Helen arrives in Appalachian Ohio full of love and her boyfriend's ideas for living off the land. Too soon, with winter coming, he calls it quits. Helped by Rudy - her boss - and a neighbor couple, Helen makes it to spring. Those neighbors, Karen and Lily, are awaiting the arrival of their first child, a boy, which means their time at the Women's Land Trust must end. Helen invites the new family to throw in with her - they'll split the work and the food, build a house, and make a life that sustains them, barely. Then Rudy sets up a fruit-tree nursery on the pipeline easement edging their land and the outside world is brought clamoring into their makeshift family.