Skip to playerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
  • yesterday

Category

📺
TV
Transcript
00:00This will be the perfect moment for a selfie, right?
00:28Selfie!
00:30Three families are leaving the modern world behind.
00:34Everyone smile.
00:35And going back in time, swapping their 21st century lives for an 1880s homestead.
00:43That's the bathroom.
00:45You lying to me.
00:47Armed with just a wagon of supplies and basic shelter.
00:51Oh, wow.
00:52The door is falling off.
00:54They'll spend a summer in the wilderness.
00:58And just like the original homesteaders.
01:01This is disturbing for me.
01:03They have no idea what's waiting for them.
01:06What have I bought my family into?
01:09They'll have to farm the land.
01:11This is not what I signed up for.
01:13Feed their families.
01:14It's a miserable fail is what it is for today.
01:17Oh, God.
01:18And work together to survive.
01:20This is really hard work and it really sucks.
01:23I was not prepared for these.
01:25Wow, look at that.
01:27It's the adventure of a lifetime.
01:31But do they have what it takes to make it on the frontier?
01:34If I don't get it done, my family does not eat.
01:37I'm getting really irritated.
01:38It's getting hot in here.
01:40And will what they learn in the past.
01:42What would you like to see more from me as a father?
01:45A little less.
01:46Tough love.
01:47Help shape their family's future.
01:49Confidence is something I'm going to take home.
01:51And I've learned a lot.
01:53Baby, this is the frontier.
01:55And what I learned day one is going to make you a breakie.
01:59The first family leaving the 21st century behind.
02:24Welcome to the frontier, girl.
02:26Is the Lopers all the way from Alabama.
02:30Baby, we fall from town.
02:33Hello.
02:34Welcome.
02:35All of your tech in here, please.
02:36And then makeup and jewelry removal there, please.
02:39I got to get rid of all that.
02:40Got to get rid of all of it.
02:41All right.
02:42My name is Joaquin Loper.
02:44This is my beautiful, beautiful wife, Stacy Loper.
02:47And smile.
02:49We have two sons, Maddox, who is 12, and Landon, who's 14.
02:54Hey, this is my mother, Shirley Loper.
02:56All right.
02:57Let's go.
02:58The biggest thing I want my kids to learn from this experience.
03:01Good morning, boys.
03:02Time to get up.
03:03Humility and hard work.
03:06I grew up on a farm with my mom.
03:08And this gives my kids a chance to see how dad really was reared.
03:13I believe it's going to present an opportunity for us to grow closer as father and sons.
03:19My mother is 72 years old.
03:22I truly believe what she brings back to the frontier with us, the knowledge, the experience.
03:27She's going to be a secret weapon, but she can only stay the first half of the summer.
03:32Before I leave, I want to teach them all the knowledge that I know and how to appreciate what they have now.
03:43Yes, can I do a taste test, please?
03:45I am extremely excited to have my mother-in-law come along.
03:49She will be able to help me with the domestic aspect of it, such as cooking, dining, because I'm not domestic.
03:58I am so career-driven that doing those things, they aren't me.
04:03You think she'll do the majority of the work for me while she's there?
04:06Be honest.
04:08Probably.
04:11There are so many things that I can learn.
04:13I think that's one of the things I'm really looking forward to experiencing.
04:16So am I.
04:23You better take advantage of it while we are on the frontier,
04:26because, baby, when we get back home, you may not be able to experience that.
04:31And I will.
04:34There's just a whole lot that I'm going to miss.
04:36The amenities is what I'm going to miss most.
04:38Washroom, bath tub, running water.
04:42Hold on.
04:43We going to have some running water out here.
04:44Yeah, running on the ground.
04:47Y'all taking me too fast.
04:48I'm at a loss for words at this point that I have to give up all of this to go back to the frontier.
04:53I'm 21st century hardcore.
04:58Arriving next for the ultimate digital detox.
05:02Oh, look at this.
05:04You guys ready?
05:05Yep.
05:06Our Dallas-based dads, the Hannah Riggs.
05:09Hi.
05:10All of your tech here, phones, devices.
05:13Okay.
05:14What's first?
05:15No more work.
05:16No more emails.
05:17No more pings.
05:18No more bings.
05:19Everywhere we go.
05:20Are you guys ready to get rid of these devices?
05:21No.
05:23Alexa, good morning.
05:28I'm Jason Hannah.
05:30My name is Joe Riggs.
05:31We have our twin boys, Ethan and Lucas, that are 10 years old.
05:36Alexa, make an announcement.
05:38Good morning, boys.
05:39It's breakfast time.
05:40Come downstairs, please.
05:42Good morning.
05:43Hi.
05:44Good morning.
05:45There's a new device released.
05:47Joe is typically online looking it up.
05:50How much faster is it and how much bigger is the screen?
05:53You're all in on the Gidgets and Gadgets.
05:57Our carpets are continually vacuumed every day.
06:00It creates those perfect straight lines in our carpet that I love.
06:03Joe is very particular about the straight lines.
06:06Home automation is beneficial, but technology in general and being connected all the time can be a big distraction.
06:15It does take away from moments that you should be sharing with the other people that are right in front of you.
06:23Going back to the frontier, it's going to be a life-changing moment for all of us.
06:29We're going to be living with no air conditioning, no electricity, no devices for our kids.
06:35Being able to take all those distractions away and really focus on us as a family unit,
06:40I think is going to be super beneficial in creating that family bond that we want.
06:44Do I have to put this?
06:45Yes, it's all.
06:46No more Nintendo.
06:48You're going to have to talk to us now.
06:50No.
06:51No?
06:54Finally, flying in from Florida, ready to embrace the wilderness.
