My husband and I are in the process of looking for land to build a yurt. We will probably buy a kit (6.1 or 8.4 metres, plus annexes) from Goulburn Yurtworks in New South Wales. Are there any tips for land size, interior design (such as how many outlets to put in one room/annex), floor coverings (cork?), and other things we may not have thought about? We will have access to mains electricity, but we will have solar as well, and will most likely be reliant on water tanks. We will also have septic vs sewer as we will be in the country. There will be two adults and two small dogs living in the yurt, and occasional guests. If all goes well, we plan to expand with satellite yurts and possibly have a B&B. Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Wooden panel yurt in South Australia
- Thread starter Melissa
- Start date
Not sure how it works in the UK, but over here in the states, if you have access to the grid (electric mains) then what many people do is a grid tie system which basically works like this:
Your solar panels send power directly to the grid. This turns your usage meter in reverse. When you have no sun, like on cloudy days or at night, you use grid power as normal. The idea is to have your utility bill to be close to zero every month. This of course depends on how much sun your spot gets.
The advantages to this system is generally cost. With an off-grid system, you have to pay for the storage mechanism, which is generally in the form of batteries. This can be very expensive for even the smallest systems. With a grid-tie, the GRID is your battery and you only pay a small amount to tie into it initially.
The downside is, you are still relying on grid power, though I do understand there are some hybrid systems that allow you to store some on site (for emergency power) and pump the rest to the grid.
Over here, we have companies that will install the equipment free of charge, but you pay them for your power, at a much reduced rate. This is also dependent on whether or not your location is an ideal candidate. The company maintains the panels and equipment, you just pay for power. I never cared much for that option, but thought I would mention it.
You may want to consider some wind power for preheating water and also possibly pumping it, since I see you may be using holding tanks.
Your solar panels send power directly to the grid. This turns your usage meter in reverse. When you have no sun, like on cloudy days or at night, you use grid power as normal. The idea is to have your utility bill to be close to zero every month. This of course depends on how much sun your spot gets.
The advantages to this system is generally cost. With an off-grid system, you have to pay for the storage mechanism, which is generally in the form of batteries. This can be very expensive for even the smallest systems. With a grid-tie, the GRID is your battery and you only pay a small amount to tie into it initially.
The downside is, you are still relying on grid power, though I do understand there are some hybrid systems that allow you to store some on site (for emergency power) and pump the rest to the grid.
Over here, we have companies that will install the equipment free of charge, but you pay them for your power, at a much reduced rate. This is also dependent on whether or not your location is an ideal candidate. The company maintains the panels and equipment, you just pay for power. I never cared much for that option, but thought I would mention it.
You may want to consider some wind power for preheating water and also possibly pumping it, since I see you may be using holding tanks.
Thanks for the info Jafo. We currently have solar tied into the mains/grid in our 'traditional' home. It has been working well so far, and we haven't had an electric bill for a few months because we get a lot of sun (we live in the driest state, South Australia). It is possible to go off grid here, but like in the US, it is very expensive. Not sure if our budget can handle it, but ideally, we would like to be off grid - even if I have to pedal a bicycle to make my own electricity : )
Bob Rowlands
New member
pedal a bike for power. haha You gonna have very nice legs in short order. lol
Well, that would depend on how much power you figure you would need. What sort of appliances you plan on running, etc.?
The 24 volt system I have up at camp will run the laptop computer, TV, vacuum cleaner, microwave oven, radio, etc., but nothing more than 1,500 watts. Forget any major electric appliances like a stove or washer. I use my yurt on weekends, and have designed it for such use. All together, my system cost about $2,000 US. I would imagine that cost would nearly double if not triple if I planned on living there full time. You will also pretty much require a back up generator. I don't know if that is in your price range or if that would cover your expected energy usage, but it may give you a rough idea of what you're looking at.
I am not familiar with Australia, but I am assuming where you are there has no chance of freezing? If so, that will save you quite a bit of money when it comes to insulation and plumbing as you won't have to protect say a water heater or pipes. Of course, this could impact you a bit if you plan on using air conditioning.
