42:43,167 --> 00:42:44,901
the future solarium greenhouse.
811
00:42:46,267 --> 00:42:47,801
I'm trying to figure out
812
00:42:47,968 --> 00:42:50,367
how to maximize
the sunlight in here.
813
00:42:50,534 --> 00:42:53,100
If this was all windows,
do you think sun would be able
814
00:42:53,267 --> 00:42:56,067
to come in?
- I do think sun
would come in.
815
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,968
New Mexico in the winter,
it gets in the teens at night,
816
00:43:01,133 --> 00:43:02,400
and it's cold.
817
00:43:02,567 --> 00:43:05,367
But the majority of the year,
they struggle with these
818
00:43:05,534 --> 00:43:09,367
high temperatures, hence these
adobe structures with walls
819
00:43:09,534 --> 00:43:12,901
this thick.
They're designed to stay cool.
820
00:43:13,067 --> 00:43:15,801
So for me, trying to create
this little solarium
821
00:43:15,968 --> 00:43:18,300
and actually turn it into
a place where they can grow
822
00:43:18,467 --> 00:43:20,701
food is gonna be a challenge.
823
00:43:20,868 --> 00:43:23,167
Full steam ahead, we're
gonna try to make this work.
824
00:43:23,334 --> 00:43:26,400
All right, this is the moment
I've been dreading is cutting
825
00:43:26,567 --> 00:43:28,200
into the 80-year-old
adobe home.
826
00:43:28,367 --> 00:43:29,801
I don't know how
this is going to go.
827
00:43:29,968 --> 00:43:32,200
I don't know if the whole
structure is going to crumble,
828
00:43:32,367 --> 00:43:35,367
but I do know that this
greenhouse desperately needs
829
00:43:35,534 --> 00:43:37,501
more light.
You don't know until you try.
830
00:43:37,667 --> 00:43:39,868
We're going to start
with one window, and if it's not
831
00:43:40,033 --> 00:43:41,601
too weird,
we're gonna put in three.
832
00:43:42,767 --> 00:43:44,100
OK, here we go.
833
00:43:52,100 --> 00:43:53,000
Whoo!
834
00:43:53,167 --> 00:43:54,968
Tool number two.
835
00:43:55,133 --> 00:43:57,000
How comfortable are you
just hopping up here?
836
00:43:57,167 --> 00:43:58,100
Good.
837
00:44:13,267 --> 00:44:15,100
Do you see anything?
838
00:44:17,567 --> 00:44:19,000
You're through.
839
00:44:19,167 --> 00:44:22,100
Today, Misty and I have been
installing the first window.
840
00:44:22,267 --> 00:44:24,968
It's quite the challenge
to cut through the adobe.
841
00:44:26,300 --> 00:44:27,434
Yep.
842
00:44:27,601 --> 00:44:31,367
And it's taking a lot
of tools, a lot of manpower,
843
00:44:31,534 --> 00:44:32,767
a lot of effort,
844
00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:37,667
and just eating up the limited
time that we have out here
845
00:44:37,834 --> 00:44:38,868
with the Raneys.
846
00:44:39,033 --> 00:44:41,667
Yoo-hoo!
Hey, I can see you.
847
00:44:41,834 --> 00:44:44,567
Hi, Taylor.
How are you feeling?
848
00:44:44,734 --> 00:44:45,868
- Not good.
- Really?
849
00:44:46,033 --> 00:44:47,200
- Yeah.
- Hold on.
850
00:44:48,267 --> 00:44:51,667
This last year,
I had like a major upsurgence
851
00:44:51,834 --> 00:44:54,167
of health issues.
852
00:44:54,334 --> 00:44:58,501
I have a medical condition that
causes me to break out in hives
853
00:44:58,667 --> 00:45:01,400
when I'm overheated
or stressed out.
854
00:45:01,567 --> 00:45:05,901
She can go anaphylactic is
one really scary part of it.
855
00:45:06,067 --> 00:45:08,968
Our trailer, it's
making homesteading hell for me.
856
00:45:09,133 --> 00:45:11,467
So it's that much more
857
00:45:11,634 --> 00:45:15,467
imperative that we get into
this house as soon as possible.
858
00:45:15,634 --> 00:45:17,100
I'm having like--
859
00:45:17,267 --> 00:45:20,300
I'm having
a bad symptom flare-up.
860
00:45:20,467 --> 00:45:21,701
Well, that's not good.
I'm sorry.
861
00:45:21,868 --> 00:45:24,667
Today, I saw firsthand kind
of what Taylor goes through
862
00:45:24,834 --> 00:45:27,868
and kind of what she's
up against, just reassuring
863
00:45:28,033 --> 00:45:30,467
everything we do here has to be
something manageable,
864
00:45:30,634 --> 00:45:34,601
so the solarium is in the adobe
home that's close, the beds are
865
00:45:34,767 --> 00:45:37,167
close by, and I think
we're on the right track.
866
00:45:48,467 --> 00:45:50,901
What do you think
of the progress so far?
867
00:45:51,067 --> 00:45:53,467
Um, I'm stoked,
I'm over the moon.
868
00:45:53,634 --> 00:45:56,467
We're getting to the where
we got to start patching this
869
00:45:56,634 --> 00:45:58,400
beautiful structure
back together.
870
00:45:58,567 --> 00:45:59,868
All right.
871
00:46:00,100 --> 00:46:04,000
As we dismantled sections
of this adobe structure,
872
00:46:04,167 --> 00:46:07,000
there's now some doorways
where the framed additions
873
00:46:07,167 --> 00:46:08,300
used to be.
874
00:46:08,467 --> 00:46:11,200
But now we have
to fill those in.
875
00:46:11,367 --> 00:46:12,868
What product
are we gonna use?
876
00:46:14,367 --> 00:46:15,968
Adobe, I assume.
877
00:46:16,133 --> 00:46:18,200
Have you ever made
an adobe brick in your life?
878
00:46:18,367 --> 00:46:20,667
- I have not.
- OK, guess what?
879
00:46:20,834 --> 00:46:22,367
Neither have I.
880
00:46:22,534 --> 00:46:24,167
OK, so I'll grab some
881
00:46:24,334 --> 00:46:27,601
80-year-old adobe right now
with the excavator.
882
00:46:27,767 --> 00:46:30,100
- And when you see
the actual clumps of adobe...
- Yeah.
883
00:46:30,267 --> 00:46:32,267
...just put them in the tub.
884
00:46:32,434 --> 00:46:34,567
The only thing that we need
to add to that,
885
00:46:34,734 --> 00:46:36,601
according to the locals,
886
00:46:36,767 --> 00:46:39,467
is water and then straw.
- OK.
887
00:46:39,634 --> 00:46:41,801
We'll pour it into here,
and then we'll let the sun bake
888
00:46:41,968 --> 00:46:45,567
it for a while, and we'll have
three bricks laying there.
889
00:46:45,734 --> 00:46:46,567
- All right?
- All right.
890
00:46:46,734 --> 00:46:47,901
Once we have three bricks,
891
00:46:49,400 --> 00:46:52,000
we'll immediately fill it
back up, make three more,
892
00:46:52,167 --> 00:46:53,868
three more, three more.
- All right.
893
00:46:54,033 --> 00:46:55,267
Is this plan going to work?
894
00:46:55,434 --> 00:46:57,367
There's only one way
to find out.
895
00:46:57,534 --> 00:46:58,467
Good answer.
896
00:47:13,767 --> 00:47:15,667
I have heard in theory that
897
00:47:17,367 --> 00:47:20,567
breaking the adobe bricks
and then adding water
898
00:47:20,734 --> 00:47:21,901
and the right amount of hay
899
00:47:24,367 --> 00:47:27,601
should just turn
into adobe again.
900
00:47:29,901 --> 00:47:32,501
I love the idea of repurposing
the old adobe.
901
00:47:34,601 --> 00:47:39,200
It's like being able to have
an old house
902
00:47:39,367 --> 00:47:43,501
and change it to your whim
whenever you want.
903
00:47:49,067 --> 00:47:51,100
Hey guys,
we're very fortunate.
904
00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:55,601
This is Zack,
born and raised in this valley.
905
00:47:55,767 --> 00:47:57,267
We're at that point right now
where we're trying
906
00:47:57,434 --> 00:47:59,167
to make adobe.
I know it's too cold.
907
00:47:59,334 --> 00:48:02,267
It's the wrong time of year.
Are we on the right track?
908
00:48:02,434 --> 00:48:05,601
- Are we on the wrong track?
- It looks like
909
00:48:05,767 --> 00:48:08,000
it's lacking in a little bit
of straw.
910
00:48:08,167 --> 00:48:09,501
Let's get it all mixed up
real good,
911
00:48:09,667 --> 00:48:11,167
and then we'll take
a look at it.
912
00:48:11,334 --> 00:48:13,868
The good thing about it is
you're using the same adobes
913
00:48:14,033 --> 00:48:17,868
that were used on this home.
That's history right there.
