When Is a Yurt NOT a Yurt?

So, The great thing about Yurts is that just about anyone can find the needed items to build themselves a dwelling in this style. And, as an added bonus, when it just doesn't work quite right the first time, it can be turned into a great portable fort instead :-

You can pull sticks out of the woods and use them, table saw slices off your grandmothers favorite futon imaybe not), or (like I did), scavenge throw away scraps from the next door neighbors garage door business.

There are endless possibilities for your basic building blocks. Some will work better then others, but trying things is half the fun?

So......... Here we go, the Yurt that wasn't.

One of the neatest things about these dwellings is the flexibility and inexpensiveness involved. Again.............

Here we go!

Find Your Wood, Cut It Up, Lay It Down, and Drill It :- )

I used 8 ft pieces of scrap lumber that was cut about 2 inches wide.    Made about 60 of them for starters if I remember correctly (which is not a guarantee :-)      then used a hand drill to cut holes through a about 4 at a time.

Making sure to keep the boards lined up while drilling.      So,   60 ish boards with holes drilled along them at intervals.

Measure about 9 inches from the ends of the lathe and drill your first hole.   Drill more holes at 15", 27 " and 38 " and so on.

You should have about 3 inches left at the other end.

(You can try drilling through the two by 4 before you slice it also, I dont have good enough equipment (no drill press :-( ), but I am pretty sure it would save some time and effort in the long run.

You can see an example of how to lay out the boards after they have been drilled.   You need a VERY large open space to do this part. This is also the time to call in your family, neighbors etc... to help you out.   It takes ALOT of tying!

Lay Em Out and Tie Em Up!

This is where the REAL fun begins One of the fun things about this project is it can be very inclusive. Young , old, and individuals with disabilities can play a part in putting this establishment together. Individuals with disabilities can be included easily, and everyone can get a feeling of accomplishment.

Get some polypropelene rope (I think thats what it is called), It has to be the kind that you can harden the end of by burning. Cut about a galizzion pieces of it (ok, maybe just a million). Cut into 8 inch pieces and burn one end. That is the end you put through the holes. After you tie it off you can cut off any extra and burn the end again.

TADA!!!!!!!!! Looking Good for a Few Minutes :-)

Find a friend to stand it up when you have tied everything off. Tie some ski's poles etc... to the ends to form a doorway, and you ALMOST have a yurt. We SHALL see!

To Roof or Not to Roof?

Make sure you have a little helper like I did. Its much more fun! (The furry one that is :-) Also, dont forget the bug dope! Unless you enjoy seeing your daughter cringing under her coat as you erect your Taj Mahal!

So, yes, note to self. The whole point of this instructable is that things dont always turn out quite how you expect, but you can salvage and come up with something fun anyway. Ergo the "fort". So, My roof (rings and strange whirlygig of twigs), was an utter disaster. I did however enjoy having a giant "pinwheel" nailed to a tree in my yard for several months. That was a perk of the roof not working. I am sure my neighbors enjoyed it also :-) Yes, well, I digress once more!

Bag the Roof! But Still Optimistic :-)

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, its got to work somehow right? Wait for it :-)

I mean ALL that work cant be for Naught! Right?

Wait for It.................................................. Darn!

Not SO Optimistic anymore! Winter was coming and I had had enough fun. It was a great project though and I am looking forward to trying it again with a bit stiffer wall material. Learned alot! and now its "Fort Fodder".

On another more optimistic note, it is surprising how useful a tall fencey (not a word, I know :-) can be. It is great for keeping moose out of gardens, Making a quick addition to the side of a shed (to cover with a tarp and hide garage sale items), or to lend to the neighbor for lord only knows what. (I am pretty sure it had to do with wild animals getting into her compost pile. Grizzly bear types that were quite undeterred I might add. But THAT'S another story :-)