Couple Living in a Yurt as a Simple & Affordable Tiny House Alternative

Рет қаралды 312,893

3 ай бұрын

Leah and Joe are an adventurous couple who moved from a log cabin into a skoolie, and then into a yurt! They are now living full-time in a tiny yurt with their two black cats in Ontario, Canada. The yurt is 20' in diameter and 314 square feet on the interior, the round structure is made of white pine lattice walls and roof rafters, and it is covered with wool felt insulation, a vapour barrier, and a canvas cover on the exterior.
You can follow and find out more about Leah and Joe's yurt life adventures, and find out about the yurt rentals they're planning to set up on their land on Facebook and Instagram here:
profile.php?...
/ mindful_makwa
Joe and Leah's yurt is a 20' Mongolian Yurt (or super ger). These beautiful yurts are made in Mongolia and are distributed by Groovy Yurts. You can check them out here:
www.groovyyurts.com/
At the time of filming, Leah and Joe had only been living in the yurt for 5 months, but they had already built a massive deck, set up their yurt as a cozy home, built an outhouse, brought in an electrical panel, built a woodshed and outdoor shower, and had a well drilled.
Their future plans include adding a septic system, and building a comfort station with an indoor shower and toilet, and they're also looking into setting up a small yurt resort so that folks can visit the First Nation reserve where they live, and experience living and sleeping in a yurt.
Thanks for watching!
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CREDITS
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Music Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Editing Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credit: Exploring Alternatives
#yurt #yurtlife #tinyhouse

Пікірлер: 220

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! You can follow Leah and Joe at The Mindful Makwa here: instagram.com/mindful_makwa facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555845030001 And you can also find out more about Groovy Yurts here: www.groovyyurts.com/

@princeayre8370 3 ай бұрын

You are amazing. You are living my dream. I wish you only the best ❤😊

@yushikuang7877 3 ай бұрын

This is cheaper than a new car and it’s beautiful. All the natural wood and the round shape is so cozy. I love it!

@scrubjay93 3 ай бұрын

I lived with my boyfriend in an off-grid yurt for a year. It was outfitted with power from both solar panels and a micro-hydro unit driven by an ephemeral stream in the winter. We grew vegetables with gray water and had a nice composting toilet in a room built under the deck. I really feel like the circular open space made it a harmonious place to live. I have often considered living in one again. Thanks for sharing your experience! 💚

@baranjan4172 3 ай бұрын

composting is definitely the way to go with so much land around.

@foxmulder7616 3 ай бұрын

Where is it legal to live in a yurt full time?

@baranjan4172 3 ай бұрын

@@foxmulder7616in Mongolia 🙂 In Slovakia too. If you have a garden you can put up a yurt and live in it. It's nobody's business. As long as the building has no firm foundation and is not connected to anything, you only need to notify the city about it being built but you don't need their permission. They have no say. And if you want to connect it to gas, electricity , sewage - you can get a permit easily.

@UluslararasKadnVakf-jq9fq 3 ай бұрын

We are a women's protection foundation that teaches women to survive in times of war and earthquakes. We are following you from Turkey.

@alexandragatto 3 ай бұрын

I was pretty intrigued until they said they can't cook in there and have an outdoor toilet and shower (that can't be used in the winter.) Their current set-up is more of emergency/survival mode housing than a permanent home. That said, it's lovely! A great budget option for an off-grid camp, for example, but most people need more home comforts and conveniences than that for the long haul.

@williecourthers9450 3 ай бұрын

Very good points.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

other yurt dwellers do cook and even shower in their yurts - key being ventilation. Mongolians themselves cannot imagine having a toilet inside their home, but many here use a simple composing toilet - the Humanure system being one of the simplest, we use it ourselves.

@nickmoore385 3 ай бұрын

What a beautiful place they've made. Thanks for the video.

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

You're very welcome, happy you enjoyed it :)

@Em-mr6wu 3 ай бұрын

ooh I love this......thank you. Great name too. In Manitoba the bear is "maskwa". I hope you can do an update on these folks when they get the water and other expansions done.

@bradbates2339 3 ай бұрын

This is an interesting alternative! It might appeal to me more as a summer cabin. Kudos to the work they've done to make it their life.

@cathylynnpietranton 3 ай бұрын

We think this is a lovely place and they seem to be very happy with their choice. Thank you Matt and Danielle for sharing their story.❤❤

@laurabotts4064 3 ай бұрын

The Yurt is a very interesting financial alternative for a home. This couple are very adventurous and you would have to be that type of person to give it a go. The Yuet is definitely ideal for a hunting camp or a bnb but for me I couldn't live in one. Too many difficult situations to work around but I could and have berm interested in tiny houses where it's very affordable and you have your Hydro and water. I have to give this couple a big hand for their hard work and determination to make the Yurt work for their life and situations. These people are brave !!

