A couple from Canada have revealed how they ditched their brick and mortar home for a 20ft yurt, claiming it has changed their lives “for the better”.
Joe and Leah Hinterberger were interviewed for the Exploring Alternatives YouTube channel and gave viewers a tour of their roundhouse that they share with their two cats Peeko and Lily.
In the short documentary, they reveal how they have been living in their new home for five months and it cost them much less than a conventional house of only $18,000.
Read told DailyMail.com that the biggest challenge they face is not having running water or indoor plumbing, so they have to be “very conscious” of their water consumption.
Another drawback is that their bathroom is located outside, and going out in the middle of the night in frigid temperatures “can be a challenge.”
A couple from Canada have revealed how they ditched their brick and mortar home for a 20ft yurt, claiming it has changed their lives “for the better”.
Joe and Leah Hinterberger were interviewed for the Exploring Alternatives YouTube channel and during the segment they give viewers a tour of their roundhouse.
In the short documentary they reveal how they have been living in their new home for five months and it cost them much less than a conventional house of only $18,000.
In winter, the pipes in their outdoor shower also freeze, so they have joined a local gym so they can wash comfortably.
However, Leah says that these things are minor inconveniences and that life in a yurt has more advantages than disadvantages.
She explained: ‘On the other side of the coin, one of the things we love most about living in our yurt is how close you are to nature.
‘We have curious critters that come to see what we are doing quite frequently.
‘The rain is probably my favorite part, the sound of it dancing on the canvas is very relaxing.
“It’s a small space that can be cleaned in a very short time, but staying organized is really important.”
Joe and Leah moved out of their physical home in June 2023, after getting new jobs in the area where they now live.
Joe works as a truck mechanic, while Leah works on the First Nations Reserve where their yurt is located.
Leah told DailyMail.com that the biggest challenge they face is not having running water or indoor plumbing, so they have to use a latrine and an outdoor shower.
Joe and Leah moved out of their physical home in June 2023, after getting new jobs in the area where they now live.
Before moving into the circular structure, they lived in a converted school bus.
However, Leah said the revamped vehicle “was a little cramped, so we started looking at alternatives.”
Explaining how they decided on a yurt, Leah said: ‘After deciding to ditch the school bus, I started looking for something that fit our priorities, minimalist and eco-friendly options.
‘The yurts appeared. I think I took it and moved on at this point. Joe agreed and we connected with a company called Groovy Yurts to tour their facility.
‘During the tour we fell in love with the 20 foot natural wood “Super Ger” they had on display. We ordered our yurt that day and picked it up a couple of weeks later.
‘The yurt has been very comfortable for us because we love camping.
“The yurt is like a big tent made of natural material and imported from Mongolia.”
Joe works as a truck mechanic, while Leah works on the First Nations Reserve where their yurt is located.
Leah notes that living in something round is “definitely different” and it can be difficult to find furniture that fits.
To heat the yurt, the couple uses a wood stove, but if they leave overnight they use an oil-filled radiator to keep their cats warm.
On YouTube Exploring Alternatives, Joe and Leah show off some of the open-plan home’s spaces, including a kitchen, dining room, open closet, central wood stove, and their bed.
Leah notes that living in something round is “definitely different” and it can be difficult to find furniture that fits.
Joe built his kitchen from scratch to work in the space and installed his “luxury item,” in the form of an espresso machine.
Outside, there is a barbecue area where the couple does most of their cooking to prevent the yurt from smelling, while other features include a log store, an outhouse and a shower.
To heat the yurt, the couple uses a wood stove, but if they leave overnight they use an oil-filled radiator to keep their cats warm.
On YouTube Exploring Alternatives, Joe and Leah show off some of the spaces in the open-plan home, including the kitchen, dining room, open closet, and their bed.
The couple said their goal for the future was to build a log cabin, but since they were in the yurt, they “really don’t have a plan for when, if ever, we’ll move out of our yurt.”
As for their living expenses, Leah says they no longer pay a mortgage and their only expenses are for hydroelectricity, food supplies, insurance, cell phones, a gym membership, and fuel for their cars.
For others considering yurt living, she concludes: ‘Yurt living is not for everyone and I believe one should be open-minded and in tune with their own abilities and limitations.
‘We give away most of our belongings and keep only the things we need to survive; Some would say this is not a luxurious life, but you quickly realize how little you need to be truly happy.
‘We found that disconnecting from attachment to personal possessions has revealed a life with less stress because you don’t worry about losing things, breaking them or having them taken away.
‘We are trying to be kinder to our planet with measures that are feasible for us as a couple.
“Our goal for the future was to build a log cabin, but since we’re in the yurt, we don’t really have a plan for when, if ever, we’ll move in.”