Living in a Yurt

[ssrebq]

Hi...I am new to this forum... and was wondering if anyone has lived in a yurt for an extended period of time with children? We have 4 and would like to aim for a two year time frame in a yurt while researching eco friendly ways to build our home. Any ideas or suggestions would be great as we are just beginning to make our plans for an August move! Thanks!

[sunanthem]

There are a few mamas on here that could help you. I know Addy'sMom is building a yurt right now.
You can make a yurt as simple or as elegant as you would like. Who says you can't have marble floors if you want to. ???

[ssrebq]

Wow that was fast!! I'd love to hear from her... it doesn't need to be fancy, just be able to withstand Vermont winters!!

[prana]

I've never been in a yurt, but have always been fascinated by them!

[ssrebq]

We've been looking at Pacific Yurts and Rainier but haven't made any decisions on it yet. We won't have the time to build our own yurt before winter but I understand that a 30' yurt can be put up (by willing friends and us) in a few days. The kids are stoked and wanting to help! If you've never been in one, there are some vacation places that rent them out... we stayed in one in Colorado. There are lots of them out west I understand.

[annethcz]

Have you seen this thread in the country living/ off the grid forum?
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=890004

[ssrebq]

Thanks, I will check it out... !

[greentara_mama]

Originally Posted by ssrebq

Wow that was fast!! I'd love to hear from her... it doesn't need to be fancy, just be able to withstand Vermont winters!!

hey mama- we are in N. Vt too! I lived in a yurt in Northern California. It was fun for awhile, but we had an outdoor kitchen and "bathroom" and only cold water. If you do it- have warm water and at least a good outhouse and indoor kitchen! I know someone who lived in a yurt here- they stuffed straw bales under the platform to insulate, and hung wool blankets on the sides in addition to the reflectix insulation. A good woodstove and a lot of wood are a must. Have you ever lived through a winter here? Good luck!

[k9wife]

I would LOVE to live in a yurt. but my mainstream dh would have no part of that. I do as best as I can to live as green as we live.

[jeca]

What's a yurt : like an RV?

[pixiepunk]

not quite

check out this webpage for the basic gist: www.coloradoyurt.com

[ssrebq]

Thanks for responding everyone!

Actually, we have spent 5 winters here and every year we say we will go to "all wood" but have relied on oil and in drafty farm houses it is really expensive and draining! The yurt we are buying is going to be home for 18 months or maybe longer--so yes, hot water will be a necessity!! After seeing some 24 and 30' yurts, they are so different from an RV... first of all, they aren't as portable... the deck is quite a project... and secondly, they are beautiful inside... whatever you want them to be. I have never lived in such a small space but am looking forward to it. P.S. The straw bale idea is great... you can always replace them if they get damp or whatever!

[Mallori]

I've always thought these were cool. My dream is to live in one on our own land while we build a cordwood house.

Not going to happen anytime soon...but one can dream, right?

[laketahoemama]

I'm curious about yurts too. Does anyone know what the outer material is made of? Is it PVC?

[Astrogirl]

If anyone needs or want any Yurt books - I have 2 - i have doubles of them and I'm desperately trying to declutter! Pm me if you are interested. :

I am a Yurt fanatic! I have this 5 year plan for mortgage free living and i'm HOPING a Yurt will fit into that plan - we are going with some sort of 'temporary housing' option but not sure what yet. So I'd love to be part of a new Yurt thread and reading along and contributing what i can!

[moodymaximus]

how old are your children? we are considering a yurt in a few years, and the kids will be 8, 5, and 2. i wonder if it is doable.

[ssrebq]

Hi all...

As for with children, mine are 12, 11, 8, and 6 and we are hoping/thinking that they will thrive with the closeness we will have...and also, we are aspiring to have the kids really involved in the building of the interior. We found some hammock style "beds" that can be hooked onto the loft areas so with any luck...it will be an adventure for them!
Astrogirl...I would love one of your yurt books if it's still available...I already have Becky Kemery's Yurts" living in the Round. Also, we have the same goal of no mortgage...that is going to be such a nice feeling...and it will free us up to have more free time with the kids.
Laketahoemama-- the exteriors are normally canvas (many different kinds) on the outer wall of a lattice framework either made of maple or whatever.
Good luck with all yurt dwellers--or potential yurt dwellers!!

[DocsNemesis]

I'm getting a yurt for our backyard once we move, since I dont think I can convince my apt complex to let me have one, lol. Obviously I wont be living in it, but I think I'm going to be homeschooling my dd this year and if we decide to continue, having the yurt as our homeschool space will be awsome! If not, it'd still make an awsome place for a big play room or possibly a work area for dh or....well, theres a lot of things we could use it for! And I can have some electricity out there too, along with the pellet stove we already have waiting. Maybe I should just stick all the kids out there....(kidding, lol)

[Green Phoenix]

Yurt Living in less than 3 years!

We are saving money for the land right now! We hope to be living in our paid for Yurt on our paid for land within 3 short years! (2 if I get a job! lol!)

While we live in the Yurt, we will build a eco home (not sure which one yet), and pay for it with cash and build it ourselves. It will take 3-5 years to completely finish, but that is ok.

Mortgage Free Living -- here we come!

[dillonandmarasmom]

It's great to see so many yurt (and potential yurt) dwellers! I think we'll probably opt for a yurt while we build our dream home, too. It's all part of the grand plan...