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| snow shoes are essential in the winter |
A yurt is a circular home. The structure is made from a round, latticed wooden frame & a waterproof fabric is stretched over the top. Yurts were originally a nomadic dwelling (Mongolia & central Asia), however this one is more permanent (although the creator said it was designed to fit in a U-Haul!). This particular yurt, as with many found in North America, is insulated with foil bubblewrap.
Where is it?
This Canadian Yurt lives in Gaspé, Québec. There's forest all around & a 20 minute walk to the sea. It's one of the quietest, most peaceful places on Earth.
What kind of weather & temperatures are there?
The temperatures oscillate between -30C to +30C. With the wood burning stove, it's rare to be cold inside. We also had a little heater set on a timer for 30 mins before we got up. There's an average of 3.8m of snow a year ~ if the snow is left on the roof, the yurt can collapse from the weight. We use snowshoes whenever we leave the yurt - yes, even going to the toilet. The sunny, summer days are stiflingly hot. If the door is open we are invaded by flies & mosquitoes. There are modifications which could be made, however we won't spend the entire summer here so will leave that to the next yurt lovers.
What size is your yurt?
The yurt measures 5.8m/19'10" across & is about 1.8m/6' at its lowest & 2.25m/7'4" at its highest point.(see below for more measurements)
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| we pulled the water on a sledge |
We have a 20 liter container (& a mounting collection of 3&4 liter bottles) which is filled up at the nearby house. Which, incidentally, has delicious spring water.
We use water very sparingly when we wash dishes. In winter we fill pans with snow, which melts inside & we use that for cleaning the dishes (& to prevent the yurt from becoming dry).
We bathe/shower in the nearby house (or swimming pool & even took a plunge in the forest creek with a beaver).
We bathe/shower in the nearby house (or swimming pool & even took a plunge in the forest creek with a beaver).
What about a toilet?
Our toilet is literally a bucket of sawdust aka a composting toilet, which is about 30 steps away from the yurt. It's emptied into a compost pile a safe distance from where we live. It is less smelly than a toilet in a house (nor have we noticed the smell from the compost pile).
What about electricity?
There is an underground electricity cable connecting the yurt to a nearby house. We have around 5000v, which means it 'breaks' when we have a heater, kettle & oven on at the same time (we have to go to the house to trip the switch, or change a fuse sometimes if we forget & put everything on sleepily in the winter mornings!).
Our toilet is literally a bucket of sawdust aka a composting toilet, which is about 30 steps away from the yurt. It's emptied into a compost pile a safe distance from where we live. It is less smelly than a toilet in a house (nor have we noticed the smell from the compost pile).
What about electricity?
There is an underground electricity cable connecting the yurt to a nearby house. We have around 5000v, which means it 'breaks' when we have a heater, kettle & oven on at the same time (we have to go to the house to trip the switch, or change a fuse sometimes if we forget & put everything on sleepily in the winter mornings!).
What's it like to live in a yurt?
Awesome. i would live in one for the rest of my life, if my lifestyle would permit it! Here's 10 things i love about it!
Who Built it?
A musician built the yurt with the help of 2 friends...retired yurt builders(!) around 2009. She sold it to another musician (upon whose land she built it) in 2012. My boyfriend begun staying here in September 2012 & i joined him in January 2013. Given its musical lineage, it's not surprising that i began to play the kalimba since arriving.
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| yurt skylight |
Overall:
* Diameter: 5.8m/ 19'10" (from the lattice to inside the door frame)
* Height: 2.7m/ 8'9" (2 central poles, measured from skylight to floor - highest point of skylight approx +10cm)
Roof:
* Length of roof beams: central skylight ring, to lattice: 2.16m/ 7'11" (45 beams in total)
(Note: this includes a slight overlap going inside central skylight ring - most likely cut into smaller shapes to fit inside & support ring - so prob a 8ft beam used.)
* Width/depth of roof beams: 3.5cm/1.3" x 4.5cm/1.6"(Note: this includes a slight overlap going inside central skylight ring - most likely cut into smaller shapes to fit inside & support ring - so prob a 8ft beam used.)
Lattice frame: (90 beams for the lattice)
* Length of lattice beams: 2m / 6'6"
* Door frame height: 1.8m/ 6'
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| lunch in Spring, overlooking the crowded, busy forest |
Got another question about yurt living??? Let me know & i'll do my best to answer it, being aware that i only *live*** here, we weren't involved in the building/purchasing process.
Here's a video about the whole shabang..
This Canadian Yurt from love thru a lens on Vimeo.
If you could move the yurt anywhere else- where would you move it?
ReplyDeleteHow much yoghurt could fit into the yurt?
Does it attract or repel hippos?