All language subtitles for [SubtitleTools.com] Homestead.Rescue.S12E13.720p.WEB.H264-JFF_[English] (ASS)

What can you say about a state
where the name of the state,
Montana, means mountains?

And when you drive
through these mountains,

you see elk, antelope
and deer.

And if you count all of those
animals, you find out that
there's more elk,

deer and antelope than there
are people in Montana.

Pretty cool.

But Montana has challenges
so daunting,

even the toughest, strongest
homesteaders struggle.

And if you're not healthy,
frankly, some people might
say, it's impossible.

We're about to find out.

[narrator] Three years ago...

[man] It charged me.

[narrator] The Raneys
responded to a desperate plea
from the Whelchel family.

The same animals that stalk
our goats are stalking us.

[narrator] Unable to defend
their homestead

from dangerous predators
and deadly wildfires.

[woman]
It's more than we can handle.

Raneys, we need your help.

[narrator] The Raneys helped
the couple protect
their livestock...

Wow! Awesome.

[narrator]
...establish a fire boundary,

and bring sustainability
to their front door.

[Misty] Welcome to your
new greenhouse.

-Thank you so much.
-[Misty] You're welcome.

[narrator] But recent changes
brought new challenges.

We're just a slip, fall away
from losing this homestead.

[narrator]
And their homesteading dreams
are once again at stake.

On this episode...

This is what would
have made us leave.

[narrator] Marty returns to
the Whelchels'
Montana homestead.

To find the couple struggling
to keep their footing...

They said I would be
in a wheelchair and...

-Wheelchair?
-Yeah.

[narrator]
...and facing new problems.

How long has it been since
you've had reliable water?

-Eight years. Yes, sir.
-No. No.

[narrator]
Pushing them to the brink.

Why are you coming
down here in winter?

We don't have any other place
to store our hay.

They need a hay barn
for those goats.

[narrator]
But with fewer resources...

We're not even close
to being done.

[narrator] ...Marty
must use every tool
at his disposal.

[whistling]

Will this do the trick?

[Marty] Holy moly.

[narrator] ...to ensure these
homesteaders can survive...

I've only seen this one other
time, and it was right here.

-It's just so overwhelming,
just can't believe...
-I know, I know.

[narrator]
...all on their own.

[crying]

[Marty] Okay, we're getting
really close.

[narrator] It's springtime
in northern Montana.

But winter is always
right around the corner.

Home to some of the coldest
recorded temperatures
in US history,

the region batters residents
with an average annual
snowfall of over 10 feet.

Punishing winters
give way to sweltering summers

where arid conditions
produce potent wildfires

that consume up
to one million acres a year.

It's in these
unforgiving conditions

that the Raneys first
encountered a family
struggling to get by.

[Marty] The last time that
I came to this part of Montana

I met a couple of
homesteaders, the Whelchels,
Barry and Michelle.

They had a young lady,
a very hard worker,
living on the homestead

that was helping them do
the majority of the chores.

And we left these homesteaders
in a better place.

But then, I found out recently
that the young lady isn't here
anymore.

And that's why
the Whelchels called me.

[Marty] There you are.

Where's Barry?

-Hey!
-What's going on?

-Nice to see you again.
-You too.

That's nice of you.

That's nice of you.
Well, you look different.

I've never seen you
without a neck brace.

-I know.
-You look great!

Thank you.

[narrator] When the Raneys
first met the Whelchels

three years ago,
their team was incomplete.

We're down one member
of the Raney family.

So Misty tested positive
for COVID. Quarantined.

She's not strong enough,
and until she is, she's not
coming here.

-Marty Raney.
-Barry Whelchel.

-Barry?
-Nice to meet you. Yes, sir.

-This is my wife, Michelle.
-Michelle.

Michelle. You've got a cane.

What's going on here?

Well, I fell
a couple of times.

He's been through three major
back and neck surgeries.

Why are you wearing
a neck brace?

I slipped, hit my head and did
some major damage to my neck.

So I've just had surgery
two weeks ago

and I'm facing another
major surgery from the back.

[Marty] Do you need
a hand or no?

-No, I got it.
-You sure?

-Yeah.
-So you're still on the cane?

-Yeah.
-Everything good?

[Michelle] It's still hard.

They said I would
be in a wheelchair.

I'm starting to feel
the effects and you know,
she has the...

-I can see them.
-Wheelchair?

Yeah.

We just want to be
prepared for it.

We live in the northwest
corner of Montana
on a 40-acre homestead.

[Michelle] We called
the Raneys the first time

because Barry's injury
was so severe that we knew

that we were going
to need some help.

They brought everything
closer in,

so it'd be a lot easier
and safer for us to thrive.

[narrator] But since
the Raneys last visit,

the Whelchels
find the challenges

they face are as great as ever
starting with the loss
of a crucial asset.

[Barry] One of the things
that's changed is our
caretaker's moved away

and started her own homestead
and her own family,

and we don't have
that help that we did.

And now we have to depend
on each other.

[narrator] But managing on
their own puts most of
the strain on Michelle.

[Michelle] Barry's health,
unfortunately, has declined,

and I have to do all
of the chores myself.

It's definitely a challenge to
take care of so many animals.

[narrator] The most hazardous
task, feeding the goats.

Right now, we keep our hay
store down in our shop,

which is down a pretty steep
incline and we drag out four
bales of hay,

bring 'em up the hill
and put 'em in our woodshed.

Then I carry the hay,
two flakes at a time,

all the way around the house
and into the goat pen.

[Barry]
For Michelle to go down there,

I'm always sitting
on pins and needles.

Because she fell once before
and she had to go have major
surgery.

And we're just a slip, fall,
away from losing
this homestead.

[Michelle] Our water situation
is a problem.

Here we have well water,
and our well water
is not the best.

[Michelle] Our pump is broken.

We don't even know
what the problem is.

We have to actually fill up
buckets in order to capture
water.

[Michelle] We're doing things
we aren't supposed
to do just to survive up here.

And I really just want
to get it to the point

where we can take better
care of ourselves

and get well and succeed.

[Barry]
If something doesn't change,

and we have to walk
away from this place,

because my wife does
pretty much all the work...

you know, me as a man,

I feel like lesser of it.

Sorry.

-[Marty] Let's talk
a little bit.
-[Michelle] Okay.

When I got wind
that your caretaker sidekick

wasn't available anymore
to do the work or help you
guys out,

I was just wondering how
you're going to fare for this
coming winter.

We were wondering that, too.

What is Jessica's role here?

I'm best friends with their
daughter, they've known me
my whole life.

So we're family, you know.

[Barry] She definitely
takes care of us.

-So you're kinda...
-She's the caretaker.

I'm here. I mean, I do
whatever they can't do.

All right, so I'm looking
right there at the woodshed.

It looks like it's a lot less
wood than when I left here
a while back.

[Michelle] Oh, yeah.
We still need to fill it up.

[Marty]
That was a good memory.

I mean, this is
a real flashback.

Oh, man, you don't know,
this thing has been in so many
magazines.

-It's all over the place.
-For real?

That makes me feel good.

[Barry] And it is sturdy as...

[Marty] So how much snow
stands on that roof?

About two-three feet and
it slides off perfectly.

It slides off better
than the house.

And I'll tell you what,

this right here,

that greenhouse
is the best thing ever

because I don't have to worry
about her going out.

We need to make things as easy
as possible right now and many
years into the future.

What if we kinda
enclose the deck?

And you walk right out
the front door.

And right into
a new greenhouse.

That sounds amazing.

Did you think
we'd ever finish?

Well, I was wondering.

Come on in.

Wow!

One of the things that we want
to, as homesteaders, do

is obviously provide
for ourselves.

And the best way to do that
is with a garden.

Misty has come in and
we have a greenhouse

where we don't have to tread
through the snow or the ice.

We can walk straight

out of the door to our porch,
and go in our greenhouse.