914
00:48:18,033 --> 00:48:20,267
Meeting Zack is really great.
915
00:48:20,434 --> 00:48:23,267
Being able to get help
from our community and get that
916
00:48:23,434 --> 00:48:26,567
wisdom and knowledge
is really big for us.
917
00:48:26,734 --> 00:48:29,567
Did these guys all have
dirt floors?
918
00:48:29,734 --> 00:48:31,901
Yes, they all had dirt floors.
919
00:48:32,067 --> 00:48:34,400
They would go hunting,
and they'd save the blood
920
00:48:34,567 --> 00:48:39,000
from their kill, and they would
seal the floors using the blood.
921
00:48:39,167 --> 00:48:40,267
- That's crazy.
- Yeah.
922
00:48:40,434 --> 00:48:42,167
Wow, that's the coolest thing
I ever heard.
923
00:48:42,334 --> 00:48:44,200
All right, are we ready
to make some adobe brick?
924
00:48:44,367 --> 00:48:46,067
Yes, yes.
925
00:48:46,234 --> 00:48:48,100
You want to fill it in
nice and tight in there.
926
00:48:50,267 --> 00:48:52,968
- What do you guys think?
- It's awesome.
927
00:48:53,133 --> 00:48:55,200
Especially when building
material cost as much as
928
00:48:55,367 --> 00:48:57,400
they do these days.
This is all free.
929
00:48:57,567 --> 00:49:02,367
It doesn't get more basic
down-to-earth than that.
930
00:49:02,534 --> 00:49:04,801
They're beautiful.
931
00:49:04,968 --> 00:49:08,868
We're talking about a true
off-grid homesteading solution.
932
00:49:09,033 --> 00:49:10,267
You rock and roll.
933
00:49:10,434 --> 00:49:12,300
There's nothing more
rock-and-roll than
934
00:49:12,467 --> 00:49:15,000
food security.
- Yeah, absolutely.
935
00:49:24,767 --> 00:49:27,467
2
So just when you thought
every day was sunny,
936
00:49:27,634 --> 00:49:30,501
tomorrow it's going to be
16 degrees out here.
937
00:49:30,667 --> 00:49:31,601
Yesterday,
938
00:49:32,868 --> 00:49:35,567
I spent the entire day trying
to put a window in
939
00:49:35,734 --> 00:49:36,801
that adobe home.
940
00:49:36,968 --> 00:49:38,167
How many more windows
are you gonna put in?
941
00:49:38,334 --> 00:49:39,567
I don't know.
942
00:49:39,734 --> 00:49:42,167
After that experience,
probably not many.
943
00:49:42,334 --> 00:49:43,901
It takes a really long time.
944
00:49:44,067 --> 00:49:45,167
It feels literally like you're
945
00:49:45,334 --> 00:49:47,200
breaking down a prison
with a hammer.
946
00:49:47,367 --> 00:49:50,267
But also, at some point,
let's not forget about
947
00:49:50,434 --> 00:49:53,567
the usable wetland side
of the homestead.
948
00:49:53,734 --> 00:49:58,000
Most of the year, it's full
of water, and I'm hoping we can
949
00:49:58,167 --> 00:50:00,367
score some topsoil
for these sunken beds
950
00:50:00,534 --> 00:50:02,100
on the other side
of this acequia.
951
00:50:03,868 --> 00:50:06,100
So we've made some
good progress.
952
00:50:06,267 --> 00:50:10,367
We've dug the pond, and now
I want to work on
953
00:50:10,534 --> 00:50:13,367
non-grid food storage.
954
00:50:13,534 --> 00:50:17,167
The thing is, I think
the solution could be something
955
00:50:17,334 --> 00:50:19,400
I saw on the first day.
956
00:50:19,567 --> 00:50:22,567
This is storage,
and then there's an entrance
957
00:50:22,734 --> 00:50:23,868
over on that side.
958
00:50:24,033 --> 00:50:26,667
The two buildings
are actually connected?
959
00:50:26,834 --> 00:50:29,300
- Yeah.
- There's way more
space down here.
960
00:50:29,467 --> 00:50:30,767
Yeah.
961
00:50:30,934 --> 00:50:36,100
If we turn it into a root
cellar with an above-ground
962
00:50:36,267 --> 00:50:40,901
processing shed, we're talking
about a true off-grid
963
00:50:41,067 --> 00:50:43,567
homesteading solution.
- I like it.
964
00:50:43,734 --> 00:50:45,968
We're down to just a few days
left, and I'm looking
965
00:50:46,133 --> 00:50:49,367
at a structure that looks
like a bomb went off.
966
00:50:50,501 --> 00:50:54,200
We're not even close to putting
it back together again, OK?
967
00:50:54,367 --> 00:50:58,000
And now these temperatures are
not the temperatures that these
968
00:50:58,167 --> 00:51:00,267
indigenous people made adobe.
969
00:51:00,434 --> 00:51:03,067
They made them in the summer
so they could be sun-dried.
970
00:51:03,234 --> 00:51:06,067
So we have challenge
after challenge after challenge,
971
00:51:06,234 --> 00:51:08,000
but what are we gonna do?
972
00:51:08,167 --> 00:51:11,567
Well, Obi-Wan Adobe,
you're our only hope.
973
00:51:11,734 --> 00:51:13,567
What?
974
00:51:13,734 --> 00:51:14,901
Hey, not so fast.
975
00:51:15,067 --> 00:51:18,167
You're going to be
Princess Leia in these brick.
976
00:51:29,901 --> 00:51:31,601
Back at the adobe house...
977
00:51:31,767 --> 00:51:34,667
- You ready to just chip away?
- Yep, let's do it.
978
00:51:34,834 --> 00:51:37,567
...Misty and Taylor continue
the difficult task
979
00:51:37,734 --> 00:51:39,033
of cutting out windows.
980
00:51:39,968 --> 00:51:42,567
I want to do this with
you because I don't want to do
981
00:51:42,734 --> 00:51:45,901
it alone, and I want you to
know, like, just how hard it is
982
00:51:46,067 --> 00:51:47,667
when you're like, "Hey, let's
put in three windows,"
983
00:51:47,834 --> 00:51:50,267
just so if you're like, OK,
I think we can get away with
984
00:51:50,434 --> 00:51:53,767
one, OK, maybe just one more,
but we'll just take it little
985
00:51:53,934 --> 00:51:55,267
by little.
How are you feeling?
986
00:51:55,434 --> 00:51:57,267
- Oh, I'm feeling...
- You're dragging.
987
00:51:57,434 --> 00:51:59,100
I'm having symptom
flare-ups today.
988
00:51:59,267 --> 00:52:01,467
- From yesterday, you think?
- It is, yeah.
989
00:52:01,634 --> 00:52:04,467
Beating a wall with a hammer
is probably one of the hardest
990
00:52:04,634 --> 00:52:06,667
things you can do,
so just work slow.
991
00:52:10,267 --> 00:52:13,667
I've definitely been working
probably harder than I should
992
00:52:13,834 --> 00:52:18,000
be because I just want
to keep up with everybody.
993
00:52:18,167 --> 00:52:19,501
- How's it
going over here?
- Slow.
994
00:52:19,667 --> 00:52:22,100
Slow.
OK, me too.
995
00:52:22,267 --> 00:52:24,767
It just puts it further
into perspective just how slowly
996
00:52:24,934 --> 00:52:29,567
I have to do things and how long
it actually takes me to get
997
00:52:29,734 --> 00:52:32,167
stuff when I'm doing
anything by myself.
998
00:52:32,334 --> 00:52:33,834
It's a little frustrating.
999
00:52:38,734 --> 00:52:41,467
- Yeah!
- Gosh.
1000
00:52:41,634 --> 00:52:44,467
Whoo!
We've got a window!
1001
00:52:44,634 --> 00:52:46,267
It's a lot brighter
in here already.
1002
00:52:47,601 --> 00:52:50,267
OK, window number two.
1003
00:52:50,434 --> 00:52:53,467
I mean, in a perfect world,
I would love it if I could just
1004
00:52:53,634 --> 00:52:56,701
snap my fingers and they'd all
be in, but it's a lot of work...
- Yeah.
1005
00:52:56,868 --> 00:52:58,467
...and I don't know if I can--
1006
00:53:00,067 --> 00:53:03,100
I don't know if I can help
you get the other ones in.
1007
00:53:03,267 --> 00:53:06,100
Would you want to just
turn the door into a window?
1008
00:53:06,267 --> 00:53:07,968
What about this door?
1009
00:53:08,133 --> 00:53:10,100
- What?
- Isn't this
the silliest
1010
00:53:10,267 --> 00:53:11,901
bathroom door you've ever seen?
1011
00:53:12,067 --> 00:53:16,801
Ha, I cannot believe you have
a glass door on your bathroom.
1012
00:53:16,968 --> 00:53:18,100
Isn't that funny?