06:59Here we are.
07:00It's the Hall family of five.
07:02Here we go, guys.
07:03Hi.
07:04All of your tech in here.
07:05Makeup removal over there.
07:06No.
07:08Regular frontier folk wouldn't have worn makeup.
07:11Our whole face of makeup.
07:13All of your makeup and all of your jewelry.
07:15So it's bye-bye bronzer.
07:18Lip gloss at least, right?
07:20Everything must go.
07:22Sorry, girls.
07:24Bummer, right?
07:26We are the Halls.
07:28Yeah.
07:29I'm Lena.
07:30I'm Jeremy.
07:31We have three kids.
07:32Mia is 18, Zoe is 16, and Jet is 11.
07:37All right.
07:38We love to do stuff together.
07:40That's so hard.
07:41I want to say like five.
07:42I'm not going to have these kids forever.
07:44So while I have them here at home, I want to connect and do things.
07:48We like adventure, especially this guy.
07:53The main reason that we are doing this is because we want to grow food.
07:58We want to live off the land simpler, get away from the technology, go back to doing things
08:03ourselves.
08:04We want to go backwards so that we can go forward in the right direction.
08:09As a parent, I worry about phones and distractions.
08:14And then they just get sucked into the social media.
08:17Okay, post it.
08:18And then real life becomes boring.
08:20What are we doing on the phone?
08:21We took a cute picture.
08:22We were going to post it.
08:24I like that one.
08:25Post that one, yeah.
08:28I love that I can express myself through a post or a story or whatever.
08:33It's just hard to think I'm going to leave all this stuff behind my entire life.
08:38I'm going to be stripped from everything we love and everything we know.
08:42Ow, you're actually poking me.
08:44That hurts.
08:45Sorry.
08:46Even though it might definitely suck.
08:48Like this is a once in a lifetime experience.
08:53Oh no.
08:54I get it.
08:55Should I get the pressure washer?
08:57Excuse me?
08:59It's going to be hard for us.
09:00Like being a teenager is all about, you know, getting dressed up and making yourself look
09:05good and stuff.
09:08Why?
09:09Are you crying?
09:10Why are you crying?
09:11What's the matter?
09:12It's just the confidence.
09:13I think makeup is a little bit of a mask that I wear.
09:16So removing this off my face, it's scary.
09:18I don't even go to the grocery store without makeup.
09:19So this is hard.
09:21Where we're heading is going to be an experience that you're not going to even probably think
09:22about makeup or worry about jewelry.
09:23We're going to have a good time and we're going to be building memories in our little
09:26heads, right?
09:27It's going to be fun.
09:28It's going to be fun.
09:29All right?
09:30Okay.
09:31Hall's party of five.
09:32Let's put our hands in on it.
09:33Ready team?
09:34Let's do it.
09:35Back to the frontier.
09:36Woo!
09:37For our families, there's no turning back.
09:38I can't do it.
09:39I'm not going to be a little bit.
09:40So this is hard.
09:41Where we're heading is going to be an experience that you're not going to even probably think
09:45about makeup or worry about jewelry.
09:47We're going to have a good time and we're going to be building memories in our little
09:50heads, right?
09:51It's going to be fun.
09:52All right?
09:53Okay.
09:54Hall's party of five.
09:55Let's put our hands in on it.
09:57Ready team?
09:58Let's do it.
09:59Back to the frontier.
10:00Woo!
10:01Woo!
10:02For our families, there's no turning back.
10:07Everything they encounter from now on will be rooted in history.
10:14They are following in the footsteps of millions of Americans and heading for the frontier.
10:22Their base for the next few months.
10:2410,000 acres of wilderness in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.
10:32Home to bears, cougars, and moose.
10:36And now, our three families who are about to meet their new neighbors for the very first
10:43time.
10:44Hi!
10:45Hey, how you doing?
10:46We're good.
10:47Are y'all ready for this?
10:49So how are we feeling about what's ahead?
10:52I'm excited.
10:53I'm nervous about what foods you guys are going to eat.
10:55We're curious about what I'm going to eat.
10:56Because I'm a very picky eater.
10:57Hey!
10:58Hi!
10:59How are you all doing?
11:00Good, thank you.
11:01Nice to meet you.
11:02We're the Halls.
11:03Halls?
11:04Yes.
11:05So have y'all ever done anything like this before?
11:06No.
11:07We're a tight family.
11:08We've done a lot together, but never anything like this.
11:10The first stop for homesteaders looking to settle in the West was the land office, where
11:22many would turn up and request their plot.
11:25So, it's a good place to start for our families.
11:29Planned applications filed here.
11:32Applicants must be over 21, single, or head of a household.
11:39Married women may not apply.
11:42Okay.
11:44Women had really no rights.
11:48Our rights don't come until later.
11:50For two of our families, the customs of the 1880s means the head of the household is clear.
11:58But the Hannah Riggs have options.
12:00How should we figure out the head of household?
12:02It could be either one of us.
12:03Both of us qualify.
12:04We're married.
12:05I don't know.
12:06Joe and I, like, we're both the head of our household.
12:08Like, it's equal.
12:09And coming back to the 1880s, like, there were no two dead families.
12:15I usually do cars and investments.
12:17I'm more the real estate guy.
12:18He's real estate.
12:19This is more for me.
12:20All right.
12:21Cool.
12:22I'm good with that.
12:23Shall we head in?
12:24Oh, shit.
12:25Guiding them through the experiment...
12:29Welcome.
12:30...is Homestead Historian...
12:31Well, hey.
12:32Great to meet you.
12:33Jeremy, nice to meet you.
12:34...Dr. Jacob Freefeld.
