Kemery - Yurts

Yurts

Living in the Round

Becky Kemery

Yurts

Living in the Round

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2006 Becky Kemery

Photographs 2006 As noted

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-1775-4

This book is dedicated to my parents, B. Peter Kemery and Evelyn Thomas Kemery, world travelers and hosts extraordinairein thanks for instilling a love of learning and a fascination with other cultures, and for your ongoing support of this project.

One of the greatest joys has been meeting and interviewing the visionaries behind the modern yurt movement; each is an inspiration. I met Alan Bair and Pete Dolan of Pacific Yurts while working as a tradeshow carpenter, before I ever thought of writing this book. I was impressed with Alans work from the startfrom the design elements he instigated and the company he created to his unwavering commitment to opening up the market through every possible avenue. Pete Dolan, responsible for the legendary customer service of Pacific Yurts, has helped with many aspects of the book, from assisting with photo collection to providing advice, and along with Alan reviewing sections of the manuscript. Thank you, Peter and Alan.

Yurt-builder and designer David Raitt, his wife, Kelly, and Annie Raitt all opened their hearts and homes to me, adding their support and many ideas to the project. Ive resisted telling Davids story in full in this volume since he is writing his own book. A wonderful communicator, David is the best person to share his amazing tale. His book will be a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on yurts.

Dan Neumeyer has helped with this project in more ways than I can recount. He arranged and was present for my initial interview with Bill Coperthwaite in Maine. He has contributed many of the wonderful photographs in the Ancient Paths and Tapered Wall Yurt chapters, reviewed various chapters, and added his ideas on proportion to Bills in the Tapered Wall Yurt chapter.

Bill Coperthwaite has challenged me to think and live evermore deeply and creatively. Following Bills example, Ive sought to balance each day of writing with what he calls bread labortime spent planting and harvesting and chopping and stacking wood. His ideas constantly challenge me to bring simplicity, joy, and thoughtfulness to everything I do.

Paul King, owner of Woodland Yurts in Somerset, England, author of The Complete Yurt Handbook, and a leader in the European yurt movement, contributed many photographs and much encouragement. Thank you, Paul.

Morgan Reiter of Oregon Yurtworks likewise granted interviews, reviewed parts of the manuscript on frame panel yurts, and gave excellent feedback. Thank you, Morgan.

Many other yurt builders and innovators have shared their time and their stories with me. Among them are Kirk Bachman, Chuck and Laurel Cox, Emma and Dan Kiger, Jenny Pell, Will Hayes, brothers Jeff and Bo Norris, Blue Evening Star, Jessica and Lee Tenhoff, Jerry Gray, and Howie Oakes. Those in Europe include Hal Wynne Jones, Steve Place, Charles Leys, Rob Matthews, and Alexandr Spado.

Others who have shared their stories with me include yurt dwellers and those who use yurts in their business or nonprofit endeavors. Many of their stories are included here, others are not, but all who gave interviews or shared information have become part of the fabric of the book. Thank you all.

I am especially grateful to those who enlightened me from their areas of expertise. Jan Sitarz taught me about felting and shared books. Navajo scholar Harry Walters talked with me about the hogan. Sandpoint, Idaho, building inspector Don Carter helped decode the building codes. Teresa Lunde of Horizon Northwest Home Mortgage explored yurt financing with me, and Carol Bethel of Harris Dean Insurance researched my insurance questions. Thank you all for your additions to the book.

To all who reviewed portions of the manuscript and gave feedbackAnnick Smith, Bill Coperthwaite, Harry Walters, Maxx Sonadre, David Kraisler, Joseph Wythe, Pat Sparks, Beth and Larry Beede, Rob Matthews, Torvald Faegre, John Cloud, and othersthank you. Yurt-scholar Peter Alford Andrews, in particular, provided detailed feedback on the Ancient Paths chapter, which greatly enriched the content. Many of the North American yurt companies also gave their input on the Modern Fabric Yurt chapter, making corrections and adding needed information. Thank you all. At points of conflicting information, I have made choices to the best of my ability; mistakes that remain in the book are my responsibility.

People from around the world generously shared their yurt photos with meagain many more than could be includedand I thank you all. Scott Vlaun, gifted photographer and writer, stepped forward to take additional photographs of the frame panel yurts. His photographs grace the back jacket of this book and much of the last two chapters. Thanks so much, Scott, for your commitment to this project and for maintaining the highest standards in everything you do.

Others who have made major photographic contributions include Bill Coperthwaite, Peter Alford Andrews, Peter Forbes, and Beth and Larry Beede.

Thank you, Torvald Faegre, for drawing maps and diagrams for the book. It was good to have your involvement in the project.

Zizi Vlaun, thank you for your design work on the Web site www.yurtinfo.org, which preceded this book and brought lots of additional connections and information my way.

Ive received writing support from many quarters over the years. Many thanks to the fabulous writers in my online writing group of 2002 for support early in the game, and in particular to Wendy Orange and the Bassar Arts Foundation for a research grant to study yurts. Thank you, Catherine Wanek, for your ongoing guidance and mentoring. Thanks to Heather MacElwain and Zach Hagadone for their careful editing input, and to my current writing group, the North Idaho Writers Collective, for continuing support.

One of the wonderful things about living in a small town is that a project like this becomes a community affair. Many friends and neighbors have helped in various ways. Special thanks go to Joyce Jowdy and Maggie Abrahmson for assistance with photo collection and Virginia Schmidt for help with photo selection.

The East Bonner County Public Library has provided immense help and support, in particular through the work of Peggy Lanaville and Carol Holmquist, who retrieved numerous volumes for me through the Interlibrary Loan Department, and Gina Emory who provided frequent technical assistance. Thanks also to the architecture library at University of Washington, an important resource in the area of vernacular architecture.

To baristas and local coffee shops everywhere, home of the itinerant writer, thank youespecially Monarch Mountain Coffee, Common Knowledge Bookstore and Teahouse, and Coldwater Creek Coffeeshop in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Thank you, Philip Freddolino, for helping me build my yurt platform, install my stove, sponge paint my floor, and insulate my yurt. Thanks for being my ongoing technical resource and friend.

It is the publisher that makes a book like this even a remote possibility for an author. My deepest gratitude goes to Suzanne Taylor, Madge Baird, and everyone at Gibbs Smith, Publisher for having the vision to take on this project and the patience to see it through. Many thanks to my editor, Aimee Stoddard, for her loving care of the manuscript, and to Leticia Le Bleu for her careful work with the photographs. Special thanks to Steve Rachwal for his gorgeous book design.