@UrThickQueen 3 ай бұрын

I go on vacation and stay in a yurt every summer. It is the coolest thing ever.

@user-fd2rk7ug5y 3 ай бұрын

Love that place,, those yurts look cool to live in ,, happy living.

@Kitty_cat2001 3 ай бұрын

Fantastic-I didn’t realise how cheap the yurt’s are. I hope they end up linking the well with the bathroom/kitchen/laundry to the main yurt for ease & comfort? Australia 🇦🇺

@BarradaleFarm 3 ай бұрын

Sweet yurt home. Enjoy guys! We are a family of 6 and have lived off-grid in a 30ft yurt for nearly 5 years. It is a bit of a different building, but ours has become a sweet and cosy home. Though it does better in winter than summer, they are hard to keep cool and Australia gets bloody hot.

@pawshands9706 3 ай бұрын

A very comfy option. It looks good for pets too.

@jocelynelangis777 3 ай бұрын

Great lesson of simple life. But not so easy.love their way of figuring out this beautiful round space. Thanks for this great movie.

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment :)

@suezaple4950 3 ай бұрын

I love yurts , Yours is comfy cozy and couldn't be in a better place than Ontario, Lovely Deck as well. You could insulate your pipes for the shower and outdoor bathroom live and learn as you go. you eventually can purchase a water storage tank and collect rain water... or truck it in and just insulate . but you folks are well on the way it will all come together. Love it ! Watching from Ontario Canada .

@amandacummins9301 3 ай бұрын

Loved all this Just as an idea you could put a tarp on the floor outside and pull the tarp backwards to get all the snow off without sweeping the snow away but that’s an idea you could do. You could put a wooden walkway to the toilet. You can put a hungry hippo or condensation tub with a plastic see through lid with holes to prevent cats getting into it. The instructions say to use the entire box but you can use for half and it lasts a year. Create a second yurt for bathroom so therefore who says you should have only one Thanks for inspiring me have a great day

@GovolvTravel 3 ай бұрын

This definitely would be a great alternative for off grid living. Great information in this video 👍

@jeremytorgersen 3 ай бұрын

Chop wood, carry water! Something I am getting ready to do as well. I quite like the Yurt they have built, I have been considering a Yurt, along with a Geodesic Dome, and possible an A-Frame Cabin. Looks like they live in a beautiful area as well!

@paulroesner 23 күн бұрын

Great mindsets! Thanks for sharing.

@WillowsGreenPermaculture 3 ай бұрын

A beautiful place. And it's so great getting the explanations of the kinds of things you have to do differently in order to live in a yurt like this. It's fantastic, because it's a great intro for people interested in living like this and wanting to learn more! Very well done Leah and Joe - you are very courageous and creative! And very well done Exploring Alternatives! Thank you for sharing this!

@offairhead 3 ай бұрын

Such a beautiful home.

@AndeePandCompany 3 ай бұрын

Lost me at no bathroom, no cooking indoors, and a smoke filled room from the wood burning stove. But cute for a weekend summer camping!

@veronicabrowning5194 3 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@greenbamboo4264 3 ай бұрын

I love this lifestyle, it’s a beautiful way to live. My only concern would be mold over time.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

apart of some precautions at set-up, ventilation is the key. The beauty of the authentic yurt is that it breathes and if ever mold attacked - it is easy to take care of it thanks to the simple constructions and few layers

@lynnmk2384 3 ай бұрын

Sooooooo cute

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thank you :)

@mariefpaul1875 3 ай бұрын

This home is beautiful. ❤❤❤

@yk303kk 3 ай бұрын

I love this guy

@bethmoore-love4223 3 ай бұрын

I also live in a yurt, for ten years! May I suggest putting it on the ground with a brick floor instead of on a deck, it will be a great deal warmer, and you won't need to burn so much wood. I don't need to get up and stoke the fire at night. Putting yurts on decks is popular on this side of the pond, but it doesn't make good sense, because that ruins their natural insulation capacity. Mongolians don't put theirs on decks for a very good reason!

@mindfulmakwa 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the suggestions! It's awesome to hear about others living in Yurts. We love ours and haven't had a problem heating it with very little wood 3-4 pieces in a 24hr period. Our floor is insulated and we did the two l layers of felt insulation. Maybe a bit overkill but we didn't want to worry about freezing. We have a very efficient woodstove that also helps. Thanks for watching!