12:36Nice to meet you.
12:37I am a historian of the 19th century American West, and I specialize in the Homestead Act
12:41of 1862.
12:42It was one of the most important social policies in the history of the country.
12:47It gave Americans access to their own little piece of the American dream.
12:50And today, there are as many as 93 million Americans who are descendants of homesteaders.
12:55This is where the homesteading journey started for millions of Americans and immigrants whose
12:59footsteps you're following in.
13:01Now, the Homestead Act was signed by Abraham Lincoln to develop the American West, and it
13:05gave Americans free land.
13:07But it wasn't really free.
13:09Homesteaders had to earn the right to keep their land by building homes and farming the
13:13land and making lives for themselves.
13:16And you'll have exactly the same goals.
13:19How do you verify that we fulfilled the obligations to keep the land?
13:24They had to have witnesses like your neighbors.
13:27You're going to trust the word of my neighbor.
13:29I got your back.
13:31Okay.
13:32All right.
13:33Make sure you like each other.
13:34It's going to be a lot of hard work.
13:37Endless hard work.
13:39And that's why one in three homesteaders failed to keep their land.
13:44One in three families failed in the Homestead Act.
13:47I don't see any reason why all three families cannot succeed if we all work together.
13:52But one thing I can tell you, if one of the families do fail, it won't be the Lopers.
13:56Now sign your claim forms.
13:59Because even in the 19th century, there was bureaucracy.
14:02The 21st century is no longer our reality.
14:06I think it's going to be a tough adjustment.
14:09Like, we didn't know the amount of work or labor that's going to require.
14:12There's no turning back now.
14:15Hannah Riggs.
14:16Yes, sir.
14:18Loper.
14:19Here we go.
14:20And Hall.
14:21Yes, thank you.
14:22I'll be over to check on you in a few days.
14:24Good luck.
14:25You're going to need it.
14:27Appreciate it.
14:28Let's get them, boys.
14:30The back of the frontier is a really interesting social experiment.
14:34Because I don't think these folks are going to be prepared for what it means to live in the 19th century.
14:40They're learning about it by living it.
14:43But can they survive?
14:46You got land?
14:49Sure did.
14:50Check it out.
14:52Is it a map to our new land?
14:55It's this whole family.
14:57If we end up at one out of three that doesn't make it, I think it's going to crush us.
15:02Okay, so what are we going to do on this land?
15:05We have to actually prove that we can work the land.
15:08Oh.
15:09This is big.
15:10Yes.
15:11I'm excited.
15:12This is huge.
15:13It's not a competition.
15:14But it is a competition.
15:15It's going to be tough.
15:19Like, you guys, I'm a little nervous.
15:21The statistics are not necessarily in our favor.
15:24I think looking at our boys being younger, we're going to all have to step up and really do a lot of work.
15:28Your daddies are strong, but we need your help too, right guys?
15:31I think as long as we can pull together and do this as a team, I think that's going to be our key to success.
15:36My ride has arrived.
15:49Well, it wouldn't be a western without wagons now, would it?
15:54Those are some of the biggest horses I've ever seen.
15:56Oh, they're so beautiful.
15:58Rolling in is the homesteader's second expert guide, Melissa Norris.
16:04Hi.
16:05Your rides have arrived, 1880 style.
16:12We have brought your transportation to your homesteads.
16:19Hi, I'm Melissa.
16:20I'm a 21st century modern homesteader, and I am here to guide you while you're on your homesteads.
16:27But even with someone giving you expertise and advice, you still have to do the work.
16:32It is still going to be very hard.
16:34I'm a fifth generation homesteader, and my husband and family, we homestead on 55 acres
16:39in western Washington.
16:40We try to raise as much of the things that we consume as possible.
16:45It's hard doing what we do with having electricity and access to modern conveniences, which these
16:51families do not have, so it's going to be even harder for them.
16:54Yeah, this is a little different than what we're used to at home, right?
16:57Two horsepower.
16:58Yay.
16:59You don't have the air-conditioned seat like you do back home.
17:02You're on your way.
17:03Good to see all that.
17:05I'll be around in a few days to see how you've settled in.
17:09Good luck.
17:11Watch out for bears.
17:13Oh, watch out for bears.
17:15They've got their work cut out for them.
17:18I think the one bit of advice is to lean on one another, because truly that's what's going
17:22to get you through.
17:24Time will tell if they do.
17:29Cut off from the rest of civilization, they'll only have each other for company.
17:37So let's hope everyone gets along.
17:41What do you guys think?
17:43Who's going to succeed and who's not going to succeed?
17:45It's not a competition.
17:46We should all come together as one and help each other out.
17:50The locals are going to be the best at homesteading.
17:52The locals will definitely be the best at homesteading.
17:54I think it's because of the experience that we have on our side.
17:58Yeah.
17:59Now when Mama leaves, whoo.
18:00That's enough.
18:01That's enough.
18:02That's enough.
18:03That's enough, brother.
18:04Hang on.
18:13The Homestead Act drew 4 million folks out to the American frontier, all aiming to change
18:20their fortunes.
18:21Some ran out of money.
18:23Others just weren't cut out for the back-breaking work.
18:27So the frontier was littered with abandoned cabins in varying states of disrepair.
18:35Cabins just like these ones.
18:37Come on, Mama.
18:38I see all these, like, little cute cabins and cottages on Instagram.
18:43Welcome to your frontier.
18:44Oh, my gosh.
18:45This is home.
18:46And I'm hoping to walk into something like that.
18:51All right.
18:52Oh, baby.
18:53Where are my walls?
18:54Is this it?
18:55I'm like, we ain't got no front wall.
18:56How am I going to be able to sleep with that?
