I had the loveliest dinner last night. A true “Yurt Dinner”, there were three couples who live in yurts, one couple that has spent the last 7 years building a hexagonal, yurt-like strawbale home, and two couples seriously considering yurt living.
Valley view
Kim and Russell, our hosts, recently purchased a magnificent yurt from a couple in their 70’s (heading south to escape north Idaho’s cold, grey winters). The yurt sits on a bluff with a view of valley and mountains for miles around.
Kitchen & loft ladder
The main floor is a 30′ fabric yurt from Pacific Yurts. When you
enter the yurt, to your right is a loft with a bathroom below (complete
with shower and flush toilet). The central loft wall adjoins the kitchen, as you can see in the picture here. There is also a study space surrounded by shoji screens for privacy.
Screens create an office
And..oh yes…there’s a sauna
Yurt Sauna
downstairs…
Upper and lower floors are connected by a spiral staircase. The lower floor has walls of concrete encasing bedrooms and reading room, with a hydronicaly heated slab floor. Both sauna and hydronics are powered by electricity. Despite frequent use of the
sauna and keeping the hydronics in the mid 60’s, Russell said their
last electrical bill was only $56!
Before dinner our group tromped down a snowy path to the Todd and
Monica’s yurt across the road (more on Todd and Monica’s in a future post). Suffice it to say it was all very educational, the group was warm and enthusiastic, and Kim’s chili and Monica’s molasses cookies made for an exceptional potluck!!
Be warm, be well, and remember…
home is where the yurt is!
becky
3 Responses to “A Yurt dinner…”
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Nice story, Becky! I’ve had my heart fixed on a yurt for years now. A friend just outside Santa Fe, NM used to hold meditation and circle dances in her 30 foot yurt. Then, another friend in Taos put up her yurt (with help from the company) on a land lot and had a total mortgage of $23,000 including utility installations for plumbing (kitchen sink) and electric. At the time, an outhouse was still legal there (1999). O also spent a weekend in Pagosa Springs, Colorado at a New Year’s chanting retreat with Tsultrim Allione. Each situation, so spacious. I’m in the five college area of Amherst, MA. now, and researching a more temperate climate for my life in a yurt(or two). Thanks for your inspiring story. Ziji Beth
Hello Becky,
I bought your book and I am thoroughly enjoying the contents. Tho’t I’d log on to your site, nice job. I am enjoying learning all about this alternative style of housing. I tho’t you might like to know the thumbnail image of you book has a bad link to powells.com.
Hello Becky,
I bought your book and I am thoroughly enjoying the contents. Tho’t I’d log on to your site, nice job. I am enjoying learning all about this alternative style of housing. I tho’t you might like to know the thumbnail image of you book has a bad link to powells.com.