1013
00:53:19,667 --> 00:53:22,200
It was quite the challenge
to cut through the adobe
1014
00:53:22,367 --> 00:53:24,567
and get that all framed in.
1015
00:53:24,734 --> 00:53:27,968
Actually, even though this
wasn't the plan that we had,
1016
00:53:28,133 --> 00:53:30,267
it feels really good
to repurpose items
1017
00:53:30,434 --> 00:53:32,067
that we have here.
1018
00:53:32,234 --> 00:53:35,467
Oh, yeah.
Yes!
1019
00:53:35,634 --> 00:53:38,601
Look at all the light.
I love it.
1020
00:53:38,767 --> 00:53:41,467
- The best part is
it only took an hour.
- Mm-hmm.
1021
00:53:47,400 --> 00:53:48,868
All right, watch out.
1022
00:53:49,033 --> 00:53:51,701
With plans for off-grid
food storage...
1023
00:53:51,868 --> 00:53:53,400
- How's it going?
- Pretty good.
1024
00:53:53,567 --> 00:53:54,868
How are you?
1025
00:53:55,567 --> 00:53:59,467
...Matt, Robert, and Tracy
work to access long-forgotten
1026
00:53:59,634 --> 00:54:01,601
structures on the homestead.
1027
00:54:01,767 --> 00:54:05,400
Let's hook up the chains
and rip it out of the way.
1028
00:54:05,567 --> 00:54:06,601
Oh, wow.
1029
00:54:06,767 --> 00:54:10,467
At first glance,
this building looks dilapidated.
1030
00:54:10,634 --> 00:54:13,767
You can't even get through
the front door without climbing
1031
00:54:13,934 --> 00:54:17,968
through a mountain
of brush and tree and debris.
1032
00:54:18,133 --> 00:54:19,767
- Oh, my gosh.
- Yeah.
1033
00:54:19,934 --> 00:54:21,667
Is that thing holding
up the building?
1034
00:54:21,834 --> 00:54:24,367
I don't know if the tree
is holding up the building
1035
00:54:24,534 --> 00:54:25,901
or the building is holding
up the tree.
1036
00:54:26,067 --> 00:54:27,667
Yeah, grew right
into that support.
1037
00:54:27,834 --> 00:54:29,901
I don't know if this thing is
usable until we start
1038
00:54:30,067 --> 00:54:31,801
clearing this away and actually
1039
00:54:31,968 --> 00:54:34,467
gain access to the lower part
of this building.
1040
00:54:36,367 --> 00:54:40,501
To ensure the Johnson family
has reliable food storage,
1041
00:54:40,667 --> 00:54:43,567
Matt will work with Robert
and Tracy to refurbish
1042
00:54:43,734 --> 00:54:47,300
the dilapidated structures
connected underground.
1043
00:54:47,467 --> 00:54:50,367
First, they will remove
the invasive trees,
1044
00:54:50,534 --> 00:54:52,701
allowing safe access
to the stairwell
1045
00:54:52,868 --> 00:54:54,801
connecting both rooms.
1046
00:54:54,968 --> 00:54:58,601
Next, they will close off
a 13 by 4 foot portion
1047
00:54:58,767 --> 00:55:01,367
underground to serve
as a root cellar.
1048
00:55:01,534 --> 00:55:04,667
Finally, they will repurpose
the above-ground building
1049
00:55:04,834 --> 00:55:06,467
as a processing center
1050
00:55:06,634 --> 00:55:09,367
and install a freezer
to keep meat fresh.
1051
00:55:13,567 --> 00:55:14,833
Here's what we're gonna do.
1052
00:55:14,834 --> 00:55:18,100
I'm gonna try to disconnect
the tree as much as I can so
1053
00:55:18,267 --> 00:55:20,000
we don't just rip
this entire roof down.
1054
00:55:20,167 --> 00:55:21,467
Right.
1055
00:55:22,501 --> 00:55:25,367
If we can restore these
old buildings, that can really
1056
00:55:25,534 --> 00:55:26,733
help the homestead.
1057
00:55:26,734 --> 00:55:30,000
Because I think diversifying
the way they preserve food
1058
00:55:30,167 --> 00:55:33,167
and store food on this
homestead is a necessity.
1059
00:55:33,334 --> 00:55:34,534
Watch out!
1060
00:55:36,067 --> 00:55:40,667
And having a root cellar
and a meat livestock processing
1061
00:55:40,834 --> 00:55:44,868
station could be the game
changer to bring this homestead
1062
00:55:45,033 --> 00:55:48,367
into full-on production.
1063
00:55:48,534 --> 00:55:50,801
OK, are we ready?
1064
00:55:50,968 --> 00:55:53,601
The only risk that I see,
and it's a big one--
1065
00:55:53,767 --> 00:55:55,567
this thing could collapse.
1066
00:55:55,734 --> 00:55:59,167
OK, in the words
of my dentist--
1067
00:55:59,334 --> 00:56:00,801
let's pull this thing!
1068
00:56:13,167 --> 00:56:16,667
- There we go, timber!
- Nice.
1069
00:56:16,834 --> 00:56:17,767
I think that'll work.
1070
00:56:19,167 --> 00:56:20,667
It's completely intact.
1071
00:56:26,167 --> 00:56:27,567
Matt!
1072
00:56:27,734 --> 00:56:29,667
Misty!
1073
00:56:32,100 --> 00:56:35,868
Later that day, Marty secures
a much-needed solution
1074
00:56:36,033 --> 00:56:38,267
to access the other side
of the acequia.
1075
00:56:39,968 --> 00:56:42,400
So I hear a bridge
is coming, and I think, like,
1076
00:56:42,567 --> 00:56:43,868
"Oh, it's probably
a little footbridge."
1077
00:56:44,033 --> 00:56:47,267
It rolls up,
and it's 40 feet long.
1078
00:56:47,434 --> 00:56:49,100
Like, it's major.
1079
00:56:49,267 --> 00:56:50,801
Ready?
1080
00:56:50,968 --> 00:56:54,167
It is such a huge win for this
homestead because not only does
1081
00:56:54,334 --> 00:56:57,567
it allow access to all
that usable farmland, I also get
1082
00:56:57,734 --> 00:57:01,067
to grab all the fertile topsoil,
fill up the garden beds,
1083
00:57:01,234 --> 00:57:02,767
which is really exciting.
1084
00:57:02,934 --> 00:57:05,267
The problem is,
is it's just sitting here.
1085
00:57:05,434 --> 00:57:06,366
It's not in yet.
1086
00:57:06,367 --> 00:57:07,467
I'm sure that's not
going to be easy.
1087
00:57:08,567 --> 00:57:09,567
Let's go for it.
1088
00:57:11,601 --> 00:57:13,400
Hold.
1089
00:57:13,567 --> 00:57:15,367
I'm going to try to walk,
get it forward.
1090
00:57:15,534 --> 00:57:17,667
It might tip over.
Look out!
1091
00:57:18,767 --> 00:57:24,267
Go big or go home.
That bridge is massive!
1092
00:57:24,434 --> 00:57:25,300
Dad!
1093
00:57:26,467 --> 00:57:27,467
Oh, my gosh!
1094
00:57:31,834 --> 00:57:33,667
- Whoa.
- Hey, stop!
1095
00:57:35,300 --> 00:57:36,400
Whoa, damn it!
1096
00:57:38,901 --> 00:57:40,100
Go higher!
1097
00:57:46,267 --> 00:57:48,300
Guide me back, Matt.
1098
00:57:48,467 --> 00:57:49,801
Straight back,
you're doing good.
1099
00:57:51,567 --> 00:57:53,567
It's amazing watching him
put the bridge in.
1100
00:57:53,734 --> 00:57:56,100
I've never seen anything
like that in my life.
1101
00:57:56,267 --> 00:57:57,968
Watch out for the fence!
1102
00:57:58,133 --> 00:58:00,400
Having that bridge
there means so much to me.
1103
00:58:00,567 --> 00:58:04,367
I'm really excited to be able
to have the access to almost
1104
00:58:04,534 --> 00:58:06,100
like a third of our property.
1105
00:58:06,267 --> 00:58:08,167
You got another eight feet.
1106
00:58:09,801 --> 00:58:10,801
Whoa.
1107
00:58:12,400 --> 00:58:13,601
Pull it back.
1108
00:58:16,067 --> 00:58:17,067
Good, good.
1109
00:58:20,367 --> 00:58:21,834
We did it.
1110
00:58:23,267 --> 00:58:26,467
We're looking at some adobe
bricks that have been frozen.
1111
00:58:26,634 --> 00:58:28,100
There's still moisture
in there.
1112
00:58:28,267 --> 00:58:30,801
I'm gonna have
to admit defeat.
1113
00:58:37,501 --> 00:58:39,601
2
1114
00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:54,701
All right, it's 7 AM
on Tuesday, and we got snow.
1115
00:58:54,868 --> 00:58:58,200
It's all starting
to go away, but
1116
00:58:58,367 --> 00:59:00,200
a little frosty this morning.