18:57Yeah, we got some work to do.
18:58We got to do all these.
18:59Oh, my.
19:00Oh, my gosh.
19:01Wow.
19:02If we're back in the 21st century, this is the worst Airbnb I've ever been to.
19:18This is filthy.
19:19Hopefully, we're going to take care of these, like, real quick.
19:20Yeah.
19:21Fast in the hurry.
19:22You said we.
19:23Yeah, we're a team, right?
19:24I'm willing to do whatever it takes.
19:25I need some walls, okay?
19:26I don't know.
19:27Where do we get the material from?
19:28So, okay.
19:29We really got to talk about will we have walls tonight?
19:31So, when I first saw this cabin, I'm going to be honest with you, I'm like, oh, shoot.
19:32But I had to stay strong in front of my family.
19:33So a lot needs to be done.
19:34And there are no walls separating now.
19:35I don't know.
19:36I don't know.
19:37I don't know.
19:38I don't know.
19:39I don't know.
19:40I don't know.
19:41I don't know.
19:42I don't know.
19:43I don't know.
19:44I don't know.
19:45I don't know.
19:46I don't know.
19:47I don't know.
19:48I don't know.
19:49Oh, shoot.
19:50But I had to stay strong in front of my family.
19:51So a lot needs to be done.
19:52And there are no walls separating this.
19:53Yeah, no walls.
19:54So we have three beds.
19:55Mama in this bed?
19:56Yes, Mama is going to have to take the smaller bed.
19:57And you and I be up here?
19:58And the kids be up here?
19:59Would you rather be close to the heat at night?
20:00No, baby.
20:01You're going to warm me up.
20:02I don't need no heat at night.
20:05All right.
20:06So this will be our bed.
20:07We need to rearrange some things, though.
20:08Can you start moving some of that stuff?
20:11We got our wall for the night.
20:16Yes.
20:17Yes.
20:18Look at you, boy.
20:19Look at you, boy.
20:20Give me some.
20:21Right.
20:22Right.
20:23Okay.
20:24What's your thinking?
20:25We got the bed situation.
20:26We know how everybody is sleeping.
20:28Everybody's good, right?
20:29Everybody's good at the lopers.
20:32But as the wagons roll, new neighbors, the Hannah Riggs.
20:37It's very strange.
20:38Oh, my gosh.
20:39Are finding out that the cabin isn't quite of the standard they're used to.
20:44It's so much smaller than our home.
20:47Uh-oh.
20:48What is this hole in the side, too?
20:50It's certainly not exactly luxury, huh?
20:53Yeah.
20:54This is going to take some getting used to.
20:57Oh, wait.
20:58The steps are broken.
20:59Be very careful.
21:00Careful.
21:01Careful.
21:02There we go.
21:03Make sure it's safe.
21:04Oh, wow.
21:05Oh, wow.
21:06One big room.
21:07Okay.
21:08Are you guys going to share a bed?
21:09Uh...
21:10Oh, guys, look.
21:11See the moss or what?
21:13No, that's just...
21:14I think it's to fill the gap.
21:15There's another hole there, and there's a hole on that side, too.
21:18Oh, it's dirty.
21:19Yeah.
21:20We'll have to get this all cleaned up.
21:21How?
21:22How?
21:23How is the question?
21:24Um...
21:25In Dallas, like, we have a housekeeper.
21:28Our bathrooms were clean.
21:29Our kitchens were clean.
21:31Here is nothing like it.
21:34It's dirty.
21:35It's gross.
21:37I feel like we need to start getting unpacked, right?
21:40It's such a mess.
21:41It feels like dust is going to fly everywhere.
21:43We probably need to get swept up and clean first.
21:45Yeah.
21:46And that way...
21:47And we can wipe down some of the shelves before we put anything on them.
21:50That's a good point.
21:51Ethan, come here.
21:52Ethan, I need you to kill the bug.
21:53I don't do well with bugs.
21:54See the bug?
21:55Yeah, it's a big bug.
21:56Get it!
21:57You killed the bug.
21:58Having a moment of, like, overwhelm, like...
22:00Because I don't want the bug sleeping with me, so...
22:03This is our priority, is getting the holes fixed.
22:05So, bugs, bed, and...
22:07Clean.
22:08Clean.
22:09Okay.
22:10We have a lot to do.
22:12I feel like we need a housekeeper.
22:14I wouldn't hold your breath for a housekeeper, Jason.
22:20The Hall family run a home decor company.
22:24Welcome to our new home.
22:26I'm so scared.
22:27But this isn't your average fixer-upper.
22:32What the heck is that?
22:34Wow, look at this.
22:35Where's the rest of it?
22:37Look, guys, the door is falling off.
22:39No dishwasher, no fridge.
22:41Ew, what?
22:42We have, like, nothing.
22:44Relax, it's all good.
22:45No.
22:46It's gonna be okay.
22:47This is a dream come true for me.
22:49We definitely want this experience.
22:51I've given him so many different experiences
22:53and showed him as much of life as I can,
22:56but I've never actually been able to show him
22:58an experience like this.
22:59It's really gross.
23:00There's only two beds?
23:02What?
23:03I'm not sharing a bed.
23:05Me neither.
23:06There's no way we're sharing that.
23:08So you and Dad share the single,
23:10us three share the double?
23:11Yeah, we could work it out.
23:12You can put two people like this
23:14and one person like that.
23:16I don't want to share.
23:17That's just gross.
23:18Let's have a positive attitude
23:20and not be negative about it.
23:22You guys are acting, like, negatively
23:24and kind of snooty and snotty.
23:26That's not the daughter I'm raising right here.
23:28We can make this work.
