The Boonies

Outside the grid, everything must be earned. The work is hard, but for those who choose this lifestyle, a job well done means a life well lived.

The old adage known as "Murphy's Law" says – anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. On the edge of civilization, that means always being prepared for the worst. Out here, far from the modern world, the forces of nature present dire challenges. "Outside the Grid," during the onslaught of a severe drought, Bear Claw struggles to find water for his camp in the Clearwater Mountains of Idaho. "Below the Grid," a small earthquake in the Ozarks transforms Joe Ray's underground home, and now he must find a new path to daylight. "Above the Grid," in Onion Creek, Washington, Doc and Jeanny Leverett grapple with wildfires burning dangerously close to their tree house. "Outside the Grid," on remote Beaver Island, Dan Burton drops everything to search for a friend adrift somewhere on Lake Michigan.

On the edge of civilization, life is lived by the seasons. As autumn arrives, temperatures grow colder, and those outside the grid begin preparation for the toughest time of year. Out here, they must always be ready for what lies ahead. In his caves "Below the Grid", Joe Ray does all he can to avoid the modern world. But today, he must make his annual visit to town to stockpile necessary winter resources. High "Above the Grid", Doc and Jeanny Leverett prepare for darker days ahead, and indoor confinement for Jeanny due to an unusual medical condition. She has a rare allergy to the cold, and Doc plans special home improvements to keep her comfortable during the coming chill. "Beyond the Grid" in the mountains of Idaho, with temperatures beginning to cool, nomadic Bear Claw packs up his tent and heads for the protection of his winter camp. The long journey on horseback includes several stops along the way, as Bear Claw gathers supplies essential to his life on the trail. And "Outside the grid", on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan, Dan Burton and his family rely on stockpiled food to make it through the frozen winter months. Now, Dan is on a mission to fill his freezer in any way he can.