In the position that I'm in,
I can still work our land and
thrive.

I can walk in sock feet
from the front door into my
green house

when there's five feet
of snow on the ground.

It's awesome.

That said, do you mind giving
me a tour of a day in the life
of Michelle?

-Sure.
-Okay.

-We'll be back.
-Yes, sir.

-Nice to see you again.
-Good to see you, sir.

I want to know exactly
what's happening here.

So this is still your barn.

-This is our shop, we call it.
-[Marty] Shop, okay.

We turned one bay of the shop
into the barn.

Because we needed hay storage.

The problem is,
we get a lot of snow.

All the snow sheds
in front of the building.

So once a month, Barry comes
and digs a tunnel.

Through the snow
to get to the hay.

Why are you coming
down here in winter?

-Because we don't have any
other place to store our hay.
-Oh.

-This is the only completely
covered place we have.
-I see it in the back.

[Michelle] During the fall,

I go in our vehicle and pull
a trailer, and I go get one
ton of hay at a time.

-You wrestle these bales
by yourself?
-I wrestle these bales

and drag four bales at a time
out, and we take them up

to the woodshed that you
built for us.

And I take two flakes at
a time to the goats twice
a day, and I hate that.

I feel like I'm moving
them 10 times.

-I know, it's crazy.
-Yeah.

[narrator]
Hay has been a staple

of livestock feeding
for centuries.

Its high fiber content assists
in digestive health and
nutrient absorption.

Additionally, most types
of hay have high
concentrations

of vitamins, minerals
and protein

that promote animal growth
and support lactation.

If stored properly, hay can
maintain its nutritional value

for well over a year.

It didn't take long to see why
the Whelchels gave me a call

and said, "Could you please
come back and give us a hand?"

It could snow today,
and they're pretty much
out of wood.

And once I saw how
Michelle stores hay

and how far away it is from
the goat shed, I realized that
they need help.

Listening to Barry's,
doing everything he can

to stave off being
in a wheelchair,
and you doing the brunt

of this type of laborious,
heavy lifting,

I can't see you here
in a few years from now.

I don't ever want
to leave here.

I never want to leave here.

This is such a magical place.

And I would do this
until the day I died.

Honestly, I would
if I physically could.

I just can't anymore.

And Barry can't.

We don't ever want
any physical limitation
to stop us from doing this.

And we will do everything
in our power to stay here
as long as we live.

You're talking about
two tons per year.

-So 4,000 pounds. One bale
of hay at a time.
-Right.

Right?

Would you do me a favor?

-Sure.
-Show me right now

a day in the life of a bale.

What happens?

[Michelle] I'll have to
set this stuff down, though.

I can't use my stick with it.

Hold on. Do you need
that stick to walk?

-Yeah, but it's okay.
-You sure?

-I only take it to there.
-Okay.

So I grab 'em,

and lift 'em like this.

Okay, pretty heavy.

-Seventy-five pounds.
And stack four of them here.
-Okay.

And you must know that this
pains me to watch anyone work.

-But I have to see this.
Forgive me.
-I know, it's okay.

[grunting]

-I'll load four of those in.
-And then?

Take them on up
to the port shed.

-Come on, let's go.
-Sure, Sure.

Barry and I haven't been able
to figure out a solution for
our hay.

We've moved it from place
to place it gets wet anywhere

but where it is now,
so I knew that Barry and I

weren't going to be able
to solve that on our own.

Then I'll stack

four bales here,
and then when I'm feeding the

animals, I'll take two flakes
at a time.

About that much.

And you walk from here?

-Yes. I do. I walk from here.
-You walk from here?

-Yes.
-Okay.

Okay, so here's where I go.

Just the fact that Marty
showed up here

gives me confidence that
we're gonna still be here
next winter.

So we've walked a long ways.

Yes, sir.

I'm glad I came.

There are a lot of homesteads
I could be standing on
right now,

but I feel pretty good
that I'm standing on this one

and that I've just seen you
do your daily chores

and then I've envisioned
this happening
in the middle of winter.

-You do have some challenges.
-Yeah.

-I'm going to go bring
some equipment up the hill.
-Okay.

And I suppose we'll meet you
and Barry on the front steps

and come up with a plan
here real soon.

-Fair enough?
-Fair enough.

-[Marty] Thank you.
-[Michelle] Sure.

The last time that I came
to Montana, we built
a goat barn

and now they need a hay barn
for those goats.

The question is,
who's gonna help?

Because I cannot fix
with all the problems alone.

But it has to be done
because the fire,

the inspiration to live
this lifestyle
is still burning strong.

[narrator] In the wilds
of northern Montana,

Marty begins
a full scale re-rescue

of the Whelchels'
40-acre homestead.

Three years ago,
menacing predators

and sprawling infrastructure
created massive challenges.

But now, left without
the support of their longtime
caretaker,

and facing an uncertain future
due to worsening health,

their homestead hangs
in the balance.

Okay, there! Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Stay there!

[Michelle] Holy moly!

[laughs]

Okay. Hope you don't mind,
I grabbed a rock along
the way.

-You're good.
-I got to ask your permission.

Can I use a few stones and
a few logs like we did
last time?

-Absolutely.
-Whatever you need.

-Barry.
-Yes, sir.

You do have big goats.

They're all adult. So it'd be
a little crowded in there

if we start putting
in 20, 30 bales of hay.

But if we build a little
addition to that goat barn

for hay exclusively,
is that cool or not?

It's cool. That's very cool.

That is awesome.

That's said,

we're going to try to look
at things on this property
like stone, and logs.

Is it okay if we go back to
the far edge of the property
where we were last time?

-Yes, sir.
-And just start whittling

at the edge of the forest
and getting what we need.

And maybe starting
to build a structure.

-Sounds good.
-Okay.

[narrator]
The Whelchels' hay barn
is currently over 200 yards

away from the goat pen,
making the feeding process

nearly impossible for Michelle
to continue on her own.

To keep the couple safe,

and allow them to thrive
on their homestead,

Marty will attempt
to build a new structure

for hay storage closer
to the goat barn

that includes a stone
firewall. He'll also down
several tons of lumber

around the edge
of the property to serve as
both building material

and potential firewood.

-Fair enough?
-Fair.

All right. Thanks.
Appreciate it.

Thank you.

[Marty] Don't thank me yet.

[both chuckling]

This stuff's beautiful.

Okay, we got some rocks.

Let's go get some logs.

-All right.
-Follow me. Follow me.

Let's go.

Any legitimate homesteader
is going to look at their
property

in a way nobody else will.

Does that property have trees?

Maybe trees, that could be
incorporated into a barn.

But I'm also looking at the
rocks on this homestead.

We can use these rocks
to build walls.

We'll also build a fire break,
at the same time,

in a state that is seriously
threatened by forest fires.

Okay, I never thought I'd be
back on this homestead.

And continuing to cut trees
where I left off last time.

But here I am.

[Marty] I'll get in position
the big one.

[Matt] Don't lose it.

So we cut a lot of trees
down through here.

We pulled the stumps.
We cleaned it up,
tried to make it usable land.

But we're about to open up
some more land.

[whistling]

[Michelle] Hey!

Marty!

Will this do the trick?

[Marty] Holy moly.

You're kidding me.

Once I told Michelle
that we're probably

not gonna have enough time
to fill that woodshed,

at least with my small crew,
and build some system

that makes feeding
this livestock easier,

I think she took it to heart,
because there must be
10 or 15 people

that just showed up
to help fill that woodshed.

[Michelle] Some of our
closest friends.

A lot of them are neighbors.

But we've got
family here, too.

Well, introduce me
to your family first, please.

This is my baby sister, Beth.

Baby... How many sisters
do you have?

Five total.

-Really?
-Yeah.

[narrator] Three years ago,
as wildfires approached

and the Raneys needed
reinforcements to defend
the homestead...

That right there is the best
fire starter in the world.

