We have been chipping away at the yurt checklist for a few months now. We’re thinking we’ll be moved in sometime in May. I can’t wait to get settled just in time for summer! Our progress has slowed a bit with sicknesses and me going back to work part time, but we’re getting there! I go help Je when I can, and I can’t do much when I am there because I’m on kid duty, so he’s pretty much doing everything on his own. For one person, he’s accomplished a LOT since September!
Electricity update: Our solar panels are up! We installed them right before Christmas. We also have the electric wiring pulled through to the shed where our batteries and panel are. The only thing left to do is pull the wire from the shed to the yurt now. Pulling the wires from the panels to the shed was a mission. Our neighbor accidentally cut the electric pipe awhile back, which cut the string that ran through the whole pipe. So we did this vacuum trick where you put the vacuum hose on the end of the pipe in the shed, and it pulled a plastic bag tied to the string so we could get the wire through.
Water update: Our water pump is installed in the cistern. Our water pressure tank needs to be hooked up sometime soon. It’s been sitting in the shipping container for awhile. And the plumber is coming to deliver our hot water heater this week. That will go in the yurt hidden in the bathroom behind a small wall. We also just purchased an awesome water filter system that arrived the other day. Our water is almost like a golden color out of the well. So we definitely needed a good filter. It also has a water conditioner which will help with the hard water we have here in CO.
Yurt inside update: Our wood stove is in and functioning! It heats up the yurt so well. Even on the coldest day, we can get the yurt up to 68 in no time. And that’s without our in floor heating turned on. So I think we’ll be plenty toasty!
We had to cut a hole in the yurt to put the wood stove pipe in. That was nerve wrecking! But it turned out great. Je made us a nice, super strong support for the stove pipe outside. I may try to stain the wood supports this summer so they match the yurt trim, but that’s on my long list of not so important things to do.
We started on the interior walls in February and they’re all done. Je is currently working on the loft floor. The cost of wood right now is INSANE! Makes me thankful we’re not building an actual house just yet. We’ve found a few mom and pop shops that are selling lumber at the cost they bought it before prices soared, so definitely a bit cheaper, but still. I’m happy we bought most of our wood before the spike last week (wrote this in early March- now the prices are even worse).
We’ve talked a lot about the layout of the yurt, and I’m such a visual person that it was hard to make a decision. We knew where the kitchen/bathroom wall had to be, so Je put that up and just went from there. Honestly, I feel like we could have done the layout 20 different ways and all of them would’ve been great. We’re good at adapting to whatever space we have. There is a back door in the yurt, so we also made a small pantry/back entrance which I think will be nice to have.
What’s up next? Well, Je finished our loft sub floor and has done most of the electric work (i.e. installing all the outlets). We’re hoping to get the plumbing and electric done next so Je can close up the walls with drywall.
We also just bought a second hand clawfoot tub for the bathroom so we’re going to start refinishing the inside of that!
Poppy Seed Farm 