1117
00:59:00,367 --> 00:59:02,701
It's also really,
really cold right now.
1118
00:59:02,868 --> 00:59:05,267
It's like 18 degrees.
1119
00:59:07,400 --> 00:59:08,767
I'm not feeling good.
1120
00:59:08,934 --> 00:59:11,767
I'm having a lot
of symptom flare-ups.
1121
00:59:11,934 --> 00:59:16,067
I'm having what's called
a histamine dump, so...
1122
00:59:16,234 --> 00:59:18,167
probably going to be mostly
out of commission today.
1123
00:59:22,367 --> 00:59:25,200
OK, stand back here
and look at this spread.
1124
00:59:25,367 --> 00:59:27,667
You've got a serious homestead
going on here.
1125
00:59:27,834 --> 00:59:29,901
Yeah, a real homestead now.
1126
00:59:30,067 --> 00:59:33,901
All right, so we're down
to the wire, and there's a lot
1127
00:59:34,067 --> 00:59:36,000
more work to do.
- Infinite.
1128
00:59:36,167 --> 00:59:39,767
And we're not done
with cleanup, excavation.
1129
00:59:39,934 --> 00:59:41,868
- Yeah.
- Who's going to do that work?
1130
00:59:42,033 --> 00:59:44,567
- Me.
- It's going to take equipment.
1131
00:59:44,734 --> 00:59:45,968
- Yeah.
- Do you have any?
1132
00:59:46,133 --> 00:59:47,433
Uh, I don't.
1133
00:59:47,434 --> 00:59:49,100
- You're gonna have to rent it?
- I'm going to have to rent it.
1134
00:59:49,267 --> 00:59:51,267
- Have you ever ran equipment?
- No.
1135
00:59:51,434 --> 00:59:52,367
OK.
1136
00:59:52,534 --> 00:59:54,601
How about you say
school starts now?
1137
00:59:54,767 --> 00:59:57,100
School starts now.
1138
00:59:57,267 --> 01:00:02,000
Now, the main thing is don't
hurt yourself or someone else.
1139
01:00:02,167 --> 01:00:04,400
As near as I can tell,
these homesteaders haven't
1140
01:00:04,567 --> 01:00:08,667
grown anything
on this property except cactus.
1141
01:00:09,667 --> 01:00:14,000
But now, we have provided
access across the acequia,
1142
01:00:14,167 --> 01:00:17,701
which the Pueblo people
referred to as promised land.
1143
01:00:17,868 --> 01:00:19,767
It's that fertile.
1144
01:00:19,934 --> 01:00:22,067
See what this lever
on your left does, please.
1145
01:00:23,767 --> 01:00:25,367
That said, we're leaving.
1146
01:00:25,534 --> 01:00:28,467
It's time that we teach Jacob
how to run equipment,
1147
01:00:28,634 --> 01:00:30,300
which he's going to need
to do to cultivate
1148
01:00:30,467 --> 01:00:32,167
and work that land.
1149
01:00:32,334 --> 01:00:34,667
Once he does,
the sky's the limit.
1150
01:00:36,000 --> 01:00:38,267
- So it's pretty easy, right?
- Yeah.
1151
01:00:38,434 --> 01:00:40,167
I've worked with you
long enough to know
1152
01:00:40,334 --> 01:00:41,601
you're a smart guy.
1153
01:00:41,767 --> 01:00:45,968
So, I'm looking at a huge tree
that I dug out on day one.
1154
01:00:46,133 --> 01:00:47,167
We're trying to clean
things up.
1155
01:00:47,334 --> 01:00:48,200
- Yeah.
- So how do you feel
1156
01:00:48,367 --> 01:00:49,300
about grabbing that
and you put it
1157
01:00:49,467 --> 01:00:50,801
anywhere you want?
It's all you.
1158
01:00:50,968 --> 01:00:52,567
I got work to do.
Get it done, please.
1159
01:00:52,734 --> 01:00:53,667
- Thank you.
- Hell yeah!
1160
01:00:53,834 --> 01:00:54,767
All right.
1161
01:01:01,400 --> 01:01:04,167
I haven't had confidence
working here alone.
1162
01:01:09,000 --> 01:01:12,868
But now, I feel like
I really learned a lot
1163
01:01:13,033 --> 01:01:14,567
that I'm gonna carry forward
1164
01:01:15,667 --> 01:01:16,701
throughout my life.
1165
01:01:18,100 --> 01:01:20,100
I like that a lot.
There you go.
1166
01:01:27,467 --> 01:01:31,200
Back near the adobe house,
a critical delivery of lumber
1167
01:01:31,367 --> 01:01:35,000
is used for new roofing
on the solarium greenhouse...
1168
01:01:35,167 --> 01:01:36,868
Okey dokey.
1169
01:01:37,033 --> 01:01:39,367
...while Misty's window
struggles continue.
1170
01:01:41,601 --> 01:01:45,300
No.
This is not the freaking tool.
1171
01:01:45,467 --> 01:01:47,067
OK.
We got some wood.
1172
01:01:47,234 --> 01:01:48,267
We got some materials.
1173
01:01:48,434 --> 01:01:50,467
Let's do a little bit
of layout here.
1174
01:01:50,634 --> 01:01:52,701
And in the future root cellar,
1175
01:01:52,868 --> 01:01:55,200
Matt puts his plans
into action.
1176
01:01:55,367 --> 01:01:58,968
After being able to access
this building, I realized
1177
01:01:59,133 --> 01:02:01,701
it was something much more
than a root cellar.
1178
01:02:01,868 --> 01:02:05,000
There's a kitchen in there.
There's a bathroom in there.
1179
01:02:05,167 --> 01:02:08,667
There's a water tank in there.
This thing is like a house.
1180
01:02:08,834 --> 01:02:11,767
So what I think we should do
is we should just turn a small
1181
01:02:11,934 --> 01:02:17,367
portion of this downstairs area
into a root cellar.
1182
01:02:17,534 --> 01:02:19,400
Yeah.
1183
01:02:21,868 --> 01:02:25,901
Everybody's anxious because
you don't know what to expect
1184
01:02:26,067 --> 01:02:27,767
and you're just going,
"What's gonna happen
1185
01:02:27,934 --> 01:02:30,100
with the root cellar?
Is it solid?"
1186
01:02:30,267 --> 01:02:32,467
- OK, bring that in there.
- OK.
1187
01:02:32,634 --> 01:02:36,000
And then you start working
and you see the progress that's
1188
01:02:36,167 --> 01:02:37,300
happening, and then everybody
1189
01:02:37,467 --> 01:02:40,868
can start to take a little bit
of a chill.
1190
01:02:41,033 --> 01:02:42,300
Oh, it's gonna fit.
1191
01:02:42,467 --> 01:02:43,868
We're just trying to
get our top and bottom clear.
1192
01:02:44,033 --> 01:02:45,267
Yeah, got you, right.
1193
01:02:45,434 --> 01:02:47,901
There's two steps
to this building process.
1194
01:02:48,067 --> 01:02:51,567
One is underground
and that will be a root cellar.
1195
01:02:51,734 --> 01:02:54,667
The above-ground part
of this building is gonna be
1196
01:02:54,834 --> 01:02:57,167
the perfect place
to process food.
1197
01:02:57,334 --> 01:03:00,200
Let's do 80 and three quarters.
1198
01:03:00,367 --> 01:03:02,267
Turning this shack into a place
1199
01:03:02,434 --> 01:03:06,367
where Jacob can process
livestock out of the elements,
1200
01:03:06,534 --> 01:03:08,467
warm, sanitary.
1201
01:03:08,634 --> 01:03:11,000
That right there is gonna be
a huge win for the homestead.
1202
01:03:12,667 --> 01:03:13,667
OK.
1203
01:03:14,868 --> 01:03:18,200
That was our last sheet of FRP.
1204
01:03:18,367 --> 01:03:22,200
This stuff is commercial
kitchen, easy to clean,
1205
01:03:22,367 --> 01:03:25,567
and it's definitely the perfect
material for the inside
1206
01:03:25,734 --> 01:03:28,367
of our processing area.
- Nice.
1207
01:03:28,534 --> 01:03:30,801
And then at some point,
we're going to have
1208
01:03:30,968 --> 01:03:34,167
to quackinate these ducks and
then process them right here
1209
01:03:34,334 --> 01:03:35,501
in the Quack Shack.
1210
01:03:35,667 --> 01:03:37,868
There's one that's
not very nice.
1211
01:03:48,901 --> 01:03:51,567
So here, you hold
that one right there.
1212
01:03:51,734 --> 01:03:52,868
Later that day...
1213
01:03:53,033 --> 01:03:54,100
Gentle, gentle.
1214
01:03:55,300 --> 01:03:57,300
...Marty and Jacob
check on the status
1215
01:03:57,467 --> 01:03:58,567
of their adobe bricks.
1216
01:03:59,868 --> 01:04:01,100
There we go.