[narrator] ...the Whelchels
wondered where
that help would come from.

The fact that a fire truck
could get out of here

is great, but they won't come
out here unless they can
defend the house, right?

And I don't know if you guys
are up to the standard yet.

-We have too many trees
too close to the house.
-Way too many trees.

[Marty]
It's on us to do our own
defensible space,

so I think I'm going to work
on a 100-foot perimeter,

from the center,
being the house.

Can I do it by myself?

Absolutely not.

However, I have a surprise.

-We gotta get to work.
-Yup.

Where are we gonna
find any help?

[Michelle] I don't know.

We could make
some phone calls.

You could make some
phone calls, or you could just
turn around.

[crying]

[Marty] Just when
I was overwhelmed

with all the things
that I wanted to do,

knowing I couldn't get to them
I called nine old
firefighter friends

of Barry's from Georgia
to see if they could help us.

And they showed up. Nine!

Oh, my God. [laughs heartily]

I have fought fire with
each one of these guys.

I've been in the trenches
with each one of these guys.

Thanks, brother.

It is a brotherhood.

And to see all these
guys come out

and decide that they want
to help, I'm feeling
overwhelmed.

Only thing I can say
is thank you so much.

Each and every one of you.
You've touched my life.

[sniffles]

Thank you so much.

We're definitely moved
by your unselfishness,

your generosity, your
kindness, your friendship.

So you're a testament
to everything that's good.

And so I just have
to say thank you.

This is truly amazing.

[Barry] Let's get to work.

[narrator] Now it's Michelle's
turn to surprise Marty
with the help he needs.

-Well,
let's talk a little bit.
-[Michelle] Okay.

If you came to work
as a neighbor
or a relative, friend,

there's gonna be plenty
of work happening in the next
four days.

My main thing is,
I'm not gonna tell anyone
what to do.

I'm assuming if you
live out here

and you're a neighbor of hers,
you know how to cut firewood.

So have at it and we could
drag it down there.

But I think it will get
dirty in the process.

I think it'd be just as easy
to cut it down here,
load it up.

-Put in the wood shed.
-[Marty] I like that plan.

All right, everyone.
Thank you so much.

And remember that old saying,
I can't remember who said it.

"Love thy neighbor."

Yeah, everyone says it,
but you know,

you've got someone
that loves your neighbor

when they help that neighbor
get some firewood.

So on that note, you've got
some good neighbors.

-Thanks.
-See you later. And friends.

[saws buzzing]

[Michelle] Hey! Hey, hey.

Why are you crying?

I just can't believe all this.

[Michelle speaking]

It's just so overwhelming.

-I just can't believe all this
is going on.
-I know, I know.

I know.

I'm gonna go try
to help a little bit. Okay?

No, you've already got a load.

That's amazing.

It is.

I want to be honest with you.
Of all the homesteads
I've been to,

I've only seen this one
other time ever.

-Wow.
-And it was right here.

Oh, really?

The last time I was here,
I don't know what it is about
you and Michelle,

but people like you
and people know
that you want this lifestyle.

And it's actually
moving to me.

Yeah, it's moving me, too.

When neighbors do this,

come out of
the woodwork literally,

it's pretty cool.

Pretty cool. I'm impressed.

Says a lot about
you and Michelle.

-[Barry] Thank you.
-[Marty] That's amazing.

Utterly amazing.

I could not believe
all of our neighbors and
friends are here helping us.

What more could you ask for
out of a community?

One human being helping
another just to help,
nothing in return,

just to help,
that says something about
the people here.

[narrator] On the re-rescue
of the Whelchels'
40-acre homestead

in northern Montana...

[saws buzzing]

...Barry and Michelle

bring in volunteers
to help complete Marty's
mission.

The people who live up in
this area, all of us all
pretty much self-sufficient.

But no man's an island
to himself, not up here.

They all worked together.

[Randall] Helping your
neighbor is what you
should do.

You know, It gives you a sense
of pride, you know, I mean,

neighbors coming together,
working together
and helping out.

[narrator] While Marty
attempts to solve the couple's
goat feeding operation

by constructing a new hay barn
closer to the house,

but his plan might be
dead in the water.

So here's the plan.

Rather, here was the plan.

Just when I thought
I was going to be

a hero, save the day
and create a nice addition

on this building for dry
storage, a place for hay,
Barry and Michelle

tell me that there's
a septic tank right here.

Boom, and the leach field
is running right here where
we want to work.

When you flush the toilet,
everything in that toilet

goes downhill into a tank,
but ultimately the water

goes out the top of that tank
through another four inch pipe

into what's called
a leach field.

But if you compromise
that leach field,
then the tank will fill up.

It'll plug all the way back up
to the toilet and you've got
a problem.

It's not like we can't do it.

We just have to be very be
careful building this building

so that we don't traumatize
the leach field.

So we got a problem
right out of the gate.

[narrator] Changing plans on
the fly is nothing new on the
Whelchels' homestead.

Three years ago, before other
projects could begin,

Marty, Matt and Barry's
firefighter friends

had to defend the homestead
from an oncoming wildfire

just five miles away,
and growing.

[Marty] This is going to be
that defensible space.

So those trees
are coming down.

How many trees? I don't know.

But with this much help,
we just got to get
something going

because right now, every
minute really counts from this
second forward.

All right, we'll get it done.

[narrator] Marty's plan,
cut down the dozens

of dangerous trees
within a hundred foot radius

of the homestead's cabin,
then, using the excavator,

he'll clear out the logs and
brush and flatten the ground.

The lumber will be repurposed
into building materials

and to provide the Whelchels
with a winter stockpile
of firewood.

[saw buzzing]

Right now you hear
the chainsaws and you hear
trees coming down.

That makes me really happy
because they're saving
our house.

[Marty] Look at how fast
these guys work.

-Holy moly!
-[Marty] What do you think?

This is so awesome.

These trees have been scaring
me to death for five years.

[narrator] With accessibility
still a primary concern...

Clint, we got a problem.

[narrator] ...Marty works with
Clint to devise a solution to
their barn build dilemma.

Does that look like
the leach field out through
there where that plastic is?

Kinda does.

All right. So, let's mark this
with an extension cord.

Take off, please.

Thank you.

Clint, this is going to be
a line of demarcation.

We cannot get near this
because underneath this,
straight down,

will be a septic tank and
a leech line, and we don't
know how deep they are.

And we're not going
to investigate.

We're just going to stay away.
Keep going, please.

All right, sir. That'll work.

Come on back.
Let's talk a little bit.

I was thinking about going
all the way around Clint,

but that's a long ways.
We have to breach

the end of the system
and come all the way back.

How about if we just
build something over here,

and then build a breezeway,
a walkway or something?

Over the top?

We cannot have them
driving over this.

We can't build on this.

-I think it's a mistake.
-All right.

On that note, please jump
in the excavator and we'll
scratch out a footprint.

Hopefully, we've got this
leach field correctly.

If we dig a leach field up
right now, it's probably
2,000 miles back to Alaska,

and I'll just start walking
right through the wilderness.

I'm serious.

We came to help 'em,
not make it worse.

It would have been great
to put on an addition,
three walls, be done.

Septic tank and leach field
were in the way.

So now we need a separate
a barn, four walls, a roof,
its own doors,

and we need to connect it
to their home with a breezeway

because our mission
is to help Michelle

when it comes time to storing
and feeding the animals.

[narrator] To avoid
interference with
the homestead's septic system,

and leach field,
Marty will construct

a separate 120-square-foot
hay barn 10 feet away

from the goat barn,
joining the two with
an enclosed walkway.

He'll then connect the barn
to the house with a 40-foot
breezeway,

utilizing stone
and logs from the property,

which will also double
as fire prevention.

There's ten. [whistles]
There's ten.

So we have a plan. Now
it's up to us to get it done.

Thank you.

