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A Farm of My Own:  Am I crazy or adventureous?...you decide :-D  |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 12:40:51 PM
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So, I haven't been on here since I joined because about the same time my husband got called for a job interview in VA (we live in NE WI), and well, a tenative job offer (hopefully the call with his start date this week), and as such, we have working our frannies off trying to get stuff done around the house to sell it.
So, as we've been working we've been talking, researching and we want land! We want a place to garden, a place to have animals, etc...so, we decided that we want to buy a few acres (3-5) in VA and if we have to camp on it until we can build our yurts...yes, I said yurts (www.pacificyurts.com). Our kids are completely onboard, and well we are definitely not afraid of adventure. So would love to know what anyone else thinks. More so because I'm looking for feedback, insight (maybe someone else out here has done something similar), things we may need to think about, etc. I'm excited about doing this, and I know I'll forget to consider something, but ... well, I think you get the idea. :-D
TTFN!!
Melissa
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 1:00:32 PM
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IF I remember correctly someone here lived in a Yurt?? I don't know if she still posts here, but she might.
Sounds real interesting.
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 1:03:09 PM
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I say adventurous! It sounds like you are up for the challenge!
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 1:34:48 PM
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Melissa, sounds adventurous to me too! My DH (that is Dear Husband) and I have researched Yurts and think they are awesome. Good luck in finding your land and moving.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World! |
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solilly
True Blue Farmgirl
726 Posts
Lillian
Williamsburg
Virginia
USA
726 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 1:55:19 PM
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I see and have read about yurts in the mother earth mags. They say they are good but I would not know. Remember Virginia like many other states has very changable weather. So research the area you plan to move to after doing some real hevay research on yurts. Just goggle and go from there. Good luck Lilly 
learning the life I always wanted. |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 2:28:28 PM
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Thanks Lilly -- and from what we have researched thus far we are amazed! People live in these things year-round in Alaska, which just blew our minds. We are having fun researching, and so far the more we research the more doable it looks. :-D
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! I would love to talk to someone (who happens to be a part of the sisterhood) who lives in a yurt. That would be wonderful!
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 2:53:18 PM
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Melissa- It sounds like you are well on your way to success. Continue to research and search out people who live/have lived in a yurt and I am sure you will do just fine!
Good Luck to you and keep us posted!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 4:18:44 PM
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The sample yurt looks beautiful. I'm glad to hear you are researching and checking out other people who live in them.
How high are the sides? It looks like the lower side walls aren't a probem with the interior, but do you have to duck to go through the entry door? How is it anchored to the ground? Would a heavy wind be hazardous? Will it be on a cement slab or wooden foundation? We live in MN and have a basement under the main octagon but added rooms on for bedrooms that have a crawl space under them. You will want to insulate under the floor for sure or have heated floors if you won't have a basement.
We debated about building a round or octagon house and decided on an octagon. It was a tremendous experience building it ourselves. We did move in before there were real windows, just plastic over the holes so we could save a couple of months rent and put in more time working on it. We had too small a wood stove that first winter and it was "bath time" when we could geet the heat up to 45 degrees. But that was before kids and we were up for the adventure. I am wondering about the insulation, if someone is living in one in Alaska it had better be well insulated or they would pump tremendous amounts of heat to survive and be comfortable.
It sounds like a great adventure, but you want to be sure it will be permanent and comfortable.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 5:31:34 PM
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I hope you find the land that is perfect for ya'll. And a good spot for a home. From what I hear, Virginia can be really cold. I wish you lots of good luck and happy hunting! Can't wait to see pictures of your own yurt soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 5:35:07 PM
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I would think that living year round in a yurt is very doable. Didn't yurts evolve from the Mongolian nomadic horsemen? It gets very cold in Mongolia so there has to be ways of keeping it warm. I think it sounds very sustainable and hope you don't run into any bureaucratic problems.
Cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 05:55:53 AM
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Wow! Susan -- great questions, and most I already have the answers to, and no, you don't have to duck to get through the door, it's a standard size door. The walls height standard is 6', but we have a son that tall (and two more right behind him) so we will upgrade to the 7'walls. Then it will taper up to 30' at the center. Agree completely about insulating the floors, we figured that right off, but I have to say, I am impressed with the insulation that you can get with it. It's the same stuff that NASA uses for the astronauts, and based on the blogs we have found of people living in the yurts, they haven't had to do any additional insulating with the right size stove. :-D Because we would be in the SE (along the coast) of VA, we are digging more into wind standards with them.
And yes Cindy -- they are evolved from the mongolian yurts!...or gers as we have learned they are also called.
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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debbies journey
True Blue Farmgirl
635 Posts
debbie
anchorage
ak
USA
635 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 9:06:48 PM
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My mom and I spent the weekend in a yurt on the Oregon coast, they had them for rent in the campground.
If I remember correctly we walked up some stairs to go in the full sized doorway, and it was quite roomy
inside with electric and heat. It was nice and comfortable. I'm a tent camper so the yurt was a real treat!
Adventureous!
Debbie |
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Lida
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Lida
Rochester
NY
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 04:44:09 AM
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Hi Melissa,
Thank you for including a link to yurts. I never heard of them and find them very intriguing. A yurt may be the answer to our seasonal housing need. I sent for information and need to find out if there are any zoning restrictions or special needs for the township we want to have a seasonal home in. Do you know if the manufacturer can supply any names of people with yurts in different parts of the continent? I would like to talk with someone who has one near where we would be.
Congrats on your move and upcoming adventure! Please keep us posted.
