Mandell: THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY AROUND WATER-- YOU KNOW, THE WATER WARS-- A LOT OF FIGHTING, A LOT OF POINTING FINGERS.

AND THE REALITY IS, THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER TO GO AROUND.

Smith: CALIFORNIA PRODUCES OVER HALF OF THE FRUIT, NUTS, AND VEGETABLES FOR THE COUNTRY.

WITHOUT WATER, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GROW FOOD HERE ANYMORE.

Thornhill: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH WATER IN AMERICA ISN'T REALLY WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

IT'S HOW WE LOSE IT AND WASTE IT.

Doremus: THE VALUE OF WATER IS INCALCULABLE, REALLY, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER.

male narrator: WATER IS FUNDAMENTAL TO ALL LIFE ON EARTH, AND IT'S EASY TO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

AFTER ALL, IT FALLS FROM THE SKY.

COMPETING DEMANDS ARE STRAINING THIS LIMITED RESOURCE, AND DROUGHT ISN'T MAKING IT ANY BETTER.

ACCORDING TO THE USDA, AGRICULTURE SOAKS UP NEARLY 80% OF AMERICA'S FRESHWATER, AND IN DRIER YEARS, WE ALL NEED TO LEARN TO SHARE THIS MOST VITAL NATURAL RESOURCE, WATER.

Mitchell: WATER'S THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS WORLD.

THE CREATOR REALLY PUT EVERYTHING WE NEEDED RIGHT HERE TO HAVE A VERY WELL-ROUNDED DIET.

IT KEPT OUR PEOPLE VERY HEALTHY, AND WE LIVED LONG LIVES.

WE'RE HUNTER, FISHERS, AND GATHERERS.

THAT MEANT THAT WE DIDN'T FARM.

WE DIDN'T FARM ANYTHING.

IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE 100 YEARS AGO COMPARED TO WHAT IT IS HERE TODAY.

WE'VE DRAINED ENTIRE LAKES.

WE'VE MANAGED TO DIVERT ENTIRE RIVERS.

THEY'RE COMPLETELY DRIED UP IN AREAS.

Doremus: AS SETTLERS MOVED WEST, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO DO WAS FARM.

IN THE EARLY 1900s, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSED WHAT'S CALLED THE RECLAMATION ACT, WHICH ALLOWS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE STORAGE SO THAT THERE'D BE MORE WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND ALSO DRY OUT SOME OF THESE AREAS THAT SEEMED ATTRACTIVE TO FARMERS.

Chin: 100 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS WATER WHERE WE'RE STANDING.

WE'D BE UNDER TEN FEET OF WATER RIGHT NOW.

MY GRANDFATHER CAME FROM CHINA AND WANTED TO GROW POTATOES.

HE HAD A PASSION FOR POTATOES FOR SURE.

HE JUST LIKED TO SEE PLANTS GROWING.

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE FARM FROM MY MOM AND DAD, WE CHANGED THE COMPANY TO WONG POTATOES.

YOU HAVEN'T BOUGHT THE RIGHT POTATO UNTIL YOU'VE BOUGHT THE WONG POTATO.

THE KLAMATH BASIN HAS A HUGE WATER PROBLEM.

THE WATER IS ACTUALLY THERE; IT'S JUST TIED UP IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.

BETWEEN ENDANGERED SPECIES, INDIAN TRIBAL TRUSTS, FARMERS, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETING INTERESTS FOR THAT WATER.

Doremus: EVERYBODY IN THE KLAMATH BASIN THOUGHT THEY HAD THE BEST RIGHT TO THE LIMITED WATER.

WHAT HAPPENS ALONG THE WAY IS THAT THREE FISH BECOME LISTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

THE SUCKERS NEED WATER TO BE LEFT IN UPPER KLAMATH LAKE.

THE SALMON NEED WATER TO FLOW DOWN TO THE OCEAN.