[narrator] As day two begins
on the Whelchels' 40-acre
Montana homestead,

Barry and Michelle's friends
and family once again

push to fill the nearly empty
woodshed before winter
arrives...

Okay. All right. You're set.

[narrator] ...while Marty's
plan for a more accessible

hay barn begins to take shape.

Got the stones off the side
of the road. Digging right
where I'm standing,

you find a boulder like this.

Before you know it, you have
all of these building blocks.

You've got to use them.

I think we'll build something
cool out of these stones,
a really cool wall

and entrance to the real
project, which is through
this stone entryway

we will build a hay storage
barn, if you will, shed.

So right now,
we'll scratch this out,

build the floor,
build the walls,
put a roof on it.

And be that much closer,
but I mean, we're already

a day and a half into four
days, so yeah, it's going
to be tough.

And what we've chosen
to do here is ambitious.

Not good, perhaps.

This homestead had plenty of
logs, it had plenty of stone.

But there's hardly anything
to scrounge here
for building materials.

Ask me why.

Exactly.

Our entire crew was here
a couple of years ago,

and we scrounged every board,
every scrap of plywood,

sheet metal,
everything they had

to build what
we did last time.

Almost there.

Watch out!

This time around,
there's nothing here.

So we've got some materials
and we're about ready to bang
them together.

Here we go.

When you hear Michelle talk
about how difficult it can be,

especially in winter,
to keep this homestead up.

It's a motivator.

But here's the catch.

They love that crazy
candy cane tree
pole barn so much,

I think they're expecting
another cool, unique,

one of a kind build.
We raised the bar high.

The question is, did we raise
it too high?

We're about to find out.

Let's paint it.
Let's build some walls.

Let's go, build some walls!

Whoo!

[narrator] As his homestead
buzzes with activity...

[saws buzzing]

When Matt built me
this blind here,

he really didn't know
what he was doing.

[narrator] ...Barry takes
Marty aside to show him
the most meaningful space

on their entire
40-acre property.

When I walk through here,
I'm having a bad day,

you know, PTSD comes on...

and you never know
when it's gonna hit you.

A baby crying, loud noises,

just, it brings you back
to bad times,

you know, as a fireman.
I've done

just about everything
imaginable under the sun
to help people,

including having to tell
mothers that their 13-year-old
will be 13

-from now on.
-[Marty] Mm.

[Barry] And that's
pretty hard to do.

And when Matt
built me this blind...

he, uh...

he really didn't know
what he was doing.

He had a good idea.

But when I have problems
or something happens and
something

triggers it, I just walk down
here and I sit and I just look
at it,

what Matt did for me,
and it has helped me so much

to be able to sit somewhere
and get back to nature.

And you know nothing else.

Nothing else matters,
nothing else exists.

Except for that right there
and it's nice and quiet,

and it's a good place to go.

[narrator] Three years ago,
Matt had other plans

for what had become Barry's
most cherished retreat.

[Matt] I think getting Barry
underneath this shaded area

and then making it a wall
with an opening that's not
very big

is really the best thing
because he's out of the sun,

but those trees are gonna make
it all seem like hey, nothing
to see here.

This hunting blind has got
a doorway to the wilderness
and a window with a view.

Okay, Here we are.

Awesome! A shooting table.

-Yeah.
-Golly!

Belly up to this bar here,

and I need to see
how it feels.

That's perfect.

I'm enclosed.

I'm able to hunt
without being in the elements.

I don't know if it was going
to fit the big guy
that you are,

but it looks like
it fits perfect.

It's way clear.

You can see all the way
to the bottom of this valley.

You can see the game trail.

Yeah, this is truly amazing.

Matt built me the coolest
hunting blind you've
ever seen.

I have a roof over my head.
I have walls.

I don't see how
it could be any better.

I mean, it was perfect
before just as a spot.

-But now, with all this...
-Yeah.

This is where I will thrive.
This is where I will

be able to come back to nature
and just I forget everything
in my head.

There's nothing more important
than that to me,

and I'm really happy that
you can get back out there.

Thank you so much.

So you're telling me
that this hunting blind

is doing a little bit more
than serving as
a hunting blind.

It's like a place
for meditation, maybe?

It is. That's exactly
what I do.

I come down here
and I meditate.

I get away from everything.

And Michelle,

I'll look at her and say,
I'll be back.

She knows exactly
where to find me.

-Right here.
-Right here.

It's just a soothing,
calming place, man,

where I can go
and just get away.

And that's what I told Matt.

And he just laughed and said,
"Yeah, I know," but I don't
think he really knows.

I wish I could get him back
here and just sit when I'm
having a problem.

Well, Barry, guess what
I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna see Matt in about
10 days, and the first thing
I'm going to do

is share with him
what you just shared with me.

-I'll tell you right now, he's
gonna be happy about that.
-Well, I appreciate it.

Thank you, sir.

No, thank you.

I'll get back to work and get
back to your peaceful setting.

That's right. Get back
to my nature.

Yeah, thanks for sharing that.
I know it wasn't easy.

I know it wasn't easy.
Thank you.

-Thank you.
-I like you.
You're a good man.

[narrator]
Marty has returned to Montana
with a small build crew

to re-rescue the Whelchels,

who struggle to manage
their 40-acre homestead.

When the Raneys arrived three
years ago...

[Marty] How are
you guys doing?

-Overwhelmed.
-[Marty] Why?

Because you're taking our
homestead and bringing it
closer to us.

[narrator] ...Marty and Matt
carried the load

until help arrived.

[Misty] Hey, did you guys
need some metal?

[all laughing]

[Misty] How are you?

I'm Misty, by the way.

-Michelle.
-Jessica.

Hi, Jessica.

[Misty] Three weeks ago,
I end up getting really sick,

and I tested positive
for COVID.

I fully quarantined and I'm
definitely not contagious.

I've been cleared
by a doctor to work,

and hopefully every day
from here, I just get better.

I'm so sorry and I'm so
excited to be here
and so excited to get to work.

My time here is so short
that I'm gonna try and find
how to best help you guys.

I've heard that there's
amazing people

that have been showing up
and picking up the slack.

Guess what?

The nine firemen
are leaving today.

Having Misty show up,

that was such a huge surprise
and it was such a blessing.

How can I best help
Barry and Michelle?

I've started this greenhouse
with Martin and firefighters
and my family.

But is that alone
gonna do it?

We need more than just what
that greenhouse can produce,

so I don't know if we can get
raised beds for them, too.

Just because they enjoy this,
they want to do stuff.

I don't want to do everything,
they're hard workers, too,

so to watch everybody do
this is very hard for them

to just sit back and not
be a part of it.

[Misty] It's super
unfortunate.

When I first met Barry
and Michelle that these are
the homesteaders

that I didn't really
show up for.

So at this point,
I'm just going to get

to work as best as I can,
help them as best as I can.

Okay, so we're gonna
pull this back.

And then we'll open up a space
where we can kinda move in

and start a new
raised bed idea.

So the plan is,
I want to do raised beds.

And get the beds to a place
where Michelle could be
harvesting

and not all bent over,
weeding.

It's just everything's
at eye-level.

So that's the idea.

[narrator] Once again,
Marty needs
all the help he can get

if he's going to finish
what he started.

-Hey, Marty.
-Yes, sir.

I got a friend
I'd like you to meet.

He came all the way
from Georgia.

-How you doing, sir?
-He drove down here in his RV.

How do you guys
know each other?

My very first shift at
Henry County Fire Department,

I was the new guy and he was
showing me the ropes,

-and we've been...
-Friends ever since?

Good friends ever since.

Must be a good friend
if you came out here

in the middle of nowhere
in the cold weather.

I love helping people.

-It's great.
-What is your background?

Besides, we've got the fire
department, on my days off,

I'm a plumber.

I've been doing that
for 40 years.

Let's Let's talk right now.

Is there anything
that this homestead

needs in the way of plumbing
so we can put this guy
to work?

Yes, we need water.

