Yurtcetera was born from a long-standing, burning interest in temporary shelters. I first heard the word yurt in the 1970's when a friend of mine mused aloud that he was planning to build one. For some reason he never did, but I never forgot the idea he had... it was so tantalizing!

In the meantime I continued to devour stuff like The Whole Earth Catalog and The People's Almanac, learned Swedish scribe log fitting, worked as an arts administrator, as a trackman on the railroad and as an electrician (I installed the solar panels on our house), became fascinated with the music of the British Isles, learned knots, explored potje cooking and got married and raised a family (not at all in that order!).

I built my own teepee around 1979 and later a 16' wooden dome frame, and finally much later, the word yurt still ringing in my ears, I built three crude yurt-like structures for our summer music festival, using plans from the internet and my share of 'Klein Bucks' to finance the project. The 16 footer was the first of the three, and when 'finished' was the first yurt I had ever stood inside, some 30 years after hearing the word. If I was hooked before, now I was really hooked!

Some time later yet while researching yurt covers I discovered the Groovyyurts website, and shortly afterward had a great conversation with Yves Ballenegger. The rest as they say, is history.

While Yurtcetera is yurts/furniture-oriented at the moment, I am exploring inexpensive solar lighting, off-grid power, heating/cooking and other things to help make for affordable, comfortable yurt living.

Stay in touch!