23:29We've slept in vans.
23:30Why are we complaining about this?
23:32I'm not complaining.
23:33You look like you are,
23:34and you're throwing me off
23:35because I'm enjoying this.
23:36This is amazing.
23:37We have more than we ever expected.
23:40We have two beds.
23:41We could have been one bed.
23:43You know?
23:44This is really good.
23:46I don't think they'd realize that
23:48we all are going to have to take time
23:50to adapt to this new environment,
23:52this new lifestyle.
23:53It's hard,
23:54and I think he just needs to understand
23:56that he's just, like, in the attitude that,
23:59oh, everything is so great,
24:00and it's just, like, no.
24:02We actually have to live here
24:03for the rest of the summer.
24:05I feel like we scored big.
24:06I mean, we have it all.
24:07There's a building.
24:08We got windows.
24:09We got a porch.
24:10I mean, we're happening here.
24:12We checked all the boxes here.
24:13We don't need anything.
24:14We're good.
24:15If Dad and I have to build you a bed,
24:17we'll build you a bed.
24:18Okay?
24:19Okay.
24:20Well, that's all you had to say.
24:21For the new homesteaders,
24:26there's one more part of the property to explore.
24:30Now known as the restroom,
24:32but in the 1880s,
24:34it was called an outhouse.
24:36Oh, my.
24:37It's a poop with a view.
24:39Oh, no.
24:40For obvious reasons.
24:42So is this comfortable?
24:43Does it have a seat?
24:44Hold on.
24:45Let me look.
24:46Not so much.
24:47It goes pretty deep.
24:48Daddy Jason, where's your bidet?
24:49I don't see any running water.
24:51You don't even have a door.
24:52You need a little privacy in here.
24:54All right.
24:55That's my priority.
25:00Ew!
25:01That's so nasty.
25:04Yeah, stay away from me, girlfriend.
25:06Ew!
25:07Ew!
25:08Zoe has a poop touch!
25:10Everybody run!
25:11Zoe has a poop touch!
25:13Ew!
25:14Now, Stacy is a person who likes her modern comedy.
25:24These are modern comforts.
25:26So, this could get ugly.
25:28That's the bathroom.
25:29You lying to me.
25:31I think we live a pretty lavish life.
25:38I mean, we have a five bedroom,
25:41four and a half bath home.
25:43She will walk past one bathroom,
25:45come up the stairs,
25:46walk past two bathrooms,
25:48just to go to her room.
25:50It's my toilet.
25:52It's Landon and Maddox don't use my toilet.
25:56Joaquin has the privilege of using it
25:58because it's married to me.
25:59I have the privilege.
26:01But that's my toilet.
26:03When we travel, I have to look up hotels
26:06that are along the way
26:07and make sure they're a certain standard,
26:08because I just can't stop at a regular motel
26:11or a regular gas station.
26:13No, Stacy's not going.
26:14This is where I have to come to go to the restroom?
26:18Yep.
26:19Yes.
26:20I'm on camera right now.
26:22There's no way that you're telling me
26:23my entire family has to walk outside to use the restroom.
26:27Ah.
26:29Y'all, we literally sit on that?
26:32Yes.
26:33But they did leave reading material for you.
26:36Reading material?
26:37Yeah, the newspaper.
26:38What's the newspaper for?
26:40Read and wipe.
26:41That is not to wipe your butt with.
26:43I know.
26:44It's 1800s.
26:45We don't have toilet paper.
26:46This is real.
26:49This is real, babe.
26:52Okay, but seriously, where do I shower?
26:55There's no shower, Stacy.
26:56There is no shower.
26:57Maybe baths.
26:58They really live like this in the 1800s.
26:59Yes.
27:00Yeah, babe.
27:01I'm sorry.
27:02It's okay.
27:03I was not prepared for this.
27:04It is the 1800s.
27:05Yeah, but still, this is a huge, vast difference.
27:08This is a bit much for me.
27:11This is a bit much for me.
27:14I'm not prepared for this.
27:16It is the 1800s.
27:17Yeah, but still, this is a huge, vast difference.
27:22This is a bit much for me.
27:27Stacy, you're going to be all right.
27:28You're going to make it.
27:29Y'all go.
27:30Let me talk to her.
27:34My 21st century priorities are exactly the same as 1880s priorities.
27:47My job is to make sure my family is happy, protected, and loved.
27:51I want this experience for our family, but why can't?
27:54I don't know.
27:55No time for second thoughts now, Stacy.
28:06With only a few hours left of daylight, these cabins won't fix themselves.
28:11But help is on hand.
28:13Wait, what is this?
28:15The Homesteader's Almanac.
28:17Almanac.
28:18A good almanac was a homesteader's best friend.
28:22These hefty books gave city folks skills for life on the frontier.
28:27From plowing a field to pickling a carrot.
28:30Welcome to the 1880s and your homestead.
28:33Whilst you're here, you must achieve three goals.
28:37This is what our goals are, guys.
28:39Goal one, build a secure, comfortable home.
28:42Your cabin is in a state of disrepair, but it is vital to make it safe to provide a comfortable
28:48home for your family.
28:49Goal two, farm the land and harvest a crop.
28:52You will be expected to farm and harvest your land according to the methods of the 1880s
28:59homesteaders.
29:00Wow.
29:01You want to have some learning to do?
29:03Goal three, fill your winter pantry.
29:061880s homesteaders had to be prepared for a long and difficult winter.
29:10Your winter pantry should be full and contain meat, vegetables, baked goods and dairy.
29:17It's a big pantry.
29:18It's huge.
29:19It has to be fully stocked.
29:20It has to be fully stocked.
29:21The work is all out there to get it in here.