I hope you let us know how your project turns out and post a pic from time to time of your progress. I know we would all love to see how it turns out!
If you're super efficient with everything, you might be able to do bicycle power 
For reference, a strong cyclist can produce around 200 watts consistently, with short sprints several times that. But even though I like biking, I still wouldn't want to spend 4-5 hrs a day to generate just 1 kwh of juice...
I'm still trying to figure out the most effective cooking method for myself, but it's between a small induction cooktop (1500-1800 watts, fairly inexpensive) and some sort of small wood cook stove. Cooking doesn't actually take that much total energy if done efficiently (usually 1500 w for 3-10 min, then 400-800 watts 10-50 min); the standard US ranges just use one of the most ineffective heat transfer methods because it's easy and high-power electricity is cheap.
If your building codes allow it, I'd suggest a composting toilet and a graywater system to avoid septic and flush toilets (waste of collected, stored, pumped, & treated water in my opinion). Depending on the system, septic could cost $3-20k while a composting toilet can be anywhere from $700 to $5k, depending on how fancy it is/user maintenance requirements.
If you have a good area for solar, I'd suggest looking into solar heating, at least for water.
If you do eventually develop a B&B, I'd be tempted to keep things fairly conventional to make it easier for guests (ie, natural gas/propane cook stove, flush toilets/standard albeit low-flow water setup, at best solar power w/grid tie).
For reference, a strong cyclist can produce around 200 watts consistently, with short sprints several times that. But even though I like biking, I still wouldn't want to spend 4-5 hrs a day to generate just 1 kwh of juice...I'm still trying to figure out the most effective cooking method for myself, but it's between a small induction cooktop (1500-1800 watts, fairly inexpensive) and some sort of small wood cook stove. Cooking doesn't actually take that much total energy if done efficiently (usually 1500 w for 3-10 min, then 400-800 watts 10-50 min); the standard US ranges just use one of the most ineffective heat transfer methods because it's easy and high-power electricity is cheap.
If your building codes allow it, I'd suggest a composting toilet and a graywater system to avoid septic and flush toilets (waste of collected, stored, pumped, & treated water in my opinion). Depending on the system, septic could cost $3-20k while a composting toilet can be anywhere from $700 to $5k, depending on how fancy it is/user maintenance requirements.
If you have a good area for solar, I'd suggest looking into solar heating, at least for water.
If you do eventually develop a B&B, I'd be tempted to keep things fairly conventional to make it easier for guests (ie, natural gas/propane cook stove, flush toilets/standard albeit low-flow water setup, at best solar power w/grid tie).
I use propane in my gas range/stove for cooking. We go through about a 40 pound tank after 1 year. The range is an old fashioned one with a pilot light, no electric. It works great.
There are also solar ovens, which I have never used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFK-xy76U4
But if you live in the desert, I can imagine them working quite well.
There are also solar ovens, which I have never used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFK-xy76U4
But if you live in the desert, I can imagine them working quite well.
Thanks for all of the information everyone! My husband and I are going to look at land this weekend. We've been told we will need a 7 kilowatt solar system, septic, and depending on where the land is, we may be able to tap into mains electricity and water (but would still go solar and we would also have rain tanks as we want to go off grid eventually). This will be our primary residence and one of the dilemmas is location. On a smaller lot (about 700 -1000 sm) near the beach (downside is that it would be in a developed/planned community) or away from the beach, probably closer to wineries, more land (not sure how much we could manage, but seems wasteful to buy 4 acres when we would use only a small amount, also may not have access to the mod cons, as I said, we would like to be off grid, but the realities of it are a bit daunting). The weather down here is mostly dry, although in the winery region, there is enough rainfall to live off of from the tanks. Another concern are bush fires, so would need to get land that is partially cleared and free of fire risks. No need to worry about snow though - temps get down to 8C/46F. There is a lot to consider... How did everyone here find their land? What were your priorities?