We can't cut our water on now,
because if we do,

the pump continuously runs
and it'll burn up the pump.

And we have no hot water
because the one gallon RV

heater that we had,
it's gone out.

It had so much sediment
and stuff in it.

We've been living out of
buckets and jugs for
eight years.

So every time we have to use
the toilet, we have to fill
the back of it up.

So to have a toilet
that flushes and a shower

that runs would be
just amazing for us.

How long have you been
on this property?

Eight years.

Eight years you've functioned
with hot water, either heating
it on the wood stove,

-I assume?
-Heating it on the wood stove.

[Marty] I discovered,
for the first time,

things I didn't even know
last time I was here,

that they don't really have
adequate hot water.

And if they just turn their
water system on,
the pump cycles.

I don't have time
to troubleshoot any of that.

If Barry's friend
can fix these problems,

that dude's a hero.

That guy put
the Jorge in Georgia.

You hear that chainsaw?

All your other friends
are cutting firewood.

-Yes, sir.
-To try to set you up
for the winter.

And we're trying
to help your bride

have an easier way
when it comes to feeding
the animals.

-So I don't have time
to look at the water.
-I got you, buddy.

-That's pretty cool.
Thank you.
-I got you.

-No problem.
-Thank you, Marty.

Let's thank Jorge, if you can
figure it out. This is good
to learn.

Thanks for telling me.

Keep me posted.

-And right now, guess what?
Time's ticking away.
-Let's do it.

All right. Let me know.

Let me know, Let me know.

-Thank you, Jorge.
-All right.

[narrator] As his
second day in Montana
winds down, Marty meets

with Barry and Michelle
to give them a preview

of what he has in store
for their new barn.

[Marty] All right, guys.

The sun's gonna set
in a little bit, and we're
halfway through.

This is two days
and we gotta talk.

-Okay?
-Okay.

So, you're looking at
a 10 by 12 structure that can
hold 100 bales.

-Perfect.
-Okay.

That's said,
I'm thinking of the winter.

I'm seeing how
you guys get along.

You're both on canes or
walking sticks,

and I'm thinking about
tomorrow morning.

Starting a covered breezeway
from that door

to that door all the way.

-[Michelle] Oh, wow!
-Where you can come out
of that bedroom

-and do these chores barefoot
in your long underwear.
-[Michelle] Wow.

-[Barry] Wow!
-It's almost 40 feet.

We're gonna build it
out of the logs and rocks from
your property.

We've got to figure out
which way we shed the snow.

-Right.
-So a covered walkway again,

where you could come out
of this door barefoot...

I can't even believe that.

[narrator] Breezeways have
been utilized for centuries to
provide shaded walkways

between structures.
In off grid environments,

they can increase energy
efficiency by promoting
cross ventilation,

keeping indoor areas cool
while reducing energy
consumption.

By creating seamless
transitions between indoor
and outdoor spaces

breezeways can also enhance
the connection to natural
surroundings.

-I can't imagine it.
-You know,
I tell Barry all the time.

The hardest part of doing
the chores is getting dressed.

In the wintertime

it is physically hard, and
I have to bundle up so much

I look like the little kid
from A Christmas Story

out here trying to carry hay.

-I understand.
I know all about it.
-It's hard, it's hard,

so it's life changing.

Having that hay barn
and that breezeway means

we'll be able to keep
gardening and keep the animals

and not have to worry
about all of it.

[narrator] Three years ago,
it was Matt who began
the process of consolidating

the Whelchels'
livestock operation.

Well, Mr. Whelchel,
here's the new
and improved and accessible

livestock pen and structure.

Wow.

[Matt] What do you think?

I think it's awesome.

I think that they
will love that.

With the goats and chickens
being so close now,
we're totally safe.

The pen is accessible
and we can get to it.

Plus, the goats will alert us,

you know, if we have any
predators, and the only thing
I have to do

is walk out my back door
and look.

We've got a fence.

We've got all the wiring.

We've got a place
to get chicken eggs.

They can roost.
They can be happy.

They have their own coop
inside, out of the elements.

What's missing?

The livestock.

Well, let's get Michelle
and let's bring
those goats over

and I'll grab some chickens
and we'll get this thing
filled up with livestock.

[Barry] Sounds great.
Let's do it.

Goat pen is accessible.

We don't have to
go down the hill,
and with everything closer,

we won't have to worry
about predators.

That is a huge game changer.

-[Matt] Happy livestock.
-Yep.

[narrator] Now,
Marty shows the family
just how easy

the new feeding process
can be.

-[grunts]
-Okay?

-Good Lord.
-This is amazing.

So, does it help you to have a
breezeway from here to there?

Absolutely.

But I told you you could
feed your goats.

Barefoot and in your
long underwear.

-Oh, yeah. That's right.
-So how are you going
to feed the goats?

Well, I can't from here
in sock feet.

Yes, you can,

because we're going to build
a breezeway from here
to there.

-[Barry] From here to there?
-[Michelle] Oh, my gosh.

So it'll be from the hay barn
to the goat shed?

How cool is that!
That is so cool.

Being able to go
right out of the door

be able to feed the animals,
be able to take care of the
chickens,

be able to take care
of the goats just right
outside the door.

That's just his way
of thinking how to help
disabled homesteaders.

-Thank you.
-Okay.
I gotta get back to work.

You good?

-Yeah. He's good. Okay.
-All right.

-You need help getting out?
-No.

-Need help getting back?
-No.

-[Michelle] I got this.
-If you make it
through the rocks

one or two more days,
the day is gonna come

you can just walk across
here barefoot.

[Michelle] I cannot wait.

-[Marty] Fair enough?
-[Barry] Yes, sir!

-Thank you.
-[Marty] Thank you.

[Michelle] Thank you.

That garden is a lot
of hard work for me.

So I just want to make sure
that this one doesn't hit
anything.

Uh-oh.

[narrator]
With only 48 hours left...

We're going for it.

[narrator]
...to re-rescue the Whelchels'
Montana homestead...

[Marty] Do you like it?

Well, I mean,
it goes over that door.

That's what we want to hear.

[narrator] ...Marty races to
complete the new hay barn and
breezeway system.

[Marty]
All right, so you've got
to keep your word right?

We told Michelle she'd be able
to come right out of her house

and walk through a breezeway,
covered, protected from
the elements,

go right into a brand new
hay barn, and then take that

hay through that breezeway
and feed her goats without
getting frostbit.

All right,
let's look this over.

[narrator] As Marty scours
the edge of the forest,

searching for more building
materials and firewood,

a potentially dangerous
situation catches his eye.

[Marty] A couple of years ago,
I was standing

right here in Montana,
cutting a lot of trees,

and the mission was to get
a winter supply of firewood
for the Whelchels.

I must have cut a hundred
trees at least.

And one of those trees
went the wrong way.

[Marty] Let it lay right over.

[Michelle] Holy crap,
the outhouse.

The outhouse!

-My God.
-Hey, anybody
in the outhouse?

I hope not.

Whoever's in there doing
number one, just did
number two.

[Michelle laughing] Yes!

Oops, I'm hoping
they forgot about that,

because today, in the exact
same area, there's a tree that
can hit the outhouse.

Okay, see the stump
next to it?

Yeah.

That tree was very similar
to this one.

And Barry and a friend of his
cut this one down.

-This one here?
-Yes, sir.

-They cut this one?
-Yeah.

-That one landed in my garden.
-Really?

It crushed my tomato plants
and I thought it was gonna
hit the house.

Which way were
they trying to fall in?

They were trying to I fall it
this way, and it hit this tree

and went the other way,
I was standing on the porch.

I thought it was
going to hit me.

I ran back in the house.

That garden is a lot
of hard work for me.

So anything I lose
is traumatic.

But, yeah, I just want to make
sure that this one doesn't
hit anything.

All I wish is that I hadn't
brought you over here

because now there's
a lot of pressure.

You'll do good.