29:25Yeah.
29:26Really, you know, and to get it in here right.
29:28Like we have to get the canning done right, the preserving done right.
29:31If we don't do that right, our stuff goes bad.
29:34Yeah, I don't know anything about that.
29:35No.
29:36That's a lot of work.
29:37I just wish it wasn't empty.
29:39Right.
29:40Only then will you prove you are fit to own the land and you've been assigned under the
29:46Homestead Act.
29:47Just like the 1880s homesteaders, your success or failure will be judged.
29:52Good luck.
29:53Oh, my.
29:54So, hey, this is what you have to do to survive.
29:57If we want to eat, we've got to put in the work.
30:00Yeah.
30:01This is as real as it gets.
30:02We have to not be the ones to fail.
30:05We do not fail.
30:07No.
30:08No.
30:09I'm excited for the first one, which is building the home, right?
30:13Because I know I can do that.
30:14I have plenty of confidence in that.
30:16But then the other two, I'm a little nervous.
30:19I'm a little nervous.
30:20To get through their ever-growing to-do list, each family member has to pull their weight.
30:27As soon as they could walk, children were given jobs, and by the time they were 10, they
30:31would have a long, important list of chores.
30:34Like, what chores do you think you'll have?
30:36Uh...
30:37No chores.
30:38Yeah.
30:39I think it's going to be a challenge with Ethan Lucas.
30:42They're not really chore-focused, and we haven't really instilled a lot of hard chores.
30:49They've never used a mop.
30:50No.
30:51I don't even know what that looks like.
30:52We've got a robot for that.
30:53We have to learn a lot.
30:55I don't think we are...
30:56We're ready.
30:57I don't think we're ready.
31:02Well, ready or not, here we go.
31:05The cabins need to be secure before nightfall.
31:08It's so dirty.
31:10When the temperature drops to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
31:17Hey, how is it marching band?
31:19Jeremy, can you go and fix the boards outside before Bear walks in tonight?
31:24Okay.
31:25And then there's the door.
31:26And then there's that one.
31:27All right.
31:28I saw a board out there that you can put on the... by the door.
31:31Is there anything else I can do for you while I'm doing something?
31:33Oh yeah, later on you can help us clean the floors.
31:36Yeah.
31:37Add it to my list.
31:42Yeah!
31:43You fixed it?
31:44I'm fixing it.
31:45Best I can here.
31:46Next, you gotta fix the hole in the kitchen we got over here.
31:49I gotta make it comfortable for them.
31:53If I don't make it, I know they're gonna struggle and complain.
31:57So I know that I've got a lot of work to do to make this place as much like home as I can.
32:02So they're happy.
32:04A mirror!
32:06A mirror!
32:09Okay, at least we have this.
32:10We can look at ourselves in the morning.
32:14Sounds like I'm the only one banging out here, huh?
32:20Girl boss!
32:22It's so tiny.
32:23Both be appreciative.
32:24I didn't think we were gonna get a mirror.
32:26I appreciate you.
32:28Mia!
32:29Ew, you just smudged it.
32:30I cleaned it already.
32:31Ew, sorry.
32:35Here we go.
32:36You fixed it?
32:37I fixed it!
32:38We fixed it!
32:39We fixed it!
32:40We fixed it!
32:41We fixed it!
32:43What are you doing?
32:45Creating spaces is my thing.
32:47It makes me happy.
32:48If we had nothing, I would be pretty unhappy.
32:51But since there's stuff, there's hope, right?
32:54We have a roof over our head.
32:56It could have been like a tarp.
33:00Speaking of tarps...
33:02Hey, Matt.
33:03Yes, sir?
33:04And I always leave you enough space when you're nailing these in.
33:07A piece of wood told me to take it out, okay?
33:14Whew!
33:15I need something to purify this air at this moment.
33:18I don't think I have ever seen this much dust.
33:22Yeesh!
33:23I'm tired already.
33:24It doesn't take much to get me tired.
33:27Glenn, you good?
33:28I'm good.
33:29We need you to get these things done.
33:30Because once the sun goes down, the temperature is going to change.
33:33So, I have a quick question.
33:34Okay.
33:35How are we going to get out the door?
33:37So, I'm going to put another one up coming the other way.
33:39Uh-huh.
33:40It's almost going to be like a drape.
33:41Okay.
33:42You just come through.
33:43Okay.
33:44Okay.
33:45All right?
33:46I feel like we have a lot of work to do.
33:49Because what time is it?
33:50So, it's 6.30.
33:51Okay.
33:52So, we have like a handful of hours of sunlight.
33:55So, I feel like let's-
33:56Sweep.
33:57Let's start sweeping.
33:58Yeah.
33:59Let's figure out what we're going to do for dinner.
34:00And then, I think after we eat, I think that we need to tend to the house.
34:05I think we need to fix the wall.
34:07I think we need to hang the curtains.
34:09Okay.
34:12That is filthy.
34:14Even this is filthy.
34:17Joe, I wonder, do we bring the boys in?
34:19Yeah.
34:20This is ridiculous that we're in here doing it and they're out there running around.
34:23Yeah.
34:24Let me get your thumb.
34:25Ethan and Lucas!
34:27We need your help for a second.
34:28I want you to come in here and we could use your help with some sweeping.
34:31What we're trying to do is just sweep everything outside.
34:36Hey, Ethan, if you do that, you're just spreading it around instead of putting it in a pile.
34:40Can you put it in a pile for us?
34:43Hey, don't destroy our broom.
34:44We're going to need this.
34:45Yeah, be careful.
34:47All right.
34:48Put it down.
34:49Put it down.
34:50Put it down.