Bob Rowlands
New member
My wife and I (and our respective families) have all lived in small homes or apts. All of us and that is alot of people. I never minded that, but when I had the finances to buy property I bought totally undeveloped acreage outside the city limits. Well, septic, leach field, gas line, electricity off the pole, none of it was in. Even if we were completely off grid we would still pay property tax and insurance. There is just no getting away from the taxman and not insuring your home is absolute foolishness. imo.
As far as finding it, my wife did the legwork. She showed me different properties she found by actual looking there was no internet then. We agreed on this place here and the rest is history.
As far as finding it, my wife did the legwork. She showed me different properties she found by actual looking there was no internet then. We agreed on this place here and the rest is history.
Thank you for your stories! We had a long day of looking at properties - revisited one that is 4 1/2 acres - rural, no power, water, etc. - but still close enough to to amenities to get by. Another was 1.7 acres, overlooking vineyards - same price (around $385k - land is more expensive in Australia than the US). Also, not too far from amenities, and needs all the utilities put in. We are leaning toward the larger property, has a more peaceful, isolated feel, but will do more research. Either would be suitable for a yurt, or two, or three. Will keep you posted : )
Bob Rowlands
New member
We looked at probably six properties but that was in 1987 so I don't recall the exact count. Once you have seen a few properties you start to get a feel for what you are doing and how to look at them, and what you like. btw that is also an advantage when interviewing contractors. You start to get a feel for them as well after meeting a few. You'll know when you have found the right place and the right guys.
That's quite the investment for property so make sure a lawyer and your agents are all in on the sale, and everything is in writing and legal. Get a survey if necessary. Look for boundary pins or stakes. Don't trust the real estate people know the property stakes. Their interest is in making the sale. They might no the pins, and then again they might not and are guessing. I have had experience with neighbors that got their property boundaries from 'might nots'. lol Have fun and good luck.
That's quite the investment for property so make sure a lawyer and your agents are all in on the sale, and everything is in writing and legal. Get a survey if necessary. Look for boundary pins or stakes. Don't trust the real estate people know the property stakes. Their interest is in making the sale. They might no the pins, and then again they might not and are guessing. I have had experience with neighbors that got their property boundaries from 'might nots'. lol Have fun and good luck.
Bob Rowlands
New member
You're welcome.
MT Rod
Manufacturer Representative
I am with Bob, insist on a survey and know where the pins are. In particular don't trust old fence lines.
We recently bought a piece of land here in Ecuador, it was supposedly surveyed when we bought, but when we went to register the deed we lost more than 1,000 square meters. A math error in the previous deed they said. In addition we found out the old fence was 10 meters over on our land along the whole south boundary effectively giving the neighbor an additional 288 meters *10 meters. 2880 +1000 = 3880 square meters.
That is more than a 1/3 of a hectare, just shy of an acre. (A hectare is 10,000 square meters, approximately 2.47 acres for us Americans who are generally metrically impaired.) When you buy here, you buy by the square meter, so we had the privilege of paying for those 3880 square meters.
When we talked to the neighbor, he starts into an angry rant about how the surveyors don't know anything, and they don't know what they are doing, and my land used to belong to his family, and some so and so from 2 generations ago had stolen this land from his ... and.... and... Umm, but I bought it from a member of his family. Not sure how that worked.
Truth be told, I have 2 members of my family that are surveyors, and they tell me that several times a year they run into errors that were made sometime in the past that have to be mediated and corrected before the deed can be registered. Often/Usually/Sometimes that means going to court.
I don't really like court, or lawyers, particularly in foreign countries. I have enough trouble understanding legalese in my native tongue.
You get the idea. Resolution is still up in the air. We will have to file paperwork with the county to get them to send a county surveyor, (at our expense), to come and mediate the property line. Yuck. That also does not help with local animosity, and bad juju about "those foreigners" who are moving in.
I will also gently suggest that you meet your neighbors before you buy, if you plan to live on the property, and even if they don't live on the property, which this particular neighbor does not. It can be a hassle to find them I know.