-There's a lot of pressure.
-I have faith in you.

We'll see if we can get
this one down without hitting
the house

or the the greenhouse
or the garden.

[Michelle] Okay.

So we've had this tree
for eight years that we've
been watching,

and each year ice forms
on the trees, they start
to lean.

And every year that tree
leans towards the house.

Okay. We're gonna do a little
different style on this tree.

When it comes to
falling trees, you realize
there's no two trees

the same. Lot like people,
a lot like raising kids.

I've got four kids,
not all the same.

This tree we're about
to cut down,

it's a problem child.

I mean, problem tree.

It's a stubborn tree.

Commands more attention

than the other trees.

We're just going to call this
a Misty tree.

All right,
let's talk about it.

We cut this piece out so that
when this tree goes over,

this piece doesn't catch
at the bottom and compromise
something.

So now this can freely fall.

It's got room to turn and come
out of there, and I think
we're getting close.

Watch this piece right here.

[Michelle whoops]

[Michelle] That was awesome.

Marty made the neatest cut
I've ever seen anyone do.

And the tree landed exactly
where he said it was
gonna land.

Come on in.

And you know,
that's expertise there.

There's no way
I could have done it.

So leaving this piece on here,
still into the stump,

solid, it ensures that your
tree is not going to go
that way.

It's not going to go that way.

It's going to go the one way
that this beam is going

to allow it to fall,
and that's how you do it.

-How was it?
-It was awesome, man.

How's the tomato plants?

-They're alive.
-Alive and growing.

I heard a little story
about the other tree there.

I'm not gonna go into it.

-You want to know why?
-Why's that?

Because the last time I was
here, I cut a tree right there
and it hit your outhouse.

-That's right.
-You remember?

That's true. Oh, yeah.

So, it happens.

Our outhouse remembers.

It happens.

Yes, it does.

-Wow, how amazing is that?
-That was awesome.

[Michelle] Golly,
now I feel safer.

[narrator] Coming up.

This is what would've
made us leave.

I just didn't think
it was going to happen.

[narrator] In the rugged hills
of northern Montana...

[Marty speaking]

[narrator] ...as Marty
and his small build team
continue their mission

to further consolidate
the Whelchel homestead...

[Marty]
Set that one on there, please.

[narrator] ...Barry, Michelle
and her sister, Beth, marvel

at the state of their woodshed
now filled with firewood

thanks to the hard work
of the many volunteers.

All right, we're done.

Tell you what, that right
there is our winter.

[Michelle] With what they did,

we have enough for at least
a year and a half, maybe two
years in here.

And then we still have
enough out there cut,

ready to split for probably
another two years.

This means that we can
actually focus on our health.

Yeah, and we don't have
to break our backs

-to get this far to get
to this distance.
-That's right.

This would have
taken us months.

I absolutely think that
Michelle and Barry will be
in a way better situation.

Just seeing the things
that are starting to happen,

I can already see
how their lives are going
to be much easier.

I'm really happy.

From the time winter ends
until the time winter begins,

our summer is doing firewood.

I know. Now we can go fishing.

Okay.

-Let's do that.
-Get food.

[narrator]
The Whelchels' full shed will
allow them to stay warm

without risking injury.

During Marty's
last visit, however,

his concern wasn't the amount
of wood, but where
it would go.

It's gonna get dangerous.

So if you don't mind,
head over there to the porch.

-Okay.
-Yes, sir.

[Marty]
I'm going to create a woodshed
closer to the homestead cabin.

I'm going to incorporate
not one, not two,

but three candy cane bottomed
trees that we cut down
for defensible space.

Hold on, hold on.

It's gonna come towards you.

Matt. Swing, please.

Whoa!

Here we go.

Steady as she goes, baby!

[Marty] So if I can get these
J logs to fit

on top of these
pinnacle posts,

connect it all with rebar,

we're good to go.

Hang on!

Okay.

This entire thing
was built with a chainsaw,

a drill and rebar.

Take that rebar,

grind yourself
a little point on it.

And now, it's a nail,
right? Or a spike.

[drilling]

Give yourself a pilot hole.

And then, nail it together.

It's got to be
a pretty big earthquake

before you compromise
this connection.

Okay?

You don't have to drill down
in here so much

because this is actually
like a nail, right?

It's got a point on it,
and it's just right now

driving, driving, driving,
driving, stop.

Driving all the way
into there.

A nice, solid connection.

Stop!

Ready?

-[man speaking]
-[hammering]

I got it!

I got it fixed!

[Michelle] What's really
cool to me is

that all of this wood

that they're using
for these projects,

they were trees in our yard

and it's a serious
fire threat.

And now they are doing
something functional for us.

It's just awesome.

[Marty] Well, we might have
a few tweaks

and a few modifications,

but as long as you sign off
on the first logs.

Yes, sir.

That is the the coolest
start of a wood shed

of a build I've ever seen.

That's amazing.

That was just
a very typical day
working with my dad.

So this arch log
like a brick arch,

like a stone arch,

is designed to carry
millions of pounds above it.

In this case,
we get 17 feet of snow.

What?

I don't care
if it snows 100 feet.

This building
is here for eternity

to withstand any
severe winter.

[narrator] Now...

their shed is
at capacity once again,

thanks to the efforts
of their family,

friends and neighbors.

-[Barry] Look at this.
-It's a beautiful sight.

This is just worth
more than gold to me.

It's awesome to be
able to help you guys.

Thank you, Beth.

[Beth] Oh, thank you.

[narrator] With just over
24 hours

remaining to re-rescue
the Whelchels,

Marty brings the family
one step closer

to surviving the long,
cold Montana winter.

-What we did is we--
-Hey, hey, hey.

What's the latest
on the water, please?

-Hey...
-So...

Good news or bad news?

Good news. We able to install
a check valve

and get it resolved.

-So there's no
broken lines anywhere.
-No.

-That's amazing.
-Amazing.

We have water.

[Jorge] I think we'll just
put this check valve
back there.

Go ahead and put the pump on.

-Let's see what we got.
-[Michelle] Okay.

The issue with the well was
it had just a bad check valve,

so we just needed
to replace it.

[Michelle] There it goes.

[gasps] Look at that, honey.

[Barry] Awesome.
Amazing accomplishment.

[Michelle] So we have water
in our sink now. [laughs]

[Barry] When you
don't have water,

you don't have life.

[Jorge] Well is
working good now.

I think that check valve
did it.

Thank you, brother.

[Jorge] You're welcome.

I just can't explain
the way that it...

it makes you feel inside
as a homesteader

when you have running water.

It's just amazing.

Oh yeah!

It's the biggest thing
on our homestead.

[Michelle] Hey.

[Jorge] Barry's always
been somebody

you could count on,
and that's what's important.

He always had his heart
in the right place.

So it's really good
to come out here

and help him and Michelle.

[Michelle] Thank you so much.

[Jorge] You're welcome.

-You've got water.
-Yes, sir.

And how long has it been

-since you've had
a reliable water source?
-Eight years.

-No.
-Yes.

-No.
-[Barry] Yes, sir.

-[Marty] No.
-Yeah.

So, I'm sorry.

A couple years ago,
when I was here,

we were so overwhelmed
with the work.

[Barry] Listen,
y'all did so much.

You don't understand.

Thank you so much.

Don't thank me because

I think water is more
important than firewood.

Barry and Michelle,

every year, they have to cut
probably five to six cords
of wood,

maybe seven,
just to survive the winter.

And for the last eight years,

that wood has heated
their home.

It's heated their water

and they cook
on the wood stove.

That's rugged.

Have you ever had legitimate
hot water in eight years?

-[laughs] No.
-Do you want hot water?

We'd love hot water.

Will you look
that way, please?

[instrumental music playing]

Jorge.

-Nice to meet you.
-[Marty] And Barry.

-Nice to meet you, sir.
-Pleasure to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

So these guys have brought

a complete gas fired hot water

on demand system,

and they're gonna
install it right now.