AND IF YOU'RE BOTH KEEPING WATER IN THE LAKE AND HAVING IT FLOW TO THE OCEAN, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT FALLING, THERE'S NONE LEFT FOR IRRIGATION, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN 2001.

THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SAID, "WE CAN'T PROVIDE ANY WATER TO IRRIGATORS THIS YEAR."

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY THAT A FEDERAL PROJECT HAD SHUT THE GATES-- NO WATER TO BE DELIVERED.

Mitchell: FARMERS GOT THEIR WATER SHUT OFF.

WE HAD THE BIGGEST FISH KILL IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS CONSTANT LITIGATION.

I'D BE LOOKING ACROSS THE COURTROOM AT A FARMER, AND HE'D BE LOOKING ACROSS THE COURTROOM AT ME, AND WE DIDN'T TALK.

Doremus: OH, IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS CONFLICT.

FARMERS, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE WATER.

Mitchell: IT WASN'T UNTIL WE HAD THOSE KINDS OF CRISES AND EVENTS THAT PEOPLE DECIDED, "LET'S SET THE ATTORNEYS-- LET'S PUT THEM ON THE SIDELINES."

Doremus: THE FARMERS AGREED TO STOP CONTESTING THAT THE TRIBES HAD RIGHTS TO THE WATER, AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND THE FARMERS AGREED ON WHAT THE FISH OUGHT TO GET, AND ALL THE PARTIES AGREED THAT THE DAMS SHOULD COME OUT.

Mitchell: IT WAS DURING THAT PERIOD WHEN I ENDED UP TALKING WITH SOME OF THE FARM LEADERSHIP.

I LEARNED THAT THEY DO CARE ABOUT THE LAND.

THEY CARE ABOUT THE WATER, THEY LIKE TO FISH, AND THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES.

THOSE ARE ALL VALUES THAT TRIBAL PEOPLE HAVE TOO.

Chin: WE CAN GET ALONG WITH THE FISH.

WE CAN GET ALONG WITH THE TRIBES.

WE CAN GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THAT NEEDS TO COMPETE WITH THAT WATER.

Mitchell: WE CAN LEARN TO COEXIST.

WE CAN SHARE THIS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DESTROY WHAT THE CREATOR PUT HERE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OURSELVES.

Doremus: WE MAY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GROWING THE RIGHT CROPS IN THE RIGHT PLACES, AND THERE MAY BE SOME PLACES THAT SHOULD NOT, IN FACT, BE FARMED.

AND THAT'S A HARD THING TO SAY, BUT IT MIGHT BE TRUE ABOUT THE KLAMATH BASIN, WHERE IT IS COLD.

THE GROWING SEASON IS SHORT.

MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE PLACE WE SHOULD BE GROWING OUR FOOD.

Walsh: A LOT OF PEOPLE I HEAR ARE OUT THERE SAYING, "WELL, YOU'RE IN THE HIGH DESERT.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE FARMING HERE."

THE WATER IS JUST AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH.

I SPENT 20 YEARS SELLING POTATOES AND RUNNING A PACKING SHED.

WE DROPPED OUT OF THAT CONVENTIONAL BUSINESS, AND WE STARTED THESE GREENHOUSES.

THIS AREA IS LIKE A LITTLE HOT WATER BELT.

IT'S ABOUT THREE MILES LONG.

THE LAVA HAS PUSHED UP A HOLE AND PUSHING THE WATER UP TO US, SO WE CAN GET IT FAIRLY EASY.

THE WATER, IT'S 200 DEGREES COMING OUT OF THE WELL, AND WE PUMP IT UP THE HILL, AND WE PUT IT IN AN OLD RAILROAD TANK CAR.

AS WE NEEDED IT, GRAVITY FEEDS DOWN TO US IN THE GREENHOUSES.

AND WE UTILIZE IT AND PUT IT IN THROUGH RADIATORS AND THEN BLOW AIR THROUGH IT TO MAKE THE HEAT EXCHANGE TO GET OUR HEAT.