On another note, we have been waiting more than six months for a decision from the county government, and finally got approval last Friday afternoon to proceed with our plans. Next we have to get approval from the local indigenous community government for our plans, and then we can truly, actually proceed.
The local power company is coming today to "inspect", and give us a "parts list" of what we need to provide to them, so they can then come and put up a temporary power pole. I think they said it can stay in position for only 3 months, but in the confusion of languages, I may be a little off. Three months seems awfully quick, particularly considering how rapidly most things proceed; perhaps it was 30.
Last week we made an application to the local community for drinking water. I wish I could say it was a formality, since clean drinking water is a "legal right" in the national constitution here, but we still have to make application, wait until the next community water board meeting, and then come and present our case of "why we need water". Some have been turned down, or their flow restricted in the past, but not often.
If that should happen, there is an appeals process, by applying to the national government. Needless to say, no one likes getting the government into their business, but the community can use the process of application to put you off until you can get the attention of the government, and right now the government has their hands full dealing with the earthquake. I am not really expecting a problem, but I am an optimist.
I think we are still at least a month out on that meeting, much less the actual permission process, much less burying pipe, so I expect the we will be carrying water up the mountain to mix concrete. This week we are starting repairs on an old, small watchman's casita at the top of the property. It is about 39 square meters, roughly 390 square feet, and the projection is it will take about 3 months to repair.
I keep reminding myself that this process anywhere takes patience, and here it takes even more patience, since we have the difficulty of language thrown in.
Maybe I am complaining a little, but I would be complaining if I was "back home" as well. I have yet to meet anyone who told me that they liked beaurocracy, just those who understand the need.
Best of luck on your adventure. Your mileage may vary.
Rod
rod::email::yurtlocker.com
Home Page.
We recently bought a piece of land here in Ecuador, it was supposedly surveyed when we bought, but when we went to register the deed we lost more than 1,000 square meters. A math error in the previous deed they said. In addition we found out the old fence was 10 meters over on our land along the whole south boundary effectively giving the neighbor an additional 288 meters *10 meters. 2880 +1000 = 3880 square meters.
That is more than a 1/3 of a hectare, just shy of an acre. (A hectare is 10,000 square meters, approximately 2.47 acres for us Americans who are generally metrically impaired.) When you buy here, you buy by the square meter, so we had the privilege of paying for those 3880 square meters.
When we talked to the neighbor, he starts into an angry rant about how the surveyors don't know anything, and they don't know what they are doing, and my land used to belong to his family, and some so and so from 2 generations ago had stolen this land from his ... and.... and... Umm, but I bought it from a member of his family. Not sure how that worked.
Truth be told, I have 2 members of my family that are surveyors, and they tell me that several times a year they run into errors that were made sometime in the past that have to be mediated and corrected before the deed can be registered. Often/Usually/Sometimes that means going to court.
I don't really like court, or lawyers, particularly in foreign countries. I have enough trouble understanding legalese in my native tongue.
You get the idea. Resolution is still up in the air. We will have to file paperwork with the county to get them to send a county surveyor, (at our expense), to come and mediate the property line. Yuck. That also does not help with local animosity, and bad juju about "those foreigners" who are moving in.
I will also gently suggest that you meet your neighbors before you buy, if you plan to live on the property, and even if they don't live on the property, which this particular neighbor does not. It can be a hassle to find them I know.
On another note, we have been waiting more than six months for a decision from the county government, and finally got approval last Friday afternoon to proceed with our plans. Next we have to get approval from the local indigenous community government for our plans, and then we can truly, actually proceed.
The local power company is coming today to "inspect", and give us a "parts list" of what we need to provide to them, so they can then come and put up a temporary power pole. I think they said it can stay in position for only 3 months, but in the confusion of languages, I may be a little off. Three months seems awfully quick, particularly considering how rapidly most things proceed; perhaps it was 30.
Last week we made an application to the local community for drinking water. I wish I could say it was a formality, since clean drinking water is a "legal right" in the national constitution here, but we still have to make application, wait until the next community water board meeting, and then come and present our case of "why we need water". Some have been turned down, or their flow restricted in the past, but not often.
