Benefits Outweigh Problems in Yurt

It's been a month in our new yurt, and the problems are starting to come out of the woodwork (sorry, I mean tarpaulin).

First, the roof tarpaulin.  In a previous article, I mentioned that the tarp was about 3-5 degrees off the original 30-degree design.  To date, we haven't tightened up the loose fabric.  With our usual late summer winds, we've had to visualize that we are living on a sailboat, with a loose, unfurled sail flapping in the breeze.  It's the best way to overcome the annoyance of the constant wind-whipped noise.

Next, the plumbing.  Our grey-water recovery system is working perfectly.  A simple 235-liter drum collects all the waste from our kitchen and bathroom sink, and is promptly used on our gardens.  However, we have not been so fortunate with our human waste issues.  I had opted to empty the toilet directly into an RV portable transfer tank beneath the washroom.  Firstly, the flex hose trapped all the waste, and I was left with the unpleasant chore of unhooking an overflowed, stuffed-like-a-turkey waste pipe and installing abs 45-degree elbows.  We had hoped that using a spray tank to wash down all waste.  However, a half-cup of water is insufficient to move most waste, so we are using a lot more water than anticipated.

Electricity has been equally frustrating, with problems with our inverters, one of our generators, and the power consumption ratings for our small refrigerator.  Fortunately, we have solved almost all those issues, and have a very effective & efficient lighting system.

Placement of our windows hasn't been optimal, either.  Because of our site layout, the three yurt windows were installed at spacing about 40-60 degrees from each other.  That means that cross-ventilation is limited, and we have really felt the heat!

Roads are the most significant annoyance.  Constant and intense rain, in an area where rainfall in July and August is historically minimal, means that we are using a bush trail, with our Prius, to get to the yurt.  I dread winter!

Yet, with all these inconveniences, the yurt life is the life for me!  No mortgage, little cost, freedom, solitude, and the feeling that we are denting our environment only minimally, all are uplifting elements.  So, problems have happened, but they are far, far less than the benefits.

Bob is a former business consultant, who currently operates a pesticide-free, herbicide-free market garden in Manitoba, Canada. He and his wife, Janice, have designed and are building their own yurt, where they will live year-round. He is recording his progress on his blog, http://movingtoayurt.blogspot.com