@CuzmicTarot 3 ай бұрын

Oh This Was such a great Treat! ❤😅😊 Beautiful Home 🏡. I look forward to seeing more Interviews. Am sure we all do! ❤

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! Happy you enjoyed meeting Leah and Joe :)

@nicolelafontaine1720 3 ай бұрын

This is quite inspiring !

@kerrycharlton7073 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful home. Looks so spacious and comfortable. ❤

@Marcel_Sagittarius 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. Good work.

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thank you :)

@seantran6689 3 ай бұрын

What a great story 😊

@lilyineden 3 ай бұрын

Omg so beautiful beautiful.🧡🍂

@elzaaltmann 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful

@ruolov1 3 ай бұрын

At least, they hear owls and not noisy, disgruntled neighbors.

@DebbiePotter-xh7kv Ай бұрын

I could totally live in that. Very nice

@bethcollier3789 3 ай бұрын

Hi, inspiring video. I've been over to the fb page and love the yurt. Best of luck for your future in your yurt.

@VondaPotts-ce8bi 3 ай бұрын

It is beautiful

@Houseds 3 ай бұрын

Living in a Yurt is fun and a very affordable alternative to a tiny house

@toniaingle1382 3 ай бұрын

Very beautiful

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching :)

@vinnyheaphy1372 3 ай бұрын

I have 5 sided Star Plates that are metal so I can build a 5 sided straight walled Yurt-like house with an upstair bedroom loft. I like the outside covered & cooking & 🚿 showering areas but I would include a single washing machine with no dryer since there is plenty of warm sunshine here in Arizona for drying clothes!! A Solar water heater is easy to build too!!!

@fedepatagonia 3 ай бұрын

great couple and beatiful home

@josephpickin3367 2 ай бұрын

Wonderful home guys - kudos and than you for sharing - stay safe and enjoy the nature oxo

@silkeeberle8484 3 ай бұрын

Sauna! That'll fix the shower Situation.

@swhiting100 3 ай бұрын

Nice people.

@KiKiWhispersASMR 3 ай бұрын

It looks lovely

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking out the video, happy you enjoyed it :)

@marsha6549 3 ай бұрын

As a disabled person,using an aluminum walker or rollator, I would have liked this twenty years ago or more. It's one level, which is great. That's a great advantage for certain people.

@11danceful 3 ай бұрын

Awesome

@joanneganon7157 3 ай бұрын

It sounds like you are gaining all the time 🎉. Keep moving forward, you'll get there! JO JO IN VT 💞

@maggie4475 2 ай бұрын

It’s nice, looks comfy, but no running water, shower and cooking , it’s definitely needed… I would build a nice fence around the whole yurt and deck… but definitely it’s beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@urbannomadslife 3 ай бұрын

Congratulations on the new boat! It's gonna be awesome! 😎 🚢 ⛵ 🎉

@Tam.I.am. 3 ай бұрын

I grew up with an outhouse. Even when I'm ill I don't like flush toilets, because of how they spray when flushed. The thing I'm most glad about is actually that no one can come and push the inside toilet over while I'm in it! XD

@deannesanv8931 3 ай бұрын

Do you have to keep the snow cleared from the deck so it won’t melt and seep inside? Here in New Hampshire, we build the yurt floors the same size as the lattice walls, with a lip to hold them on and the cover goes down over the side so there is no place for water or melting snow to get in. I like the deck idea, but it seems problematic from the water perspective.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

their deck is built just like you describe :-) It is indeed the best way to keep water out

@AMPProf 2 ай бұрын

This works in Florida and Louisiana really well

@adventurousloner 3 ай бұрын

I like yurts. I just prefer solid walls. It can be done in yurt style. Add a thin layer of concrete.

@user-rq7ug4dg9h 3 ай бұрын

I wish you the best

@emilyfeagin2673 3 ай бұрын

Very nice!

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the visit :)

@CasperChicago Ай бұрын

Very minimal and pleasent home. You have a toilet and a kitchen outside which is OK. I would come up with some kind of inside shower. The one thing I could not do is you obviously do not have a paved road; that means you must have a truck to drive in and out of the area. Once again, it proves you can have a nice place without having a conventional home with mortgage 👍🏾

@jamesmatheson5115 3 ай бұрын

Really amazing what you have achieved, this little lady is building her home mostly on her own, her channel is Simple Living with Biata, she would like it for you to say hello.