34:51Ethan, please stop.
34:52I asked you to please put it down.
34:56What devices do they have?
34:57What don't they have?
35:00They've got the smart watches.
35:01They've got the iPads.
35:02They've got all the gaming devices that you could possibly want.
35:08They just love devices.
35:10Is your room picked up?
35:12Yeah.
35:13Is it?
35:14Yeah.
35:15What about the dirty clothes on your floor?
35:16No.
35:17Do you really want to lose devices as a consequence because you're not listening?
35:20Whenever we need some kind of reward or punishment, it becomes, if you don't do this, you will not have devices tomorrow.
35:27Or the flip side is, hey, if you get this done, then you can have device time.
35:32It's our consequence.
35:33It's our carrot.
35:34Yes.
35:35It's everything revolves around devices.
35:37And so, no devices for our kids.
35:40I think we're going to have our challenges.
35:42So, who wants to set the table?
35:43Not me.
35:44Wait, wait.
35:45Oh.
35:46Excuse me.
35:47Not in the house already.
35:48Shhh.
35:49No.
35:50No.
35:51No.
35:52Not in the house.
35:53Broken.
35:54What broke?
35:55The actual cup or the...
35:56Yeah, actual cup.
35:57Lucas!
35:58Ethan.
35:59Wait, where's Lucas?
36:00Alright.
36:01Ethan and Lucas.
36:02Come here, please.
36:03Where are they going?
36:04Lucas.
36:05Ethan.
36:06Joe, did they go around the other way?
36:08Ethan and Lucas.
36:10Ethan and Lucas.
36:13Ethan and Lucas.
36:15Ethan and Lucas.
36:16Guys, this is not a hide and seek.
36:18You can't just start running off.
36:20What wildlife is out here?
36:21You're just running out?
36:22You could have spooked a moose?
36:24And mooses get very aggressive.
36:26Until their food could be sown, grown, or caught, all the freshly arrived Frontier family
36:47would have to eat is what they carried with them.
36:50That meant basic supplies that would travel well.
36:54Baked beans.
36:55Oh.
36:56That's meat.
36:57And ham.
36:58Yeah.
36:59So what we have to think about is what we're going to do for dinner tonight.
37:01Hmm.
37:02Bread, ham, baked beans.
37:05I mean, this is normally not what I have to feed my kids to feed my husband after all
37:12night.
37:13Oh, all of this is just way too much.
37:18It's so important.
37:19It's so important for me to provide for my family because I grew up in poverty.
37:25And I always told myself that I would not raise my family in poverty.
37:30And this experience is too close to that for me.
37:37My kids are about to eat meat out of a can.
37:39I just feel so insufficient right now.
37:43And it does not feel good.
37:45Mm-hmm.
37:46I mean, there are other alternatives I have in the 21st century.
37:49I have none of them.
37:50None of them.
37:51I have none of them.
37:52What have I brought my family into?
37:58Like, what have I done?
38:00Uh-oh.
38:01What's wrong, Mama?
38:02I'm not used to this.
38:03I'm not used to this.
38:04What we have to eat.
38:05Ham sandwiches, beans for dinner.
38:06Don't worry.
38:07This is what's provided for them right now.
38:08It's canned ham.
38:09They may like canned ham, okay?
38:10If they don't want this, they go to bed hungry.
38:11If we don't eat nothing, that's our fault, not yours.
38:13Mm-hmm.
38:14I love y'all so much.
38:15Isn't it?
38:16We love you.
38:17We love you.
38:18We love you.
38:19We love you.
38:20We love you.
38:21We love you.
38:22We love you.
38:23We love you.
38:24We love you.
38:25We love you.
38:26We love you.
38:27We love you.
38:28We love you.
38:29We love you.
38:30We love you.
38:31We love you.
38:32We love you.
38:33Y'all are doing so much better than me.
38:36I really have to wrap my head around what I got to do to make sure that I don't continue
38:43to feel like this.
38:46This is going to take a lot.
38:50Yeah, we don't really have a sense of time out here.
38:56I think it's like 7, 8 o'clock.
38:59I'm hungry.
39:00You're hungry?
39:01Yes, I'm hungry.
39:02We want food.
39:03We want food.
39:04We have a bunch of canned ham.
39:06Is this a can opener?
39:07I think so, yeah.
39:08I'll show you how to use it.
39:10For Jeremy, it's the can rather than the ham that's causing problems.
39:15I think this is it.
39:16I think that's it.
39:17No, but that would go in there.
39:18This is just ridiculous.
39:19We need to open our dinner.
39:20We're going to go hungry.
39:21If only we could look it up.
39:22I'm going to end up breaking it.
39:23Yeah, I don't want to break it and then we never get to open any cans again.
39:36I just want to eat.
39:39He got it!
39:44I doubt this is the way it's done, but it's working.
39:48It smells like dog food.
39:51It stinks.
39:53Here we go.
39:55Yummy, huh?
39:58Dinner is served.
40:00Yummy.
40:01Let's eat!
40:04To the frontier.
40:05Yes.
40:06And to the journey we have ahead of us.
40:08And all our success.
40:09Cheers!
40:10Cheers!
40:11The term cheers wasn't actually popularized until the 20th century, but I'll let that
40:19one slide.
40:20All right.
40:23Right.
40:24We're in this thing.
40:25We're here.
40:26Look at this meal.
40:28This is what an 1880 family would eat.
40:32And be happy for it.
40:34This is not pizza.
40:35This ain't DoorDash.
40:36This is what we have to make do with.
40:38All right?
40:39So I want y'all to be appreciative and be thankful, okay?
40:42All right.
40:43All right.
40:44That's all.