IT KIND OF AMAZES ME THAT WE CAN SIT HERE ALL YEAR LONG AND GROW FOOD.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OUT, WE WERE GROWING TOMATOES, HEIRLOOM TOMATOES.

WE WERE GONNA MAKE A FORTUNE GROWING TOMATOES.

PEOPLE WALK IN, AND THEY'RE JUST AMAZED TO SEE THIS WHOLE VEGETABLE GARDEN OUT HERE GROWING.

AND WE GROW TOMATOES YEAR ROUND.

WE HAVE STRAWBERRIES.

WE HAVE BASIL.

WE HAVE CHIVES.

WE GROW CUCUMBERS.

WE GROW ZUCCHINI.

SO WE'RE GROWING THE WHOLE REALM OF THEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME IF I EAT THIS FOOD HERE THAT I'M GROWING, AND I TELL THEM, "YEAH, I EAT IT."

LAST YEAR, WE MADE SOME QUINOA SALADS FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET.

I GOT TO REALLY LIKE IT, AND THAT'S MY MAIN LUNCH, IS THE QUINOA SALAD, SO I'M MAKING IT ALL THE TIME.

NOW, THIS IS FRESH GREENS' OFFICE/KITCHEN COMBO OUTSIDE THE GREENHOUSES.

WE LEFT THE KITCHEN IN IT, AND I DO SOME EXPERIMENTAL COOKING IN HERE.

I PUT THE WHOLE LEMON IN.

ALL THE FLAVOR OF THE BASIL'S IN THESE SEEDS AND IN THIS TOP OF THE FLOWER, AND I REALLY ENJOY THEM.

GONNA TURN THIS BABY ON.

WE'LL GET THE SPEEDS UP.

[upbeat polka music] ♫♫ I THINK THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO TRY SOME?

THIS IS THE MOST QUINOA I'VE EVER MADE AT ONE TIME.

I GOT CARRIED AWAY.

I JUST CALL IT MY QUINOA SALAD.

FRESH GREEN, THAT'S THE COLOR OF IT.

THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

IT'S GOOD AND CRUNCHY, AND THE BASIL FLAVOR'S THERE WITH THE LEMON AND LIME.

IT'S VERY NICE.

♫♫ THINGS ARE CHANGING, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GROW, AND WHEREVER FOOD GROWS, IT'S GOT TO HAVE WATER.

IT'S--THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT, IS WATER.

Doremus: ON THE POLICY SIDE, WE WOULD LIKE OUR WATER POLICIES TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE INNOVATION.

IN CALIFORNIA, IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

THERE ARE VARIOUS ENTREPRENEURIAL FARMERS.

WE HAVE TO HELP DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE OF INNOVATION.

Mandell: THE WATER FIRST STARTS AS SNOW UP IN THE SIERRAS, AND IT MELTS AND COMES THROUGH THE AQUEDUCT SYSTEM, AND THAT WATER IS DELIVERED TO FARMS THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

Doremus: MUCH OF THE WATER COMES FROM THE FEDERAL WATER PROJECT.

LIKE THE KLAMATH BASIN, THEY ARE LOOKING AT HISTORICALLY LOW DELIVERIES.

THE HISTORICAL RECORD DOESN'T SHOW A DROUGHT AS DEEP AS THE ONE WE'RE IN NOW.

FARMERS AND ALSO A NUMBER OF CITIES, THEY MAY GET ZERO WATER FROM THE STATE WATER PROJECT, SO THE PRESSURE FOR INNOVATION INCREASES.

Falaschi: ZERO ALLOCATION MEANS THAT ABSOLUTELY ZERO WATER IS GONNA BE DELIVERED THROUGH OUR CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK, UNFAIRLY, AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN CRITICIZED AS BEING THE MONSTER THAT SWALLOWS ALL THE WATER.

THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

Smith: WHEN MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS FARMING, EVERYTHING WAS DIRT DITCHES.

FIELDS WERE FLOODED.

