Helen arrives in Appalachian Ohio full of love and her boyfriend’s ideas for living off the land. But with winter coming, he calls it quits. Helped by Rudy --- her government-questioning, wisdom-spouting, seasonal-affective-disordered boss --- and a neighbor couple, Helen makes it to spring. Those neighbors, Karen and Lily, are awaiting the arrival of their first child, which means their time at the Women’s Land Trust must end. So Helen invites the new family to throw in with her --- they’ll make a life that sustains them (if barely) for years. Then young Perley decides he wants to go to school. And Rudy sets up a fruit-tree nursery on the pipeline easement edging their land. The outside world is brought clamoring into their makeshift family.