1217
01:04:01,267 --> 01:04:03,067
We're looking at some
adobe bricks
1218
01:04:03,234 --> 01:04:05,801
that I'm pretty sure
have been frozen.
1219
01:04:06,801 --> 01:04:08,467
Now the sun is thawing
them out.
1220
01:04:09,767 --> 01:04:11,400
There's still moisture
in there.
1221
01:04:11,567 --> 01:04:13,067
- Yeah.
- Let's try this.
1222
01:04:14,367 --> 01:04:16,767
From the day we first arrived
in New Mexico,
1223
01:04:16,934 --> 01:04:19,767
the temperature
has been dropping.
1224
01:04:19,934 --> 01:04:24,367
And here we are trying
to make adobe bricks.
1225
01:04:24,534 --> 01:04:26,868
All right, so I see ice
and frost right there.
1226
01:04:27,033 --> 01:04:29,767
Yeah.
This is why they don't
do them in the winter.
1227
01:04:29,934 --> 01:04:32,501
And it all requires water.
1228
01:04:32,667 --> 01:04:35,167
Water freezes at 32 degrees,
1229
01:04:35,334 --> 01:04:37,501
a temperature I haven't
seen in days.
1230
01:04:37,667 --> 01:04:40,000
It's going to freeze
as hard as a diamond.
1231
01:04:40,167 --> 01:04:43,601
It'll have no value.
It'll be worthless.
1232
01:04:43,767 --> 01:04:45,100
Bad news.
1233
01:04:45,267 --> 01:04:48,567
To be honest with you,
I'm gonna look you in the eye,
1234
01:04:48,734 --> 01:04:52,367
and I'm gonna have
to admit defeat.
1235
01:04:52,534 --> 01:04:55,701
And I think the making
of any adobe bricks in this
1236
01:04:55,868 --> 01:04:58,467
temperature is a mistake.
1237
01:04:58,634 --> 01:05:01,100
We're gonna have to switch
gears, and we've got to
1238
01:05:01,267 --> 01:05:04,000
figure out a new plan,
or we're in big trouble.
1239
01:05:13,701 --> 01:05:15,667
2
1240
01:05:18,601 --> 01:05:19,868
Whoo!
1241
01:05:20,033 --> 01:05:21,333
That looks good.
1242
01:05:21,334 --> 01:05:24,267
With the new roof being
installed on the adobe house...
1243
01:05:24,434 --> 01:05:26,167
Oh, yeah, it looks great.
1244
01:05:26,334 --> 01:05:29,200
...Marty regroups with Jacob
fresh off the failure
1245
01:05:29,367 --> 01:05:31,267
of the frozen adobe bricks.
1246
01:05:32,467 --> 01:05:33,901
So we talked
the other day about
1247
01:05:34,968 --> 01:05:36,901
this building has a lot
of doors and you want
1248
01:05:37,067 --> 01:05:38,801
to eliminate some of them.
1249
01:05:38,968 --> 01:05:41,267
Yeah, just one on the other
side of the house.
1250
01:05:41,434 --> 01:05:44,067
Just one.
We could just frame it in.
1251
01:05:44,234 --> 01:05:47,567
What do you say we just go
the extra mile and we keep
1252
01:05:47,734 --> 01:05:50,100
everything adobe?
- Yeah.
1253
01:05:50,267 --> 01:05:52,667
And we use the ones
we took out of the building.
1254
01:05:52,834 --> 01:05:54,767
- Yeah.
- Is it cool?
1255
01:05:54,934 --> 01:05:56,100
I like it.
It's also free.
1256
01:05:56,267 --> 01:05:58,100
Now, you want to start
packing these to the other side?
1257
01:05:58,267 --> 01:05:59,367
Yep.
1258
01:05:59,534 --> 01:06:00,667
I should use the loader here.
1259
01:06:00,834 --> 01:06:02,067
Do you know
how to run the loader?
1260
01:06:02,234 --> 01:06:04,100
- I don't.
- All right, same thing.
1261
01:06:04,267 --> 01:06:05,467
Climb in.
1262
01:06:05,634 --> 01:06:09,000
Jacob is a smart guy,
a fast learner, and it's not
1263
01:06:09,167 --> 01:06:11,000
about operating equipment.
1264
01:06:11,167 --> 01:06:14,701
It's about boosting
his confidence.
1265
01:06:14,868 --> 01:06:17,367
- Let's go.
- All right.
1266
01:06:17,534 --> 01:06:22,901
I'm leaving, and now he is
the man of the homestead.
1267
01:06:23,067 --> 01:06:24,501
Oh, I like it.
Nice and gentle.
1268
01:06:24,667 --> 01:06:25,601
Good man.
1269
01:06:30,067 --> 01:06:32,100
That's about it.
1270
01:06:32,267 --> 01:06:34,467
- Put it in neutral.
- Oh, yeah.
1271
01:06:34,634 --> 01:06:35,567
Good job.
1272
01:06:37,367 --> 01:06:38,901
Thank you.
1273
01:06:39,067 --> 01:06:40,000
There you go.
1274
01:06:46,667 --> 01:06:47,667
- Good man.
- All right.
1275
01:06:53,467 --> 01:06:55,000
OK.
1276
01:06:55,167 --> 01:06:58,400
Across the homestead,
Matt gathers Robert,
1277
01:06:58,567 --> 01:07:02,300
Tracy, and Taylor to reveal
the ready-for-use duck pond
1278
01:07:02,467 --> 01:07:03,801
and processing center.
1279
01:07:03,968 --> 01:07:05,199
It looks awesome.
1280
01:07:05,200 --> 01:07:09,400
This is way bigger than
anything that they've ever had.
1281
01:07:09,567 --> 01:07:12,901
We went from maybe 20 gallons
of water to 2,000 gallons.
1282
01:07:13,067 --> 01:07:16,000
Wow!
You hear that, buddy?
1283
01:07:17,100 --> 01:07:18,868
Check it out.
Oh, yeah.
1284
01:07:19,033 --> 01:07:21,000
- Oh, yeah!
- Oh, my gosh.
1285
01:07:21,167 --> 01:07:22,501
Yeah, good girl.
1286
01:07:22,667 --> 01:07:24,467
Yes!
1287
01:07:24,634 --> 01:07:26,567
It's so cool to like
see them swim.
1288
01:07:26,734 --> 01:07:29,567
Yeah.
Whoo-hoo!
1289
01:07:29,734 --> 01:07:32,000
Good birds.
1290
01:07:32,167 --> 01:07:34,601
They say
thank you, too.
1291
01:07:34,767 --> 01:07:36,601
- That was really cool to see.
- That wasn't bad.
1292
01:07:36,767 --> 01:07:38,267
Yeah.
1293
01:07:38,434 --> 01:07:41,000
All in all, I'm really
happy with how it turned out.
1294
01:07:41,167 --> 01:07:43,467
This is where all
the homesteading started,
1295
01:07:43,634 --> 01:07:44,868
is right here.
- Right here.
1296
01:07:45,033 --> 01:07:48,000
And it's not just
for the ducks.
1297
01:07:48,167 --> 01:07:49,767
It can be for geese.
1298
01:07:49,934 --> 01:07:53,000
- It can be for all types
of animals.
- Yeah.
1299
01:07:53,167 --> 01:07:54,767
I mean, we got
all our ducks in a row.
1300
01:07:54,934 --> 01:07:56,367
- Yeah.
- Whoo-hoo!
1301
01:07:56,534 --> 01:07:58,300
It looks awesome.
Thank you so much.
1302
01:07:59,701 --> 01:08:01,234
What do you think
about this space?
1303
01:08:02,767 --> 01:08:05,968
The processing center with
the ducks, it's really exciting
1304
01:08:06,133 --> 01:08:09,567
that they even got electricity
in there and a little window.
1305
01:08:09,734 --> 01:08:11,901
I think that's so great.
Some natural light.
1306
01:08:12,067 --> 01:08:13,267
So, it's very cool.
1307
01:08:14,267 --> 01:08:15,767
Argh.
Look at this, matey.
1308
01:08:15,934 --> 01:08:18,267
I know they're not slaughtering
their ducks right now,
1309
01:08:18,434 --> 01:08:20,467
but we do have some duck meat
in here.
1310
01:08:20,634 --> 01:08:23,100
This part's pretty cool,
but let's take a look
1311
01:08:23,267 --> 01:08:24,601
at that root cellar.
- Let's do it.
1312
01:08:24,767 --> 01:08:26,367
Deliver some food
to be put on the shelf.
1313
01:08:26,534 --> 01:08:27,667
Yep.
1314
01:08:29,701 --> 01:08:31,868
They even put a light down
there and made the steps
1315
01:08:32,033 --> 01:08:36,267
a little bit less scary to
go down there to store food.
1316
01:08:36,434 --> 01:08:40,767
This has put Taylor and Jacob
a minimum of five years
1317
01:08:40,934 --> 01:08:44,000
ahead of what they could
have done on their own, so...
1318
01:08:44,167 --> 01:08:45,367
OK.