BUT IN THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS, THE UNDERGROUND DRIP HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.

SO THERE'S NO EVAPORATION LOSS.

THERE'S REALLY NO DRAIN WATER.

WE USE WHAT WE PUT OUT.

Doremus: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF IT FOR EVERYTHING WE WANT TO DO.

THERE ARE TOO MANY OF US WITH TOO MANY DIFFERENT DEMANDS AND VISIONS FOR WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO OUR WATER.

Falaschi: WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER SHORTAGES HERE.

WE HAVE ONE THAT'S DRIVEN BY A LACK OF RAINFALL, AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS WHAT WE CALL A REGULATORY DROUGHT.

WE'RE NOT BEING ABLE TO USE WATER THAT COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO US.

JUST BEING SET ASIDE FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THAT'S CALLED PURPOSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

Doremus: THE PEOPLE IN CITIES VOTE, AND IF IT COMES DOWN TO WHETHER WATER'S COMING OUT OF THE TAPS OR WHETHER FARMERS ARE GETTING IT-- THE FARMERS, THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, NOMINAL LEGAL RIGHT ISN'T NECESSARILY GONNA PUT THEM IN FIRST PLACE.

Smith: IN ORDER TO GROW FOOD IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE TO HAVE WATER TO IRRIGATE.

WITHOUT WATER, WITHOUT CHANGES TO OUR SYSTEM, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GROW FOOD HERE ANYMORE.

Mandell: I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DEBATE TO HAVE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER TO KEEP A THRIVING AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY GOING IN CALIFORNIA.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WATER USED FOR IRRIGATION PICKS UP MINERALS AND SALTS IN THE GROUND, AND SO WHEN THAT WATER IS DRAINED FROM THE SOIL, IT HAS A LOT OF SALT, AND IT'S NOT POTABLE, AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO JUST DISCHARGE THAT WATER INTO THE RIVER SYSTEMS ANYMORE.

Falaschi: WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH WHAT WE THINK ARE OUT-OF-THE-BOX IDEAS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY FINDING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE WAY TO DISPLACE SOME UNUSABLE WATER.

WE'VE DEVELOPED THIS REUSE AREA SO WE CAN TAKE THIS SALINE WATER AND DISPLACE IT HERE.

WE'RE ABLE TO GROW SALT-TOLERANT, AGGRESSIVE PLANTS, AND THAT'S THE JOSE TALL WHEATGRASS.

WE ALSO WANT TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A SUPPLEMENTAL WATER SUPPLY.

Mandell: WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS, WE'RE TAKING TWO OF THE MOST ABUNDANT RESOURCES ON THE PLANET, SOLAR ENERGY AND SALT WATER, AND WE'RE USING THEM TO PRODUCE FRESHWATER.

THIS IS A 400-KILOWATT RECEIVER THAT COLLECTS SOLAR RADIATION.

RATHER THAN MAKING ELECTRICITY DIRECTLY, WHAT WE DO HERE IS, WE MAKE HEAT, AND WE USE THAT HEAT TO DESALINATE WATER.

SO WHAT YOU NOTICE IS THAT THE MIRRORS ARE SHAPED AS A PARABOLA, AND THAT'S SO THAT AT EVERY SURFACE ON THE MIRROR, THE SUN REFLECTS DIRECTLY TO THAT CENTER CONCENTRATOR TUBE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE COLLECT THE HEAT.

THE COLLECTOR IS FULLY AUTOMATED.

IT WILL TRACK THE SUN ON ITS OWN, SO IT KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT POSITION IT NEEDS TO BE IN FOR THIS LOCATION.

Doremus: IF WE CAN TAKE THE SALT OUT OF THAT BRACKISH WATER, THEN IT COULD BE MORE USEFUL FOR AGRICULTURE.

IT COULD BE USED MORE TIMES.

Mandell: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT WATER IS THAT IT IS ENERGY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE SEE REUSING WATER LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING GOING FORWARD.