@benderbender1233 3 ай бұрын

this is the wayyyyy 🖖

@Rajiin 3 ай бұрын

A community like this would be dope . I need people to cheat with 😂

@IslandKate 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful. But how do you keep the bears out? They are pretty plentiful in this area and will definitely try to get in if they smell snacks....☹️

@delton503 3 ай бұрын

A boot I love it…😅

@gregpendrey6711 3 ай бұрын

She said ootdoors. Nice place.

@CarlCampbell 3 ай бұрын

I'm jealous of all these people that live in places where land seems cheap as chips and you can pretty much build anything you like. Where I live in Spain, land is always at a premium and then you have to conform to local laws. If you told the local government you intend to erect anything other than a brick and morter 3-bedroom house they'd assume you're crazy plus you wouldn't get permission to do so. Anyone else find themselves in a similar situation?

@catscattying943 3 ай бұрын

This couple are putting in money and effort to make the yurt more livable and in a few years they’ll just get a house built if they want to age in place. This is not for older folk. But not all money is lost, this Yurt can be their Airbnb or a guest space.

@justthink5854 3 ай бұрын

until they outlaw bnb's there too

@jsweet8686 3 ай бұрын

I think they are saving up for a log cabin. The problem with log cabins is that they are drafty where the logs are not totally flush. The yurt would be a warm backup if the build their log cabin.

@MarinaEariel 3 ай бұрын

@@justthink5854most locations don't outright outlaw Airbnb, but allow it when the owner really lives on the same premises, so they wouldn't have an issue of that's the case

@macp5992 3 ай бұрын

Wow amazing 🤩….my question is how do you two deal with potential wild animals?! lol

@mindfulmakwa 2 ай бұрын

We just live with nature and the animals lol Joe had an issue with a Squirrel stealing toilet paper but he had to get crafty to lock the toilet paper up lol

@drissaudia1323 2 ай бұрын

Cool fun home. What’s all the white color on the deck, paint?

@mindfulmakwa 2 ай бұрын

The deck is all natural hemlock, no paint. The wood was still wet when we put it down and has dried to a light greyish color now. But the 'white', that is snow 😊

@MarkDemarest 3 ай бұрын

Is that an emporor size bed?!? 🤯❤ I want one! 🤤

@andrearoy4658 3 ай бұрын

So relate to no running water or if I'm ill. I've thought of a yurt. It's always wonderful to get feedback. I have a question, please. Just wondering how much wood is used in a month in the coldest month? Just wondering. I have 0 electricity for heat, just generator and propane. Thank you both for making the time.

@williecourthers9450 3 ай бұрын

Does cooking outdoors attract bears since they live on 6 acres in the woods? Surely they have bears in woods. My understanding is the reason they don't cook inside is because of condensation. That would be a negative for me. I would get tired of going outside to cook in cold. The setup seems perfect for a camping lodge. But would have too many challenges for a permanent residence especially as you get older. Taking a shower outdoors with arthritis or joint pain wouldn't be fun.

@rainydaylady6596 3 ай бұрын

I would need a bathroom addition. Going outside as often when you're older as some of us have to would be awful. There would need to be an air exchange system to take care of moisture and getting fresh air intake for the stove.

@williecourthers9450 3 ай бұрын

@@rainydaylady6596 Totally agree.

@veera5734 3 ай бұрын

Where else people live like this? in Mongol and in Nomads in Tibet The tent Design is that of Tibetan

@VanJolene 3 ай бұрын

This is a fine example of cultural appropriation

@merryfergie 3 ай бұрын

In southern Oregon, many people live in yurts. I met a family of 5 living in yurts. They had 2 yurts connected by a breeze way. The bathroom/washroom was off the breeze way. The 3 children lived in 1 yurt where there was a fully functioning kitchen, The parents slept in the other yurt. The yurt is on 15 acres. Full electrical & water.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

This one is an authentic yurt (or ger) from Mongolia

@user-rq7ug4dg9h 3 ай бұрын

It's better to build ourselves Because it's very expensive this day's in all over the world Thanks..iam going to build one But using stone and metals and mud

@postscriptum9824 3 ай бұрын

What about the permits and the water and electricity? The cost isn't an issue for most people. Have you got some pointers?

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

they are on First Nation land so permit is no issue and have access to the grid. Not all municipalities are yurt friendly, but permits can be obtained with a bit of energy. Key word: seasonal dwelling.