1319
01:08:45,534 --> 01:08:47,000
...it's pretty special.
1320
01:08:47,167 --> 01:08:50,400
Taylor and Jacob,
they have the best root cellar
1321
01:08:50,567 --> 01:08:54,067
and their food security
starts now.
1322
01:08:54,234 --> 01:08:56,100
Excellent.
1323
01:08:56,267 --> 01:08:59,367
Seven days ago,
the Johnson family's ducks were
1324
01:08:59,534 --> 01:09:03,000
crammed into dirty pools
that would freeze overnight,
1325
01:09:03,167 --> 01:09:05,100
and they had nowhere
to process their meat
1326
01:09:05,267 --> 01:09:07,467
in a sanitary manner.
1327
01:09:07,634 --> 01:09:11,767
Today, they have a 2,000-gallon
pond that will give their ducks
1328
01:09:11,934 --> 01:09:15,167
plenty of room to bathe
and will remain ice-free
1329
01:09:15,334 --> 01:09:16,801
in the wintertime.
1330
01:09:16,968 --> 01:09:19,601
They also have a renovated
structure that now serves
1331
01:09:19,767 --> 01:09:22,901
as a meat processing center,
complete with a freezer
1332
01:09:23,067 --> 01:09:25,968
for storage and a root cellar
for canning meat
1333
01:09:26,133 --> 01:09:28,501
and storing fresh vegetables.
1334
01:09:28,667 --> 01:09:30,868
Thank you so much
for everything you did.
1335
01:09:31,033 --> 01:09:32,100
- Well, thank you.
- Yeah, it's great.
1336
01:09:32,267 --> 01:09:33,968
You rock and roll!
1337
01:09:34,133 --> 01:09:35,667
There's nothing more
rock-and-roll
1338
01:09:35,834 --> 01:09:38,701
than food security.
- Absolutely!
1339
01:09:43,267 --> 01:09:47,267
Over by the adobe house,
while Jacob finishes delivering
1340
01:09:47,434 --> 01:09:51,200
the original bricks to the door
he plans to seal, Marty may
1341
01:09:51,367 --> 01:09:53,767
have a solution
for mixing up the mortar
1342
01:09:53,934 --> 01:09:55,567
even in freezing temperatures.
1343
01:09:57,300 --> 01:10:00,367
We tried to make adobe bricks
and the temperature got down to
1344
01:10:00,534 --> 01:10:04,200
15 or 16, so we might
do a little hack
1345
01:10:04,367 --> 01:10:06,167
to keep it from freezing.
1346
01:10:06,334 --> 01:10:09,467
We're trying to make adobe
bricks with water,
1347
01:10:09,634 --> 01:10:13,467
but the sun's not drying them
and the mortar is freezing.
1348
01:10:13,634 --> 01:10:17,901
We're going to add a non-toxic
organic antifreeze
1349
01:10:18,067 --> 01:10:21,501
to the water, all right?
We're making Alaska adobe.
1350
01:10:23,000 --> 01:10:26,300
How are we going to make mortar
to put adobe bricks together?
1351
01:10:26,467 --> 01:10:28,000
I'll tell you how.
1352
01:10:28,167 --> 01:10:29,367
The way I would do it
in Alaska.
1353
01:10:31,167 --> 01:10:32,667
I would add a little bit of
1354
01:10:34,100 --> 01:10:35,167
antifreeze.
1355
01:10:36,567 --> 01:10:38,467
Grab some brick
and start laying, please.
1356
01:10:40,000 --> 01:10:41,033
Don't be shy.
1357
01:10:42,501 --> 01:10:45,767
I am really stoked
about how we did the adobe
1358
01:10:45,934 --> 01:10:47,901
and all of that throughout
this whole process.
1359
01:10:49,300 --> 01:10:52,601
Having that knowledge and skill
to be able to reconstruct
1360
01:10:52,767 --> 01:10:56,367
a 100-year-old building
out of the same bricks
1361
01:10:56,534 --> 01:10:58,467
is really, really cool.
1362
01:10:58,634 --> 01:11:00,100
You're a good worker.
1363
01:11:00,267 --> 01:11:03,367
I'm so glad we had a chance to
do this wall, because I've seen
1364
01:11:03,534 --> 01:11:05,968
you do every aspect of adobe.
1365
01:11:06,133 --> 01:11:07,367
You can't tell me that's
not a good-looking wall.
1366
01:11:07,534 --> 01:11:08,467
Here you go, sir.
1367
01:11:08,634 --> 01:11:09,801
- Oh, it's sweet.
- Cool.
1368
01:11:10,968 --> 01:11:14,000
What this building really
is, it's heritage.
1369
01:11:14,167 --> 01:11:16,501
I've watched you take it apart,
1370
01:11:17,667 --> 01:11:20,367
save some of the adobe bricks.
1371
01:11:20,534 --> 01:11:22,868
I've seen you pound them
into powder, add water.
1372
01:11:23,033 --> 01:11:24,066
I've seen you make mortar,
1373
01:11:24,067 --> 01:11:26,000
and now I've seen you actually
build a wall.
1374
01:11:26,167 --> 01:11:30,367
There's nothing keeping
you from making adobe bricks
1375
01:11:30,534 --> 01:11:32,167
and building anything you want.
1376
01:11:32,334 --> 01:11:35,000
When I drive out of here
tomorrow, I'm not looking back
1377
01:11:35,167 --> 01:11:38,567
because you're a worker,
you're smart, you love
1378
01:11:38,734 --> 01:11:42,167
this land, and you're
a homesteader.
1379
01:11:42,334 --> 01:11:43,667
- I'm done.
- Thank you.
1380
01:11:44,968 --> 01:11:46,701
- How's it feel?
- It's amazing.
1381
01:11:46,868 --> 01:11:48,267
It's freedom to be able to do
1382
01:11:50,200 --> 01:11:51,200
things for yourself.
1383
01:12:05,767 --> 01:12:09,200
Should we try and just see,
test the bridge a little bit?
1384
01:12:10,567 --> 01:12:12,367
It's the final day
of the rescue
1385
01:12:12,534 --> 01:12:13,901
on the Johnson
family homestead.
1386
01:12:15,167 --> 01:12:16,968
My dad's going to try
and drive that excavator
1387
01:12:17,133 --> 01:12:18,500
across this bridge.
1388
01:12:18,501 --> 01:12:22,067
One last step remains before
the homesteaders can safely
1389
01:12:22,234 --> 01:12:25,868
utilize the other side of
their land across the acequia.
1390
01:12:26,033 --> 01:12:29,601
These homesteaders need
to access an acre or so of land.
1391
01:12:29,767 --> 01:12:30,701
Why?
1392
01:12:30,868 --> 01:12:32,567
They got about five acres
of this,
1393
01:12:34,167 --> 01:12:38,100
and they got about an acre
and a half of this beautiful,
1394
01:12:38,267 --> 01:12:43,167
black, dark, rich soil
full of nutrients.
1395
01:12:43,334 --> 01:12:44,567
Misty wants to build a garden.
1396
01:12:44,734 --> 01:12:46,467
How are we gonna do that?
- A lot of dirt.
1397
01:12:46,634 --> 01:12:48,868
- They have to fill it
with a lot of dirt.
- Where's it coming from?
1398
01:12:49,033 --> 01:12:51,267
- The other side.
- Exactly.
1399
01:12:51,434 --> 01:12:55,000
The question,
will the bridge support
1400
01:12:55,167 --> 01:12:58,467
a 60,000-pound excavator?
1401
01:13:03,868 --> 01:13:04,868
Here he comes.
1402
01:13:10,167 --> 01:13:12,167
Don't turn.
Just go straight.
1403
01:13:14,400 --> 01:13:16,267
Don't turn.
1404
01:13:16,434 --> 01:13:17,601
Keep coming.
1405
01:13:19,300 --> 01:13:22,801
Look underneath there.
Any strain, any sagging.
1406
01:13:22,968 --> 01:13:24,167
It's flexing.
1407
01:13:24,334 --> 01:13:25,968
This thing's making
crazy noises.
1408
01:13:27,667 --> 01:13:28,667
Oh, my god!
1409
01:13:32,100 --> 01:13:33,167
Don't turn.
1410
01:13:34,868 --> 01:13:35,868
I can't see.
1411
01:13:36,033 --> 01:13:37,367
- I can't see.
- Just go straight.
1412
01:13:37,534 --> 01:13:39,667
You gotta come straight off.
Just keep coming.
1413
01:13:39,834 --> 01:13:40,767
- Whoa, whoa!
- Dad, no!
1414
01:13:46,501 --> 01:13:49,767
2
The word on the street is,
you guys are getting married.
1415
01:13:49,934 --> 01:13:51,367
Did you say something
to Misty about this?
1416
01:13:51,534 --> 01:13:52,567
- Mm-hmm.
- You did?
1417
01:13:52,734 --> 01:13:54,801
- Yeah.
- So I think that's exciting.