If that should happen, there is an appeals process, by applying to the national government. Needless to say, no one likes getting the government into their business, but the community can use the process of application to put you off until you can get the attention of the government, and right now the government has their hands full dealing with the earthquake. I am not really expecting a problem, but I am an optimist.
I think we are still at least a month out on that meeting, much less the actual permission process, much less burying pipe, so I expect the we will be carrying water up the mountain to mix concrete. This week we are starting repairs on an old, small watchman's casita at the top of the property. It is about 39 square meters, roughly 390 square feet, and the projection is it will take about 3 months to repair.
I keep reminding myself that this process anywhere takes patience, and here it takes even more patience, since we have the difficulty of language thrown in.
Maybe I am complaining a little, but I would be complaining if I was "back home" as well. I have yet to meet anyone who told me that they liked beaurocracy, just those who understand the need.
Best of luck on your adventure. Your mileage may vary.
Rod
rod::email::yurtlocker.com
Home Page.
Bob Rowlands
New member
My comments here are gonna have nothing to do with yurts so read no further.
About bureacracy. Gov't is funded by taxes. Gov't is totally out of touch with any free enterprise methodology. The money automatically flows in consistently, without fail, regardless of good, average, or poor performance. There is absolutely no incentive to get things done quickly, on time, and WITHIN BUDGET. There is no client. There is nothing to be sold. As such gov't is the flip side of private enterprise. In gov't people are more concerned with their power, or lack of, getting their share of the next fiscal years allotment of funds, their perks and their retirement. Free enterprise ais all about getting after it, getting it done in a timely fashion, within budget, and competition regulates the money being made. Gov't is the exact opposite.
About bureacracy. Gov't is funded by taxes. Gov't is totally out of touch with any free enterprise methodology. The money automatically flows in consistently, without fail, regardless of good, average, or poor performance. There is absolutely no incentive to get things done quickly, on time, and WITHIN BUDGET. There is no client. There is nothing to be sold. As such gov't is the flip side of private enterprise. In gov't people are more concerned with their power, or lack of, getting their share of the next fiscal years allotment of funds, their perks and their retirement. Free enterprise ais all about getting after it, getting it done in a timely fashion, within budget, and competition regulates the money being made. Gov't is the exact opposite.
Thank you for sharing your experience MT Rod. Sounds like you are living the 'life is a journey not a destination' quote : )
I am with you when it comes to keeping the peace, knowing your neighbours, etc. Would prefer to live in a harmonious environment. I wonder what you will learn, who you will meet, and how your life will be influenced by this experience. I have found that what appears challenging can end up being quite a gift down the road.
All the best to you!
I am with you when it comes to keeping the peace, knowing your neighbours, etc. Would prefer to live in a harmonious environment. I wonder what you will learn, who you will meet, and how your life will be influenced by this experience. I have found that what appears challenging can end up being quite a gift down the road.
All the best to you!
MT Rod
Manufacturer Representative
Haha, I'm sure I sound whiny, but I am here because I love it. If I sound discouraged, I am not so much... occasionally a little frustrated.
I love a new experience, and I have been inventing and reinventing my life for the last many years. Good, bad or indifferent, it can all work out OK.
We are in the middle of making some big decisions. We are trying to move forward on our newly allowed project and looking at 3 other "maybe's" in the background. There isn't enough time in the day and night to make me happy at the moment, hahaha. Well I guess that is part of what keeps me happy.
Best of luck on your decision and projects.
Rod
rod::email::yurtlocker.com
Home Page.
I love a new experience, and I have been inventing and reinventing my life for the last many years. Good, bad or indifferent, it can all work out OK.
We are in the middle of making some big decisions. We are trying to move forward on our newly allowed project and looking at 3 other "maybe's" in the background. There isn't enough time in the day and night to make me happy at the moment, hahaha. Well I guess that is part of what keeps me happy.
Best of luck on your decision and projects.
Rod
rod::email::yurtlocker.com
Home Page.