Lida |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 8:41:43 PM
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Hi Lida -- this link (http://www.yurts.com/how/yurt-vacations.aspx) can point you to where you can find commercial ones in your area, but as for personal, I'm not sure. We have not taken that step yet, but I would imagine, from all the research we have done thus far, that if you contact pacific yurts that they may or may not have a list of people who are willing to talk to others interested in yurt living. There is also a book out "Yurts Life in the Round" (this is the website of the author, http://www.yurtinfo.org/). We are planning to order this soon to add to our research. Based on what we have found on this website, the book can help you with zoning as well. I hope this is helpful. :-D
Melissa
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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Chris
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Chris
Maumee
OH
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2010 : 06:37:00 AM
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Just go for it, In the end it will enrich your lives, change your attitudes and give everyong great memories. Life is short, Live it!
Simple Life Urban Farm gals, Toledo, Ohio group |
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KDFH
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Karen
Chesapeake
VA
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2010 : 1:12:45 PM
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| Wishing you the best. Are you nearthe coast or the mountains? I am in Chesapeake. I think your biggest concerns in this area would be northeasters and hurricanes. Don't buy land that is low and floods easily. My daughter is in the mountains os SW Virginia. This is the area of Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Roanoke. I am sure there are nice folks in that area who could advise you. |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2010 : 1:55:16 PM
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Hi Karen -- thanks bunches! Right now we are in WI, but anticipating a move soon (I'm praying not while it's snowing), but we are looking in the Surry area. We don't know much about the area, but we would agree about hurricanes, not sure about northeasters. We get those here and yes, they are awful, but don't know how they compare to them there. :-O
Thanks Chris! We tend to agree -- go for it! We tend to be an adventureous family anyhow. :-D
Be blessed!
Melissa
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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child in harmony
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Marcia
Middleboro
MA
USA
55 Posts |
Posted - Oct 31 2010 : 2:13:02 PM
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Go for it! Life should be an adventure! I would LOVE to live in a yurt !
~marcia
www.harmonywoodsfarm.com
www.childinharmony.com
"Enriching,nurturing and inspiring Life with nature,animals
and the arts .. for the child and the child within" |
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Ann2144
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 4:25:56 PM
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I have priced out the yurts, and all the accessories, and I long for a piece of land to go with!! I am praying and squeezing eyes shut tight for you to get your dream!!
Love Each Other |
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countrified_city_gurl
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
najia
heidelberg
Germany
27 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 11:40:51 AM
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Definitely NOT crazy because if you are crazy then so am I. I cannot wait for my DH to retire from the military because we are buying a little chunk of paradise and plopping a wonderful yurt right in the center!!! <3
Najia, the countrified city girl! #2221
Maybe a person's time would be as well spent raising food as raising money to buy food. ~Frank A. Clark
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DyaLynn53
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
Dianne
Roseburg
Oregon
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 2:22:20 PM
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Those Mongolian nomads are still using yurts to this day. I think it's a super-fantastic, exciting, wonderful awesome adventure and I'm adding my "Go for it" with all the others.
Farmgirl Sister #682
"Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye |
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Chelley
Farmgirl in Training
23 Posts
Mesa
AZ
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 7:13:00 PM
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Melissa,
This sounds like a wonderful adventure. At one time, several years ago, I had looked into yurts (in order to purchase a few acres), but then bought a house in a development instead (I realized I just could not handle all the work of a small farm myself and settled for a nice garden). I still think it would be fun to live in one. Here's wishing you all the best.
--chelley.
Farmgirl Sister #2323
...returning raw foodist....new knitter...happy 1st time homeowner...Wisconsin FG currently living in the desert...
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CountryThymeLady
Farmgirl at Heart
3 Posts
Wanda
Lakeville
Nova Scotia
Canada
3 Posts |
Posted - Nov 12 2010 : 06:56:46 AM
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Wow! This sounds like an exciting adventure to me and as for the Yurt I'd love to try it ....not sure hubby would think so ,but ya just never know with men ! I'm looking forward to all your news with the Yurt ...it's getting close to Christmas .....any plans on how and where you'll celebrate ? I envy you this special time in your travels along life's highway .
Hugs from the Nova Scotia newbie  ;
Wanda (Country Thyme Lady ) |
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hsmommel
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Melissa
61 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2010 : 6:14:30 PM
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Update!!
Wow! So much has happened where do I start? Well, how about the job in VA fell through -- who would have thought that having vision correctable to only 20/22 instead of 20/20 would disqualify you for a job?!?! That news came the end of October. The blessing though, is the week before Thanksgiving, dh got called back to the job he was laid off from and whew...what a blessing!
As for the yurt...this plan is currently on hold, but is still a definite desire for our future. We are now expanding our research to determine how well it would work in WI (where we currently reside) and any and all options with that. Finding land is the first step. :-D Right now, while we get our barrings back in order the yurt is on hold though. :-(
You are all such wonderful, amazing and adventurous ladies! I love it!! Thank you so much for all the wonderful support and encouragement. It's so nice to know I'm not the only slightly wild woman out there! :-D hee-hee
Melissa
"What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you are saying." -- Benjamin Franklin |
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Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2010 : 11:30:02 AM
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I think it would be totally cool to live in a yurt. I have thought about putting one out on our land away from the house as a guest cottage.
Hope you old house sells quickly.
I have looked into stone houses as well. Stone is very abundant around here.
Holly
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
686 Posts
Emily
Chambersburg
PA
USA
686 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2011 : 5:28:05 PM
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Adventurous by far!
I have friends in Adams County PA that live out of yerts and they are so happy. When you switch lifestyles like this is makes you realize how important certain things are and how unimportant things like malls are.
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See my custom costumes, download free patterns, and hear some spook EVPs from Gettysburg, PA on my site, www.alterationsbyemily.com |
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A Farm of My Own: Am I crazy or adventureous?...you decide :-D |
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Am I crazy or adventureous?...you decide :-D
