Canadian couple who left their brick home for an $18,000 20ft YURT with no plumbing claim it has changed their lives 'for the better'
A couple from Canada have revealed how they swapped their stone home for a 20ft yurt – and claim it has changed their lives 'for the better'.
Joe and Leah Hinterberger were interviewed for the YouTube channel Exploring Alternatives and offered viewers a tour of their roundhouse that they share with their two cats Peeko and Lily.
In the short documentary, they reveal how they lived in their new home for five months and it cost them much less than a conventional home of just $18,000.
Leah told DailyMail.com that the biggest challenge they face is the lack of running water or indoor plumbing, so they have to be 'very conscious' of their water consumption.
Another downside is that their restroom is outside, and going out in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures “can be a challenge.”
A couple from Canada have revealed how they swapped their stone house for a 20ft yurt – and claim it has changed their lives 'for the better'
Joe and Leah Hinterberger were interviewed for the YouTube channel Exploring Alternatives and during the segment they offer viewers a tour of their round house
In the short documentary, they reveal how they lived in their new home for five months and it cost them much less than a conventional home of just $18,000.
In winter, the pipes of their outdoor shower also freeze, so they joined a local gym so they can wash in comfort.
However, Leah says these things are mild inconveniences and there are more pros to yurt living than cons.
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.
'Curious creatures regularly come by to see what we are doing.
'The rain is probably my favorite part, the sound of it dancing off the canvas is so soothing.
“It's a small space that can be cleaned up in such a short time, but it's very important to stay organized.”
Joe and Leah moved out of their physical home in June 2023, after starting new jobs in the area where they now live.
Joe works as a truck mechanic, while Leah works on the First Nation Reserve where their yurt is located.
Leah told DailyMail.com that the biggest challenge they face is the lack of running water or indoor drainage, so they have to use an outhouse and an outdoor shower.
Joe and Leah moved out of their physical home in June 2023, after starting new jobs in the area where they now live
Before moving into the circular building, they lived in a converted school bus.
However, Leah said the refurbished vehicle was “a little cramped, so we started looking for alternatives.”
Explaining how they ended up on a yurt, Leah said: 'After deciding to ditch the school bus, I started researching something that would fit our priorities, minimalist and eco-friendly options.
“Yurts popped up. I think I took it and ran with it at this point. Joe agreed and we contacted a company called Groovy Yurts to tour their facility.
'During the tour we fell in love with the 20ft natural wood “Super Ger” they had on display. We ordered our yurt that day and picked it up a few weeks later.
'The yurt is super comfortable for us because we love camping so much.
'The yurt resembles a very large tent, made of natural material and imported from Mongolia.'
Joe works as a truck mechanic, while Leah works on the First Nation Reserve where their yurt is located
Leah points out that living in something round is 'definitely different' and finding suitable furniture can be tricky
As for heating the yurt, the couple rely on a wood-burning stove, but when they go away at night they use an oil-filled radiator to keep their cats warm
In the Exploring Alternatives YouTube, Joe and Leah show off some of the rooms in the open-plan house, including a kitchen, a dining area, an open cupboard, a central wood-burning stove and their bed.
Leah points out that living in something round is 'definitely different' and finding suitable furniture can be difficult.
Joe built their kitchen from scratch so it would 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 keep the yurt from getting smelly. Other amenities include a wood store, the outhouse and a shower.
As for heating the yurt, the couple rely on a wood-burning stove, but when they go away at night they use an oil-filled radiator to keep their cats warm.
In the Exploring Alternatives YouTube, Joe and Leah show off some of the rooms in the open house, including the kitchen, dining area, open closet and their bed.
The couple said their goal for the future was to build a log cabin, but since they've been in the yurt, they “really don't have a plan for when we'll move out of our yurt, if that ever happens.”
As for their living costs, Leah says they no longer pay a mortgage and their only expenses are hydropower, food supply, insurance, mobile phones, gym membership and fuel for their cars.
For others considering yurt life, she concludes: 'Yurt life is not for everyone and I think you really have to be open-minded and attuned to your own capabilities and limitations.
“We gave away most of our belongings and kept only the things we need to get by. Some would say this isn't a luxurious life, but you soon realize how little you need to make you truly happy.
'We found that releasing attachment to personal belongings led to a less stressful life because you don't have to worry about losing things, breaking things or taking them.
'We try to be kinder to our planet with steps that are achievable for us as a couple.
“Our goal for the future was to build a log cabin, but since we've been in the yurt, we don't really have a plan for when we'll leave our yurt, if ever.”