40:45Before I came to the frontier, if I would have seen that menu, I'd have been like, you
40:49know what?
40:50Y'all can have that.
40:51I'm like, absolutely not.
40:53How are the beans tasting, buddy?
40:54Good.
40:55I think the foods look really good.
40:58Okay.
40:59Do you want some more beans?
41:00No, I don't think I want any more beans.
41:02You know what I need right now?
41:03What?
41:04A microwave.
41:05Right.
41:06That'll make all this better.
41:07The ham is good, though.
41:08It's good.
41:09It's cold.
41:11My wife is struggling with having to feed the kids canned meat, and I'm struggling
41:17with trying to be strong to eat the canned meat.
41:20Hey, y'all know if we want better, we've got to do better, right?
41:23We've got to get out there and work the field.
41:25Work our behind off.
41:26Grow it and get it, okay?
41:28Okay.
41:34As the sun starts to set, our three families settle in for the night.
41:41That's comfortable.
41:43Okay.
41:44But without enough beds to go around, the kids are left to share.
41:49Hey, daddy.
41:50I think sleeping is going to be a challenge.
41:52I think without our typical white noise, and our air conditioning, and our box fans,
41:57and our ceiling fans, and we don't have any of that.
42:00You know what the white noise will be?
42:02Me.
42:03Me snoring.
42:04It's a lot to wrap our heads around, being thrown back into a world that we don't know
42:10anything about, and just trying to survive.
42:13Which isn't necessarily easy.
42:16These mosquitoes are a bit much.
42:19Sweet dreams, guys.
42:20Sweet dreams.
42:21Good night.
42:26Good night.
42:27Good night.
42:28Sweet dreams.
42:29Good night.
42:30Good night.
42:31Good night.
42:32Good night.
42:33Good night.
42:34I'm really proud of my family for making it here, to give up everything they have.
42:39I mean, they knew they were going to try something different, but they had no idea it was going
42:43to be like this.
42:45The bed stinks.
42:47I really just want them to feel the same way as me.
42:50I want them to be positive.
42:51I want them to be excited.
42:52Your feet stink.
42:54But all in all, they're teen girls.
42:57What teen girl would want to stay in a dirty cabin with their parents and their little brother?
43:02This is going to take a lot of adjusting and a lot of getting used to here.
43:06Oh, my God.
43:07This is a nightmare.
43:08I can't sleep with this kid.
43:10Stop it and go to sleep.
43:12I can't sleep.
43:15Heavenly Father, all gracious God, we thank you for letting us be able to embrace this
43:19experience, Lord.
43:20We thank you for everything you're giving us, Lord.
43:22Even the food that we had today, Lord.
43:23Even though it wasn't what we're used to, Lord, we thank you.
43:25In Jesus' name I pray.
43:26Amen.
43:27Amen.
43:28Today truly left me speechless.
43:30As a husband, to see my wife cry and knowing that I couldn't do anything about it,
43:35not knowing really what tomorrow has in store for us.
43:38Is there a little bit of anxiety?
43:39Yes, there is.
43:40Am I trying to stay calm?
43:42Yes, I am.
43:43But am I worried?
43:44Yes, I am.
43:45It's your night.
43:46Today was like a slap in the face.
43:49It was like a ton of bricks fell on me, and I didn't know how to handle it.
43:53I'm very stressed, high anxiety right now.
43:56It's just day one.
43:58I can only imagine what tomorrow may bring.
44:01I'm living history right now.
44:13Coming up this season.
44:18Not all that.
44:20It is beautiful.
44:22A journey into the past.
44:25These ghosts are out of control.
44:27It's coming out now.
44:28We had butter.
44:29I just made an apple pie.
44:31I'm doing it.
44:32For an unforgettable summer.
44:34Oh, Mr. Gilbert.
44:35The holes are back.
44:37Show me what you got.
44:38Good morning, class.
44:40Oh, my gosh.
44:4221st century, there's always that question, am I good enough?
44:47But now, confidence is something I'm going to take home.
44:50Home.
44:51If I was home, I'd just go search on the internet and see what a potato looks like.
44:55But life on the frontier.
44:57What should we do to make this more fun for us?
44:59Quit.
45:00Quitting is not an option.
45:01Oh!
45:02Was never easy.
45:03It'll be okay.
45:04Alright?
45:05I'll need attitude.
45:06I'll need moping.
45:07Woo-hoo!
45:08Family ties are tested.
45:10I just made food for everyone and they just put their plates here.
45:12Like, go wash the dishes made.
45:14Community is challenged.
45:16You guys drew your line in the sand.
45:18I will speak up for one set of my neighbors.
45:21The other ones, I plead the fifth.
45:23Can they make it as 1880s homesteaders?
45:27This is ten times harder than I ever could imagine.
45:30This is not fun.
45:32We got a roof!
45:33Hey, woo!
45:34We got a roof!
45:35No eggs.
45:36What a waste of money.
45:37This just keeps getting worse and worse.
45:39Welcome to the 1880s.
45:41We only have six cents left.
45:43Oh!
45:44Oh my gosh.
45:46What do I feed my family?
45:48Winter's coming.
45:49And if we're not prepared...
45:57Oh!
45:59I love it.
46:03We'll be back.
46:04Boom!
46:05Boy!
46:06And everyone has 780s,
46:07ten times daily.
46:09That looks good.
46:10We need lunch every day.
46:11It's so hard!
46:12We want you to know.
46:14To be atех if the team can check back out.
46:16We wait.
46:17riminal sounds.
46:18Has people with insight?
46:20Yeah?
46:21Are we wondering?
46:22We need a話 over here,
46:23QueÓ?
46:24We have friends?
46:25Right.