THERE'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND TECHNOLOGISTS TO COME IN HERE AND LOOK AT BETTER WAYS OF PROVIDING WATER.

Falaschi: OUR PROJECT IS WORKING BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS THAT IT WOULD.

Mandell: WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST IN STAGE ONE, AND THERE'S-- THERE'S MANY PHASES OF SCALING UP A TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS.

BUT PART OF OUR MISSION AT WATERFX IS TO BE WHAT WE CALL AN OPEN-SOURCE COMPANY, SO WE BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF ACTUALLY PROVIDING THIS TECHNOLOGY TO OTHER ENTREPRENEURS, OTHER TECHNOLOGISTS, OTHER DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO BUILD SOLAR DESALINATION PLANTS.

THIS IS KIND OF WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.

THIS IS OUR ABSORPTION HEAT PUMP.

IT'S THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED, AND THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO CONVERT THE HEAT THAT WE'VE CAPTURED FROM THE SUN INTO STEAM EFFICIENTLY TO DRIVE THE DESALINATION PROCESS.

WE USE A CHEMICAL PROCESS TO EFFICIENTLY GENERATE STEAM AND REUSE THE WASTE STEAM ONCE IT COMES OUT OF THE EVAPORATORS.

SO ONCE WE GENERATE THE STEAM, WE SEND IT OVERHEAD IN THIS LINE OVER HERE, AND THIS IS WHERE THE HEAT FROM THE SUN IS ACTUALLY EXCHANGED WITH THE WATER THAT WE'RE TREATING.

AND WHEN THEY COME IN CONTACT, IT CAUSES THE WATER TO BOIL OFF FROM THE SALT WATER, AND THEN WE CAPTURE THAT AS OUR PRODUCT WATER.

PART OF THIS-- THIS PROJECT HERE IS TO SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY COME HERE, COPY WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE'LL EVEN HELP THEM DO IT, PROVIDING THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS FOR HOW YOU CAN MAKE RENEWABLE DESALINATION AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE.

Thornhill: WATER'S LIMITED IN CALIFORNIA, SO WE WANT TO ALWAYS TAKE THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE USING AND TRY TO CONSTANTLY REDUCE IT.

[dramatic twangy music] ♫♫ [woman vocalizing] ♫♫ WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE VINEYARDS, WHAT I THINK ABOUT REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING?

THIS IS A WATERMARK.

IT'S A FAIRLY NEW DEVICE, AND IT TELLS US WHAT'S GOING ON 36 INCHES DOWN IN THE GROUND AS FAR AS AVAILABLE MOISTURE.

THAT'S HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS ON WHEN AND HOW LONG WE SHOULD RUN OUR IRRIGATION.

IN THE VINEYARD INDUSTRY 70 OR 80 YEARS AGO, THEY MOSTLY DID DRY FARMING, WHICH REALLY LIMITED THEM.

THEN THEY STARTED PUTTING OUT PORTABLE SPRINKLERS, BUT THE CONSUMPTION OF WATER WAS REALLY TOO MUCH.

50 YEARS AGO, THEY STARTED COMING UP WITH DRIPLINES.

SO YOU'VE GOT A SMALL PIECE OF POLY WITH A LITTLE DRIP EMITTER THAT ONLY DRIPS DROPS OF WATER RIGHT THERE AT THE ROOTS INSTEAD OF WATERING THE WHOLE FIELD.

WE ACTUALLY INSTALLED A SECOND LINE, SO THE 100 VINES THAT ARE IN A LITTLE MORE GRAVELY SOIL, I CAN WATER THEM SEPARATELY, INSTEAD OF WATERING ALL 7,000 VINES, AND HELP KEEP ALL THE VINES IN BALANCE.

THE BIGGER TASKS FOR ME THAT I TOOK ON PERSONALLY WAS THE WASTEWATER.

THEY HAD A POND HERE THAT WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WASTEWATER.

THE WINE THAT'S IN THE WATER LEAVES SUGAR IN THE WATER.