[Jorge laughs]

That's awesome.

It's a Rinnai water heater.

-It's a Rinnai.
-What?

[Marty] 'Cause it's the best.

It's a Cadillac.

I think it's amazing.

Thank you so much.

What's your wife gonna think?

Where's your wife at?
[whistles]

Michelle?

-She's gonna...
-Come here, please.

[Michelle crying]

[Marty] Well, what's it like
to have hot water

for the first time
in eight years?

It's just--
That's the one thing--

This is what would
have made us leave.

So it just gives us all
the security in the world.

I can't thank you guys enough.

You don't know
what it means for us.

You really don't.

It's not just life changing.

It's just life. Period.

When you get so cold,

so chilled to the bone
doing the chores,

it is almost impossible
to get warm.

You need hot water.

[Barry] I can't imagine
what it's going to be like

just to turn a knob
and have hot water.

I mean, it is life changing.

It makes our health better.

We're saying we ain't going
anywhere now. [laughs]

-On that note, thanks again.
-Thank you.

And do you guys need
anything from us?

No. We're gonna get started.

[Barry] Thank you
so much again.

I'm gonna get
back to work.

-All of you, thank you.
-Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

[intense music playing]

[narrator] As the final day
dawns on the Whelchels'

remote Montana homestead...

[sawing]

...Marty faces
a familiar challenge.

All right, so hours from now
I'm gone, and

we're not even
close to being done.

Welcome to my world.

Anything you do
with logs takes longer.

Usually it's more expensive

because of that,
but always looks better.

[narrator] Marty and his
build crew hope to leave
the Whelchels

with a more functional
homestead footprint.

As time ran short
during his previous visit,

Marty attempted to complete

another large scale build
before saying goodbye.

[Jessica] If there's time,
I would like a pasture

for my horse
so I can bring her home.

[Marty] She does so much
for Barry and Michelle.

I just think we have to do
something here for Jessica.

She has a horse
and it's not on this property

because she doesn't have
a place to keep it down
by her cabin.

This time tomorrow
we're leaving.

So hopefully we can
build a barn in one day.

Pound it, please.
Don't be shy.

The difference between
a 24-hour build

and a four day build

is there's no time at all
to make it look perfect.

What do you think?

[Jessica] I love it.

It's amazing.

[Marty] Get me the wood drill
and some rebar, please.

[instrumental music playing]

[Marty whistles] Good, good.

Thank you.

So here we are for
the second time in Montana,

wrapping things up,
hoping we got it right.

Because we've never
went to a homestead
three times.

-This is it.
-[whirring]

We either get it right
or we don't.

[hammering]

Talk about too long.
Give me a saw quick.

Chainsaw, chainsaw
chainsaw, please.

Perfect! Almost finished.

[narrator] Later
that afternoon,

after eight years
of dry faucets

and cold showers...

[knocking at door]
Anybody home?

[narrator] ...Marty stops by
to see if the Whelchels

finally have the water
they deserve.

-You guys here?
-[Michelle] Oh yeah.

-All right.
-Hey.

-[Marty] So is there water
coming out of this?
-[Barry] Watch this.

-[Michelle] There is water
coming out of our faucet.
-[water flowing]

I haven't used this faucet
to do dishes

in eight years.

-Until today?
-Till today.

[Marty] I'm so glad
that we came back

and we were able collectively,

principally Jorge to

troubleshoot it and realize
it was a very simple fix.

Right. Yeah.

A check valve went bad.

-[Michelle] Yeah.
-Okay.

Now, how are we doing
for hot water?

Because I know
they're working hard on it.

Do you know anything about it?

I just heard a breaker
got flipped.

So, I'm ready to try it.

[laughs]

[water flowing]

-[Marty] Give it a chance.
-[Michelle] Yeah, I will,
I will.

[Marty] You're talking
about a line--

[Michelle] I know
that hasn't been used.

[Marty] Never been used
in eight years.

[Michelle] No.

-Still cold?
-[Michelle] Yep. So far.

It's starting to get warmer.

-[Barry] Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh.
-[Michelle] Oh it's steaming.

Yes. [laughs]

[crying]

[Michelle speaking]

[Barry] Oh my goodness.

[crying]

[Marty] I know what this
moment is like.

It's a big moment.

-I know.
-It is a huge moment.

What does it mean to you
to have hot water?

It means that
we can feel clean

at the end of the day.

It means that we can feel like
our dishes are truly clean.

It means that...
It just gives us our life.

-It does.
-[Marty] I understand.

Every single day
for eight years,

just getting water, period,

and just having
even cold water

has been at least two hours
of work a day for me.

So having this now is...

It's just--

[sniffles] I just can't say
thank you enough.

[Marty] I'm happy for you.

Thank you.

-I'm really happy
'cause I know what this means.
-[Michelle] Yeah.

And I'm glad that it happened,
and it's all because of Jorge.

-Yeah.
-[Marty] So that's a good man.

[Michelle] All right.
Thank you.

-[Barry] Thank you.
-[Marty] Don't thank me.
Thank Jorge.

[both] Thank you, Jorge.

[Marty] Thank you, Jorge.

[Marty] Follow me.
Everybody over here!

Quick, quick, quick!

[narrator] As Marty gathers
the volunteers to say goodbye

and thank them
for their efforts...

[Marty] Check out that view.

[man] Wow.

[Marty] Look at that.

[narrator] ...he first reveals
a much needed surprise

to Barry and Michelle.

[Marty] Who likes fire pits?

[Barry] Oh yeah.

Who knows how to roast
a weenie?

[all laughing]

[Marty] Now,
Barry and Michelle,

in case you guys
haven't noticed.

Wow!

This 40-acre homestead has

-a few stones laying around.
-Yeah, just few.

Is this fire pit
location okay?

[Michelle] This is awesome!

We have talked about
having a fire pit

or doing something out here
for eight years.

But that was just a dream.

I mean, you know,
we needed water. [laughs]

Well, you got that now

-and the firepit.
-And firewood. [laughs]

And we needed firewood.

Well, now it looks like

you can do something else
this summer.

-Yes.
-Yes, beautiful.

[Marty] Look at this view.
I mean...

-Oh my gosh.
-[Michelle] Look at
this chair.

What more could you ask for?

Look at this.

[Marty] How's that chair?

We're having party tonight.

The Queen has her throne.

This is awesome.

Now, a place where we can,

not only us enjoy
our homestead,

-but we can
have friends come...
-Yeah.

...and enjoy our homestead
with us.

-That's awesome.
-It is awesome.

[Marty] All right, guys,

-we've got to talk
a little bit.
-[Michelle] Okay.

[Marty] These guys needed
firewood, you came
to their call.

You guys performed
day after day after day,

and this homestead
will never be the same.

So thank you, guys.

[narrator] Marty's gratitude
for the volunteers

was earned through three days
of endless work.

But last time the Raneys
came to Montana,

it was Barry who earned thanks

for his 30 years of service.

We have a little something
for Barry.

A few years ago,
Barry got hurt on the job.

When that happened,
he didn't really get

an official going away party

or a retirement party
or anything like that.

So that's what
we're doing here today

on behalf of your
brothers and sisters

at the Henry County
Fire Department.

The first thing that
all firemen get
when they retire,

every old fireman
needs an axe

that he's never,
ever gonna use.

[Michelle] In recognition
and appreciation

of your commitment

and dedication to the Henry
County Fire Department.

[Michelle sniffles]

That is beautiful.

[Barry] Each one of you are
special to me.

I think you know that.

And... [sniffles]

There's nothing I can ever do
or say that will let you know

how much I appreciate.

The last time I saw the guys,
I was injured

and it was in a bad situation

and to be able to
see them here and...

and working side by side
with me one more time

is just awesome.

-I love you, brother.
-I love you too.

Thank you.

[Marty] What you guys do here,
this remote

is pretty inspirational.

