Practicalities Part 2

OK, so we're going with a yurt. I began looking for a used yurt in the 20-24ft size range. No luck. I also researched new yurts. We found a yurt company close by in Taos, NM. Fortress Yurts builds their yurts off grid. They locally source their lumber whenever possible and they send a person to hand pick each piece of lumber used in their yurts. They also use glass windows. I reached out to them and they have been super helpful and friendly. We talked size, we talked platform plans, we talked colors.

At this time, Brent and I are awaiting a few color swatches they are sending to us to see. We have decided that we can make a 20ft yurt work for us. We will have an 8'x20' shipping container (rented) on site for storing our household goods so we don't need to have a storage unit in town – the price is the same per month. The container will be large enough to hold some of the tools we'll be needing as well and it's rodent and water proof and lockable.

So, what about power? What about internet (remember, Brent telecommutes)? What about water? Um, what about, ya know, the bathroom? Oh, and the platform the yurt needs.

We have spoken with Cooper Power Solutions LLC and will be meeting with them this week. These sisters are the two most highly recommended by everyone we spoke with. Our contractor thinks highly of their work. We will be getting our solar system for the house ahead of the house being built and will be able to use it while in the yurt. We aren't sure yet if it will be an expandable system (small for the yurt, but will expand it once the house is ready for it), or if we'll just go right ahead and size it for the house now. Once we have power, we'll contact the internet company. They are who we are currently using at the rental and they are already aware that we will be shifting addresses with them. Their system works by direct line of sight radio signals. The new place is closer and our speed will actually be faster. (This is so much better than the satellite internet we had in Maine – faster and no monthly data cap.)

As soon as we close on the property (this Wednesday), we will contact our well driller and get him started on the permitting process and get our water well drilled.

Ah, so the bathroom. We'll be using a composting toilet system as is very common with tiny homes and yurts. As for a shower, it will likely be pretty much a solar camping shower or bucket baths. We'll see as this is still evolving.

As for the yurt platform, that will be discussed in the next post.