SUGAR CONSUMES OXYGEN OUT OF THE WATER, SO THEN THE WATER IS POLLUTED AND OFTEN PURPLE, OR AT LEAST IT USED TO BE.

SO WE FIGURED OUT SEVERAL WAYS TO START CLEANING THAT WATER UP.

THE FIRST THING WE NEEDED TO DO WAS REMOVE THE SUGAR OUT OF THE WATER, AND THE WAY WE'VE DONE THAT WAS BY INSTALLING TRICKLE TOWERS.

FROM THE WINERY, I'M BRINGING THE WATER DOWNHILL VIA GRAVITY.

THE WATER CASCADES ACROSS THIS STRUCTURE, WHICH I CALL HABITAT, AND IF THERE'S HABITAT AND FOOD, SOMETHING SHOWS UP TO EAT IT.

IN OUR CASE, IT'S FILAMENTOUS FUNGI, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE ALGAE, BUT IT CONSUMES SUGAR.

THEN I ADDED ANOTHER LAYER-- A FILTER.

IT'S CALLED PLUG FLOW.

WE LAID OUT A PATH THAT MAKES THE WATER GO ALL THE WAY BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH.

WE'RE TAKING THE LONGEST ROUTE POSSIBLE, SPENDING THE MOST AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE WETLAND, THEN LINING THE WHOLE THING WITH ROCKS AND AQUATIC PLANTS.

AND THEN WE PUT THE WATER BACK INTO THE POND IN FOUR LOCATIONS.

EACH OF THOSE IS A WATERFALL.

AND THESE WATERFALLS ARE DRIVING OXYGEN BACK INTO THE WATER.

SO ROCKS, PLANTS, GRAVITY, AERATION... WE'RE MIMICKING WHAT GOES ON IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

I CALL IT THE LIVING GREEN DIALYSIS MACHINE.

[gentle music] ♫♫ WHEN I SHOW UP FOR WORK EVERY MORNING AND SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE, IT'S VERY REWARDING.

I'LL CREDIT MY NEPHEW FOR INSPIRING ME.

WE'RE GENERATING 100 POUNDS OF VEGETABLES A WEEK.

- SOME CHAMOMILE.

Thornhill: AND HE SAID, "GOSH, YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE "REALLY GREAT WOULD BE IF WE WERE ABLE TO FEED ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES FROM WITHIN THE PROPERTY."

AND I JUST WENT, "AH, OF COURSE."

IT'S WONDERFUL WATCHING THEM ALL WALK AWAY WITH A BOX OF VEGETABLES.

WE AS INDIVIDUALS CAN HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ONE AT A TIME IF WE ALL STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE TURN THE TAP ON AND... [ringing] [melodic ringing] Doremus: THE SHORT-TERM FUTURE IS GONNA BE A LOT ABOUT CONFLICT BECAUSE WE NEED TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH LIMITED SUPPLIES.

[soft chiming music] ♫♫ - FOOD SPECIFICALLY IS A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

IT'S--IT'S A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND JUST HOW IMPORTANT WATER IS AND WHAT IT PROVIDES US.

Smith: THERE'S JUST THIS BALANCE THAT WE NEED TO STRIKE.

WE'RE ALL WATER USERS WHEN WE EAT.

♫♫ [ringing] - IF I COULD BE ANY VEGETABLE... - WOW.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS ONE?

- IF I COULD BE ANY VEGETABLES, I'D HAVE TO SAY IT'D BE A TOMATO.

- COME ON.

DID YOU FINALLY DIE?

- I WOULD PROBABLY BE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.

- DOES IT HAVE TO BE A VEGETABLE, OR CAN I PICK ANY FOOD?

- BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD.

- CAN I PICK A NUT?

- A REALLY GOOD, TASTY TOMATO.

man: HE'S NOT REALLY DEAD, RIGHT?

- PRETTY CLOSE.

- I WOULD BE A PISTACHIO NUT.