You guys go, "I've got
all this baggage and pain.

But I'm still gonna live life
or pursue a dream."

The last time I ever saw

that many people
on a homestead

was, let me think,
Oh yeah, right here.

The firefighter friends
of Barry

came from several different
states just to help him

the last time I was here.

This time it's all
the neighbors,

all the locals.

Neighbor helping neighbor

is alive and well
in rural Montana.

[instrumental music playing]

[Michelle gasps] Oh my God!

No way!

Are you kidding me?

[playing harmonica]

Campfire songs!
Camp fire, camp fire,

camp fire, camp fire,
Camptown. Camptown.

Camptown!

[playing "Camptown Races"
on harmonica]

[singing] ♪♪ Camptown... ♪

[all laughing]

Give me some doo-dah!

-[man] Doo-dah!
-Not now. When I get there.

-What the hell? Ready?
-[man laughing]

[playing "Camptown Races"
on harmonica]

[stops harmonica]

[all] Doo-dah! Doo-dah!

You guys suck.

[all laughing]

[continues playing harmonica]

[Michelle] We do.

[Marty] Wow!

How's my people skills?

Did you hear what she said?

Is this all you got, Marty?

I love you.

You're coming back
to Alaska.

And I've never met
someone so honest.

All right. Till next time,
smoke follows beauty.

[woman] Yep, yep, yep, yep.

That's what they say.
"Smoke follows beauty".

Whoo! All right.
Thank you. Thank you.

[Michelle] That was fun.
[laughs]

[instrumental music playing]

[narrator] On the Whelchels'
40-acre homestead...

[Marty] Well... [exhales]

We've come to that time
where I've got to head off
to another homestead.

[narrator] ...as his time
in Montana draws to a close,

Marty has one final test
to ensure Barry and Michelle

can thrive
long after he departs.

[Marty] A couple years ago,

when I drove
out of this homestead,

frankly, I thought I'd never
see you guys again.

So, thank you

for inviting me back
because you've reminded me

that the challenges
never go away.

-No.
-No.

-And we're all getting older.
-That's right.

But that doesn't mean
we still can't live like this.

Because we want to.

We've been doing it

and now, we can do it

-a million times much easier.
-[Barry] So much easier.

Just so much easier.

Let's put that to the test.

-If you don't mind.
-Okay.

-[Barry] Sure.
-Should we try to
store the hay

and feed the goats
for the first time

-in the new process?
-Absolutely. Let's try.

I cannot wait.

I am so excited.

-We'll head for the truck.
-Let's do it.

Thanks, thanks, thanks.

[Marty] When you move this far

out into
the Montana wilderness,

you want to work smarter,
not harder.

We've streamlined
their feeding process

and we've consolidated the hay
and the barn proximity.

Michelle and Barry

can be on this homestead
for years to come.

Feel free

to open the door.

You see the latch
at the bottom?

-[Michelle] I do see that.
-[Marty] That's okay.

[Michelle] Okay.

[gasps] No way!

-Cool?
-Yeah, we're moving in.

-You can see it's pretty easy
to do now, right?
-[Michelle] Yeah.

-Look at the elevation
of the building.
-I know.

-Look at the elevation
of the truck.
-It's perfect.

-[Marty] It's a
standard truck.
-Yeah.

And there you go.

[Michelle] Thank you, sir.

[Marty] I don't know
how you want to stack
them in there.

It's your hay barn, not mine.

[Michelle] Okay, I'm gonna
start like this.

[Marty] I got to tell you,
this isn't that hard, is it?

[Michelle] No.
This is a breeze

compared to what I'm used to.

Barry hates me going out

to do those chores
all winter long

because he just didn't want
to see me working so hard.

Beautiful, beautiful.

-[Marty] All right.
-[Michelle] Last one.

Actually, let me put
this one up here.

[Marty] Let's do
a little math. Ready?

How many bales in here, kid?

We've got two, four, six,
eight, ten, eleven.

Okay, we've got 11.

So at least 25 to 30...

-Twenty five to thirty I feel.
-...could go there.

-That's thirty.
-Yep.

-There's room for bales
on one side of this...
-Oh, okay.

-...all the way up.
-Wow!

So 40, 50.

-And then another ten, twenty.
-[Michelle] Yep.

[Marty] So there's
a lot of storage in here.

Now, do me a favor.

-Show me, please...
-[Michelle] Mmm-hmm?

[Marty] ...how much
you normally feed the goats.

[Michelle] Like...

about that twice a day.

Would you follow me, please?

Yes.

Oh no way.

-[Marty] Check this out.
-[goats bleating]

Go babies.

Hey, babies!

Hi, mommy.

Come here. Sweet girl.

Now, I don't even
have to walk outside

to feed my goats anymore.

So it extends the life

of what we'll be
able to do up here.

[gasps] Oh my God!

No way!

Are you kidding me?

Are you kidding me?

This is our house?

After you, please.

[Michelle] Oh my God.

Oh my God.

This is beautiful!

[sniffles]

-Oh my God.
-[Marty] Cool?

[Michelle laughs]
It's beyond cool.

[Marty] It's pretty cool.

-All right.
-I'll be so safe.

Nothing can get to me
from this direction

or this direction.

All right. So...

this has a roof on it.

-It's gonna shed
that direction.
-Yeah.

And it's gonna be dry.

This should never get wet.

If snow or a big storm

were to spindrift under here,

-you might have to do
a little shoveling.
-Yeah, maybe.

-But the point.
-Yeah.

-Does this make it easier?
-Oh my God.

-Could you feed
in your slippers?
-Yes.

Could you feed barefoot?

-Yes, and I will.
-I think I could.

-I promise. I will be
feeding barefoot.
-[laughs] And guess what?

I believe you.

-You should.
-Okay.

[narrator] Three years ago,

the Raneys built
an upgraded goat barn,

-allowing the Whelchels easier
access to their livestock.
-[goats bleating]

But the exhausting chore
of feeding the animals solo

exposed Michelle
to the elements

and predator threats.

Today, Marty has brought
the entire feeding process

to their back door.

Engineering a covered
breezeway system

with a stone firewall

that connects the house
to the new hay barn.

Allowing direct access
to the goats.

With enough space to house
over a year's worth of hay,

Michelle can manage
her livestock

with ease and comforts
well into the future.

-[Marty] Is your life
gonna be easier?
-Like million times.

-Would you do me a favor?
-Yeah.

Find that six foot five
husband of yours

and meet me at my truck.

Because I think
it's time to go.

Okay.

[Marty] Well... [exhales]
That four days went by fast.

-Real fast.
-Yeah.

-Did anything get done?
-[Barry laughs]

More than we can even believe.

I'm very happy
to have been here

and seen you
finally get water.

Not to mention hot water,

not to mention another

winter supply of wood.

-Right.
-And an easier way
to store hay

and feed your animals.

None of it could have happened
without people from Montana

and Georgia.

In my behalf please tell them
how much I appreciate

what they've done
because they helped me.

My mission
is to help homesteaders.

But what happened here
was kind of epic.

And the volunteers did
most of the epic work.

So I'm in their debt.

Barry and Michelle

moved out here
about eight years ago,

and it's been hard
I think every single day.

We came a couple of years ago

to help them figure this out

and have an easier way of it.

I'd like to say thank you.

Our homestead now will be

something that
we can be proud of.

That we will be living on
for the rest of our days.

[Marty] I believe that.

Here I am,
a couple of years later,

back on this homestead,

trying to fix problems.

But when I come back
to these homesteads

for the second time,

I realized that
the work never ends.

And I'm pretty confident

that the way
that homestead looks now,

even without a caretaker
helping them out,

they're gonna be here
as long as they want.

[Barry and Michelle]
Thank you.

-[Marty] Thank you.
-[Michelle] Bye, Marty.

[Marty] This lifestyle

is not for everyone.

But for some of us,

it's worth it.