Helen sees a way to win Charlie's approval when he takes a shine to one of the rescues at her pet adoption. Unfortunately, it's a disgusting animal of unknown origin named Gutterball who has to stay with the Goodes because Charlie's "home" doesn't allow pets. While Helen copes with Gutterball, Che gives Gerald a hand with the college's squirrel problem.
The Goodes' chances of being featured on the all-important organic garden tour is threatened when Helen injures her back. Help in form of a Latino gardening crew comes their way, along with a former Burmese childhood pen pal of Helen's. The Goodes discover they have unknowingly exploited the workers, just as the committee arrives to inspect their garden. Meanwhile, Ubuntu and Bliss try an experiment in the new economy tactic of "trading up."