1418
01:13:54,968 --> 01:13:56,801
- Yeah.
- We had no idea.
1419
01:13:56,968 --> 01:13:59,767
So I find out from Misty
that Taylor and Jacob are gonna
1420
01:13:59,934 --> 01:14:02,601
get married.
I thought of the perfect gift.
1421
01:14:02,767 --> 01:14:03,667
You guessed it.
1422
01:14:11,667 --> 01:14:14,267
- Take a good look at it.
- Wow!
1423
01:14:14,434 --> 01:14:16,267
- Is that turquoise?
- Yes.
1424
01:14:16,434 --> 01:14:18,367
- Wow!
- That's really cool.
1425
01:14:18,534 --> 01:14:20,400
Thank you.
It's gorgeous.
1426
01:14:20,567 --> 01:14:22,868
We're going to have
this eagle overlooking...
1427
01:14:23,033 --> 01:14:26,100
- Oh, yeah.
- ...the Rio Grande.
1428
01:14:26,267 --> 01:14:27,367
There's a lot
of meaning to it,
1429
01:14:27,534 --> 01:14:29,200
which I think is really cool.
1430
01:14:29,367 --> 01:14:33,868
The bald eagle, it represents
freedom, which is really
1431
01:14:34,033 --> 01:14:37,267
what I feel like we've been
given after this.
1432
01:14:37,434 --> 01:14:38,567
- Congratulations!
- Thank you.
1433
01:14:38,734 --> 01:14:39,601
You're welcome.
Thank you.
1434
01:14:39,767 --> 01:14:41,000
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
1435
01:14:42,100 --> 01:14:43,100
The eagle has landed.
1436
01:14:47,667 --> 01:14:49,501
2
- Dad, no, no!
- Whoa, whoa!
1437
01:14:49,667 --> 01:14:51,467
Dad, don't turn.
Don't turn.
1438
01:14:51,634 --> 01:14:52,601
I can't see.
1439
01:14:52,767 --> 01:14:54,267
Your backside's
off the bridge.
1440
01:14:54,434 --> 01:14:55,601
Yeah.
1441
01:14:55,767 --> 01:14:56,868
- Whoa.
- Oh, my god.
1442
01:14:57,033 --> 01:14:58,934
- You're going to come off of it.
- He's not.
1443
01:14:59,100 --> 01:15:00,634
Now go straight.
1444
01:15:03,100 --> 01:15:05,767
That's good.
You're almost off of it.
1445
01:15:09,868 --> 01:15:11,601
- Yeah, that's good.
- Whoo!
1446
01:15:13,868 --> 01:15:17,767
Was it worth it to take a few
risks to set a bridge,
1447
01:15:17,934 --> 01:15:20,567
cross that bridge,
and then work the land?
1448
01:15:20,734 --> 01:15:22,100
Absolutely.
1449
01:15:22,267 --> 01:15:24,601
That was, like,
really stressful.
1450
01:15:24,767 --> 01:15:26,200
I think that's the scariest
thing that's ever
1451
01:15:26,367 --> 01:15:29,567
gonna go across that bridge.
1452
01:15:29,734 --> 01:15:32,467
It's all worth it,
and it's the future
1453
01:15:32,634 --> 01:15:35,467
for their homestead dream, period.
1454
01:15:35,634 --> 01:15:38,300
Matt, look, look
at the ground.
1455
01:15:38,467 --> 01:15:41,167
- It's not sand desert.
- It's crazy.
1456
01:15:41,334 --> 01:15:42,667
It's like grass, topsoil.
1457
01:15:42,834 --> 01:15:43,934
There's moisture.
Look at it.
1458
01:15:44,100 --> 01:15:45,200
- It's wet.
- Look at that.
1459
01:15:45,367 --> 01:15:46,767
It's incredible.
1460
01:15:46,934 --> 01:15:49,000
But for now, I gotta clear land.
Let's go!
1461
01:15:51,067 --> 01:15:53,601
While Marty clears
the invasive trees across
1462
01:15:53,767 --> 01:15:56,367
the acequia to eradicate
them from the homestead...
1463
01:15:58,367 --> 01:15:59,667
Good?
1464
01:15:59,834 --> 01:16:03,000
...Misty uses the new bridge
to collect fertile soil
1465
01:16:03,167 --> 01:16:05,834
from the newly accessible
two acres.
1466
01:16:06,000 --> 01:16:08,667
As the Raneys first foray
in New Mexico, nears
1467
01:16:08,834 --> 01:16:11,501
mission accomplished.
1468
01:16:13,968 --> 01:16:15,868
- This looks awesome.
- Do you love it?
1469
01:16:16,033 --> 01:16:19,968
- Yes, this is so much space.
- It's so much space.
1470
01:16:20,133 --> 01:16:22,567
- Clearly there's no plants.
- Yeah.
1471
01:16:22,734 --> 01:16:23,734
It's a little cold.
1472
01:16:23,901 --> 01:16:26,300
It's a little cold,
but when you take this
1473
01:16:26,467 --> 01:16:28,400
and you combine it with that,
1474
01:16:28,567 --> 01:16:29,834
it'll help.
- Oh, yeah.
1475
01:16:31,000 --> 01:16:34,367
Having the capability of being
able to grow a decent amount
1476
01:16:34,534 --> 01:16:39,167
of food and access below
the acequia and preserve
1477
01:16:39,334 --> 01:16:42,367
what we harvest...
- Oh, it's so nice in here.
1478
01:16:42,534 --> 01:16:44,000
...it's a game changer for us.
1479
01:16:44,167 --> 01:16:45,934
It's like we're hitting
the ground running instead
1480
01:16:46,100 --> 01:16:49,100
of dragging our feet
to be able to get there.
1481
01:16:49,267 --> 01:16:51,868
I love this space so much.
1482
01:16:52,033 --> 01:16:54,467
This might be like one of
the most incredible things
1483
01:16:54,634 --> 01:16:58,667
I've done, because it was
next to impossible
to get the solarium
1484
01:16:58,834 --> 01:17:01,367
to a place where it
not only allowed sunlight
1485
01:17:01,534 --> 01:17:03,267
but also captured warmth...
- Mm-hmm.
1486
01:17:03,434 --> 01:17:05,868
...and I was skeptical
if we could actually do that.
1487
01:17:06,033 --> 01:17:07,200
- Yeah.
- But it's warm in here.
1488
01:17:09,300 --> 01:17:12,667
Seven days ago,
the Johnson family had no way
1489
01:17:12,834 --> 01:17:16,167
to grow food as their small
greenhouse was unable
1490
01:17:16,334 --> 01:17:18,601
to withstand
extreme temperatures
1491
01:17:18,767 --> 01:17:21,567
and much of the soil on their
homestead was compromised
1492
01:17:21,734 --> 01:17:23,667
by buried garbage.
1493
01:17:23,834 --> 01:17:27,100
Today, they have a solarium
greenhouse built into
1494
01:17:27,267 --> 01:17:31,501
their adobe home using windows
and natural light to both heat
1495
01:17:31,667 --> 01:17:36,167
the house and provide suitable
growing conditions for plants.
1496
01:17:36,334 --> 01:17:39,734
They also have a fenced-in
buried garden complete
1497
01:17:39,901 --> 01:17:42,734
with fertile topsoil
from across the acequia.
1498
01:17:43,667 --> 01:17:45,400
Excited to, like, grow a family
1499
01:17:45,567 --> 01:17:46,600
and, like, grow a future?
1500
01:17:46,601 --> 01:17:48,601
Like, do you see yourself
here in 100 years?
1501
01:17:48,767 --> 01:17:49,900
Yeah.
1502
01:17:49,901 --> 01:17:52,267
Because this structure
will still be here.
1503
01:17:52,434 --> 01:17:56,000
Before the Raneys came out
here, we had talked about
1504
01:17:56,167 --> 01:17:59,667
having kids, but it seemed like
something we wouldn't be able
1505
01:17:59,834 --> 01:18:04,100
to do because we were living
in a little one-bedroom trailer,
1506
01:18:04,267 --> 01:18:07,100
and now it's looking
like something that we can
1507
01:18:08,267 --> 01:18:10,200
actually focus our energy on.
1508
01:18:10,367 --> 01:18:13,467
We're just blown away
at everything that's been done.
1509
01:18:13,634 --> 01:18:15,167
Do you have a little
jump start?
1510
01:18:15,334 --> 01:18:20,467
More like a leap forward.
A couple jump starts.
1511
01:18:26,834 --> 01:18:29,300
You see any changes around
this part of the homestead?
1512
01:18:29,467 --> 01:18:31,100
More than not,
it looks like
1513
01:18:31,267 --> 01:18:33,367
a completely different property.
1514
01:18:33,534 --> 01:18:38,567
I definitely had a to-do list
that was completely
1515
01:18:38,734 --> 01:18:42,100
out of my range of being
able to accomplish.
1516
01:18:42,267 --> 01:18:44,567
You have a bridge
to somewhere.