@mendyviola 3 ай бұрын

The no indoor bathroom that far north is a full stop for me.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

it is possible to install though :-)

@odkhuu 3 ай бұрын

Mongolian Yurt

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

or ger :-)

@odkhuu 2 ай бұрын

ger generally means home . thats a direct translation. i can live in an apartment in ulaanbaatar and still call it my ger. Yurt is more technical term that describes this@@Groovyyurts

@SpaceBoots64 3 ай бұрын

Bedframe with a headboard

@go.gators 3 ай бұрын

❤

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching :)

@d12tu68 3 ай бұрын

👍👍👍

@bobtukita432 3 ай бұрын

🥰

@joannenolan6175 3 ай бұрын

No mortgage ✔️✔️

@70dega31 3 ай бұрын

Very nice. Just a question about the land. Is it your own or do you rent it? Thanks

@mindfulmakwa 2 ай бұрын

We own it 😊

@70dega31 2 ай бұрын

thanks 🙂

@armored-clown 3 ай бұрын

Love Yurts but man in Canada I would not trust that thing to keep bears out..

@kentuckylucky5762 3 ай бұрын

My concern is the mold and mildew when you dont need heat?. But for an arid area this would be great.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

apart of some precautions at set-up, ventilation is the key. The beauty of the authentic yurt is that it breathes and if ever mold attacks - it is easy to take care of it thanks to the simple constructions and few layers

@keithkeller377 Ай бұрын

@@Groovyyurts ...and the dry heat from the wood stove!

@mindymills2182 3 ай бұрын

I think it would be seriously hot to sleep that close to the stove. I heat with wood too.

@mydrive8155 3 ай бұрын

🇧🇩🇧🇩❤️❤️❤️

@ExploringAlternatives 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking out the video :)

@Merciless_Banana 3 ай бұрын

Looks nice, but that is a lot of work for the price savings. Id still go with an A frame

@CosmicGrind 3 ай бұрын

Only thing I would worry about is it being very easy to break into

@leifcatt 3 ай бұрын

So is a window.

@alex434343 3 ай бұрын

Out in the sticks, it's really not a big issue. Crime is more of a city thing.

@NaturesInfiniteWELLth-fo6rs 3 ай бұрын

Humidity is the factor that really deters me.

@triple_gem_shining 3 ай бұрын

As a lock picker, almost any house ,built anyway, is easy to break into if you have the intention to do so

@Jayess-c 3 ай бұрын

No one goes trekking thru the forest to break into places

@kyled2329 3 ай бұрын

The lack of storage space is the only issue.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

or a blessing : less stuff to worry about :-)

@baranjan4172 3 ай бұрын

Why not use the aircon for heating too? It's a heat pump.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

or so called mini-split that are efficient if you are connected to the grid and have also the advantage to regulated moisture

@wynnkidsnannylorivance4111 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful home. My hubby can't start a fire most of the time he tries to. Any advice?

@dr.brycebanner5676 3 ай бұрын

He needs to upgrade his fire starting software

@nickmoore385 3 ай бұрын

Get it started with a blowtorch.

@tonylarose4842 3 ай бұрын

He just needs some education and practice

@gina1465 2 ай бұрын

Try paper or a candle

@keithkeller377 Ай бұрын

There's a youtube that shows how easy it is to start a fire!

@seabliss22 3 ай бұрын

What do you do about bears?

@bsways 3 ай бұрын

I watch all these videos with envy. They are never in Australia because here we have OTT strict counsel regulations for everything. You cannot build anything without going through a lengthy expensive frustrating exercise. The fact that we have had a housing crisis for decades makes no difference.

@user-hg3iv5hy3s 2 сағат бұрын

Do snakes get in easily?

@EdwardVanNatta 3 ай бұрын

I am looking for your products to place a massage.when I post this, I am looking for more information on this. I am looking for more information on this I saw your video I am interested in New York I want to know how to put it all together and packing up the water in the bucket and everything running inside of it I want to know more about the insulation and had to put the wood stove in the middle and what else did you do to upgrade on please get back to me soon as possible I appreciate it thank you for a nice day

@DiplSRS 3 ай бұрын

Did you require a building permit for it. Our township is asking for one.

@Groovyyurts 3 ай бұрын

they are on First Nation land so permit is no issue. Not all municipalities are yurt friendly, but permits can be obtained with a bit of energy. Key word: seasonal dwelling

@jitaamesuluma9730 3 ай бұрын

Most people build upwards in a hurt and bathroom down stairs bed upstairs works better, then downstairs is just living room kitchen and bathroom, mostly they have 20 foot hurts it's big enough , you just have to know how, and btw mostly they cook indoors too, I think the problem with your hurts occupation issue is simply that you considered the skylight, my people lived in them for thousands of years, and whole families, mind you , we do not have wooden floors , we have carpets and rugs on top too, to keep the cold from rising, oh and a stationary hurt will have a closed base to stand on, your going to loose warmth by wind getting under, seen a few like yours , not thinking of this , but I guess you either know of not