Episode 2

Episode Two: Surprise – It’s What’s For Dinner

We cut between the families as, stunned, they continue to read.

“When you were selected to participate you were told you’d be competing in a series of challenges based on life on a traditional family farm.  What we didn’t tell you is that you will be competing in a virtual 1933.  This house and everything in it is exactly as most farm families lived during the Great Depression.

There is no indoor plumbing.  There is no electricity.  You have a truck, and a winch that can run off its engine to power some basic farm implements.  There are chickens in your chicken coop and cattle in your barn.  Your pigs live in the back yard – be careful!  They can be ornery.

Your major challenge is to make it through the year until harvest: to grow a garden, plant crops, take care of the animals, and feed yourselves – from what’s already in the house, as well as from the fruits of your labors.  Along the way, there will be additional challenges: a “Challenge Letter” will arrive in the mail every week, with complete instructions.  You will be scored on how well you do on each challenge.  The family that makes it all the way to harvest with the most point wins – and takes home $120,000 dollars!

In the bookshelf in the living room is The Primer – a complete set of guidelines for how to use the tools at your disposal.  We suggest you study it carefully and keep it close at hand.

In the meantime, your first challenge is easy: prepare yourselves a nourishing, tasty family dinner.  Good luck!”

From here out, each episode will be a combo platter of engineering challenges, hygiene and fashion meltdowns, inept cookery and hapless housekeeping, as our families struggle through daily life with no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no modern appliances or cosmetics, and just two basic outfits.  Expect family tension, bickering, and whiny meltdowns galore.  But also expect families growing closer – preparing and eating every meal together – and collaborating to succeed in their weekly challenges.  Along the way we’ll celebrate with them as they learn new skills, kindle a spirit of self-reliance, build muscle and stamina, and shed some couch potato/fast food weight!