1517
01:18:44,734 --> 01:18:47,467
And according to the Pueblo
people, prosperity.
1518
01:18:47,634 --> 01:18:50,467
This is where our prosperity
is going to come from, too.
1519
01:18:50,634 --> 01:18:53,567
So much has been crossed
off that list that I'm able
1520
01:18:53,734 --> 01:18:56,934
to really see clearly what
the next priorities are
1521
01:18:57,100 --> 01:18:58,968
and where I need to go
from here.
1522
01:18:59,133 --> 01:19:00,868
And it's not nearly
as overwhelming.
1523
01:19:02,934 --> 01:19:07,000
I'm really proud of you when
it comes to trying to restore
1524
01:19:07,167 --> 01:19:09,734
this authentic adobe structure
that will probably
1525
01:19:09,901 --> 01:19:11,167
become your home.
1526
01:19:11,334 --> 01:19:13,167
It's gonna become
our home very soon here.
1527
01:19:13,334 --> 01:19:16,200
I think we can move into
this back room here.
1528
01:19:16,367 --> 01:19:17,666
- Right here?
- Mm-hmm.
1529
01:19:17,667 --> 01:19:20,601
And then we're gonna plastic
off one room at a time and just
1530
01:19:20,767 --> 01:19:23,200
work on one room at a time.
- So you already have a plan?
1531
01:19:23,367 --> 01:19:24,467
Yeah.
It's become a lot
1532
01:19:24,634 --> 01:19:26,100
more clear since you guys
1533
01:19:26,267 --> 01:19:27,567
have been here, for sure.
1534
01:19:27,734 --> 01:19:30,000
I definitely see a lot more
work cut out for me
1535
01:19:30,167 --> 01:19:33,501
in the future, and I'm ready
to tackle that now that I have
1536
01:19:33,667 --> 01:19:35,934
a lot of stuff
crossed off my list
1537
01:19:36,100 --> 01:19:37,367
that's been holding me
back for years.
1538
01:19:39,767 --> 01:19:44,000
One week ago, Jacob and Taylor
were crammed into a tiny,
1539
01:19:44,167 --> 01:19:47,400
leaky RV where the extreme heat
was worsening
1540
01:19:47,567 --> 01:19:49,100
Taylor's health issues.
1541
01:19:49,267 --> 01:19:52,667
Invasive trees of heaven
blocked access to their adobe
1542
01:19:52,834 --> 01:19:56,300
house, and they had no safe way
to cross the acequia
1543
01:19:56,467 --> 01:19:58,868
to utilize fertile ground.
1544
01:19:59,033 --> 01:20:03,667
Today, they can finally access
the remodeled adobe home,
1545
01:20:03,834 --> 01:20:07,567
now reinforced with a new roof,
fresh adobe brick
1546
01:20:07,734 --> 01:20:11,567
and free of the unstable
additions that once covered it.
1547
01:20:11,734 --> 01:20:15,067
They also have a sturdy bridge
to the fertile land across
1548
01:20:15,234 --> 01:20:18,300
the acequia, where they can
begin to farm and take
1549
01:20:18,467 --> 01:20:20,601
advantage of
the nutrient-rich soil.
1550
01:20:21,667 --> 01:20:23,400
I see us coming back
to New Mexico.
1551
01:20:23,567 --> 01:20:24,567
We love it.
1552
01:20:24,734 --> 01:20:26,167
Anytime you guys come back,
consider me part
1553
01:20:26,334 --> 01:20:28,567
of the Raney reserve.
- That, my friend,
1554
01:20:29,667 --> 01:20:31,400
is something I'm gonna
hold you to.
1555
01:20:31,567 --> 01:20:32,567
- Definitely.
- Follow me.
1556
01:20:32,734 --> 01:20:33,834
Alright.
1557
01:20:36,300 --> 01:20:38,367
Is it just me or did
the weather change?
1558
01:20:38,534 --> 01:20:40,567
- It did.
- Hello!
1559
01:20:40,734 --> 01:20:42,200
Hello!
1560
01:20:42,367 --> 01:20:45,567
All right, let it blow,
because that building is
1561
01:20:45,734 --> 01:20:48,734
structurally sound,
it's kind of dried in,
1562
01:20:48,901 --> 01:20:50,834
and it's ready to be moved in.
1563
01:20:51,968 --> 01:20:53,601
What's really epic
about you guys is
1564
01:20:53,767 --> 01:20:55,000
you're adobe experts.
1565
01:20:55,167 --> 01:20:56,667
You know how to make
the bricks, you know how
1566
01:20:56,834 --> 01:20:59,667
to take them apart, and you know
how to put them back together.
1567
01:20:59,834 --> 01:21:02,167
And your dream is pretty cool.
1568
01:21:02,334 --> 01:21:04,567
It's a dream we've never
heard before.
1569
01:21:04,734 --> 01:21:07,467
You have a structure
we've never seen before.
1570
01:21:07,634 --> 01:21:14,300
So the question is, A is for
adobe, B is for brick,
1571
01:21:14,467 --> 01:21:20,000
but C is for can you pick up
where we left off?
1572
01:21:20,167 --> 01:21:22,367
- D for definitely.
- Very good.
1573
01:21:22,534 --> 01:21:26,267
You guys got us so much
farther than we even
1574
01:21:26,434 --> 01:21:28,467
thought possible.
1575
01:21:28,634 --> 01:21:31,400
I definitely felt like
I was living in a tiny little
1576
01:21:31,567 --> 01:21:35,868
trailer-shaped prison cell,
and that has all become
1577
01:21:36,033 --> 01:21:37,400
a totally different story now.
1578
01:21:37,567 --> 01:21:40,834
We are thinking about all
the things we need to get moved
1579
01:21:41,000 --> 01:21:44,067
in to the house, and that'll get
us on the road to thinking
1580
01:21:44,234 --> 01:21:46,300
about a family
really soon, too.
1581
01:21:46,467 --> 01:21:49,267
You guys have been great,
and we appreciate everything
1582
01:21:49,434 --> 01:21:51,000
you've done.
- That's very nice words.
1583
01:21:51,167 --> 01:21:52,300
Thanks for having us.
1584
01:21:52,467 --> 01:21:56,667
This was our first time ever
coming to New Mexico,
1585
01:21:56,834 --> 01:21:58,367
seeing this beautiful land.
1586
01:21:58,534 --> 01:22:01,667
It's my wish that Jacob
and Taylor embrace
1587
01:22:01,834 --> 01:22:04,367
this beautiful opportunity.
1588
01:22:04,534 --> 01:22:05,734
G is for...
1589
01:22:05,901 --> 01:22:07,100
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
1590
01:22:08,667 --> 01:22:13,567
This might be the all-time
homestead now rooted
1591
01:22:13,734 --> 01:22:16,868
in the Land of Enchantment--
1592
01:22:17,033 --> 01:22:18,567
New Mexico.
1593
01:22:18,734 --> 01:22:20,467
Nice to work with nice people.
1594
01:22:20,634 --> 01:22:22,467
- That's
the best thing ever.
- Whoo!
1595
01:22:27,667 --> 01:22:32,968
We're doing really good.
We got married in the solarium.
1596
01:22:33,133 --> 01:22:37,067
It was a really small
ceremony, and it was nice.
1597
01:22:37,234 --> 01:22:39,100
Been working on the house.
1598
01:22:39,267 --> 01:22:43,467
Ideal goal is to get moved
in there by the end of the year.
1599
01:22:43,634 --> 01:22:46,734
This is the side of the
house where we're going to put
1600
01:22:46,901 --> 01:22:50,767
an additional greenhouse
passive solar heating room
1601
01:22:50,934 --> 01:22:54,400
from this corner
to about this corner.
1602
01:22:54,567 --> 01:22:57,501
I've started planting things
in the garden
1603
01:22:57,667 --> 01:23:00,066
and I can grow everything now.
1604
01:23:00,067 --> 01:23:01,834
The bridge isn't
going anywhere
1605
01:23:02,000 --> 01:23:03,868
and across the acequia,
1606
01:23:04,033 --> 01:23:05,267
I've been spreading
a lot of seeds.
1607
01:23:05,434 --> 01:23:07,734
It's going to be
mostly an orchard.
1608
01:23:07,901 --> 01:23:11,000
Irrigating it will be in the
works pretty soon here as well.
1609
01:23:11,167 --> 01:23:13,367
The ducks love their pond.
1610
01:23:13,534 --> 01:23:15,767
They've started
diving under the water,
1611
01:23:15,934 --> 01:23:17,267
getting their swimming muscles.
1612
01:23:18,667 --> 01:23:21,467
I'm definitely pushing
myself to take on more.
1613
01:23:21,634 --> 01:23:23,767
And moving forward
just leaps and bounds.
1614
01:23:23,934 --> 01:23:27,267
- It's incredible.
- And to the Raneys, thank you.
1615
01:23:27,434 --> 01:23:28,767
Yes, thank you, Raneys.