Organic Yurts

Written by:  • Edited by: Lindsay Evans
Updated Feb 8, 2010
• Related Guides: Green Building

Yurts aren't just a hippie thing anymore, now people are using organic yurts as green housing. Learn more about this trend and where to get more information on them here.

Organic Yurts

yurt
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In today’s market of green building many people are looking into non-traditional housing options. One of the options gaining popularity is that of organic yurts. Yurts offer a low-impact effect for a building site and they are easier on the budget than other forms of sustainable housing.

The idea of using yurts as housing comes from their use by Central Asian nomads. Used for centuries by Mongolians, the yurt is a form of tent built in a circular style and created to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Traditionally, yurts are portable housing but with the growing need for greener housing options many of today’s open market yurts are made to be stand alone type structures.

Yurts of America is a yurt making company that specializes in permanent organic yurt housing. Their yurts are made to withstand up to ninety-five mile per hour winds, are flame and mildew retardant, and UV resistant. They can customize any yurt design depending on your housing needs, including kitchen area kits and platform designs for you to add plumbing into your yurt. Each yurt they build comes with a ten year warranty. For more information visit their website at www.yurtsofamerica.com.

Another company that has helped to popularize organic yurts in America and Canada is Groovy Yurts. Groovy Yurts adapts their yurt construction to the more humid environment in North America, still using organic Mongolian felt with stronger Americanized organic cotton tarps. The wood is dried out for an extended period of time and hand carved by yurt craftsmen in Mongolia. Sizes for yurts by Groovy Yurts run from a four wall to seven wall circular structure with an average price of $7,000.00. Groovy Yurts can be made into permanent structures but they do specialize in the portable yurt dwelling. For more information visit their website at www.groovyyurts.com.


Comments

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Mike Fields Dec 8, 2010 12:26 AM
Yurts of America BBB ratin is A -
Yurts of America is no longer affiliated with Great American yurts. Yes the company was bought from them, but the new company is awesome. I have personal dealings with them and Nate the Account manager is nothing but genuine and helpful. I admit, at first I had my doubts because of the affiliation, but he asssured me they were different and I couldn't be happier. My Yurt went up without a hitch and the quality is more than I could ask for. You can check their BBB rating anytime, That's what I looked at. I hope they see this and I thank them! Sincerely, Mike
Matthew Oct 21, 2010 4:54 PM
Great American Yurts
I want to update this article and let Mr. Fox know that the person associated with Gresat American Yurts is no longer on board with Yurts of America and all ties have been cut. YOA has takin great strides in developing the one of the best products on the market thanks to there on board Engineer, and they have an "A-" rating with the BBB. I have a realtionship with them because I own one, and Jerry (CEO) has done an amazing job of turning it around.
kevin fox Aug 25, 2010 2:43 PM
Um, "organic"?
Excuse me, but there is absolutely nothing "organic" about their products. Not that an "organic" yurt would be worth owning (it would fall apart in a few years), but using this label is completely misleading. Most yurt manufacturers (included YOA) use architectural vinyl and polyester fabrics for their skins. Yurt skins made of anything but these fabrics need to be treated with harsh chemicals anyways, so it's not worth it to make them out of cotton, hemp, or anything else organic (at this point in time). Regardless, Yurts of America used to be "Great American Yurts", they had a failing grade with the BBB and are considered to have one of the worst reputations in the industry (second only to Spirit Mountain Yurts). They changed their name and ownership (however the previous owner is still on board) in an attempt to "erase" their bad history. If you're going to buy a yurt, choose a company with an excellent reputation, or risk owning an unsupported pile of junk in a few years. Beck Kemery has a great website to help people through this process - www.yurtinfo.org
 
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