For six years I lived in an off-grid yurt in the woods of southern Vermont (I’ve since moved on to, big surprise, an off-grid cabin). I lived there and I live here full time, in the summer heat and the winter snow, enjoying the pleasures of being close to nature, living small and intentionally, and constantly learning—learning new skills, new insights about the world around us, and new things about myself, often for better and sometimes for worse.
It’s these values that motivated me and my former partner to move into the yurt in the first place: living intentionally, responsibly, and sustainably, being close to nature, and growing as individuals.
This site is meant to serve two purposes. First, to provide very practical content based on my former partner’s and my experience living off-grid and in a yurt. You’ll find these posts in the “Yurt Journal” section of the site. That’s where you’ll read about our outdoor winter shower setup, reflections on yurt life, and the perennially popular humanure process :)
Second, this site is to provide inspiration and resources for living a life in line with these things we value in “That Yurt” life: simplicity, authenticity, sustainability, responsibility, utility, durability, and good design.
It is, to put it simply, to provide inspiration for rugged & responsible living.
This site has evolved quite a bit over the years, and I’m proud to say it has served as a resource—however small or incidental—for many people looking to make the leap into yurt living and tiny living. This sense of community has been a source of indescribable joy and has helped me through the more trying times that are inevitable in off-grid life.
All to say, I’m glad you’re here. I hope you find something useful, something inspiring, or at least something mildly entertaining, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch at weidner dot kevin at gmail dot com. I’ll always respond—but, fair warning, sometimes I get distracted in the woods and it might take a day or two.
