“There was no big aha moment,” says elena jindraA public school dean, she lives in a 350-square-foot yurt with her husband, Zach, in rural northern Wisconsin. “Over time, we became curious about what life could look like and we wanted a new experience.” Today, Elaina gives us a tour, with photos zi wang…
On changing things: Jack and I were living in a house in Milwaukee when we realized we were at a point in our lives where we could uproot ourselves and do something different. So, we quit our jobs, cleared out 65% of our stuff, and put our house on the market.
Dining table and chairs: Thrifty.
When choosing a yurt: We considered things like moving abroad, getting a tiny house, or living out of our Subaru Outback, but in the end living in a yurt seemed like the easiest and most cost-effective option. A tiny home can be expensive, take more time to set up, and have utility costs. A yurt comes in a DIY kit that we can build in a day.
couch: Crate and Barrel. Light Pendant: “I made this pendant using an old shed target lamp We got it as a wedding gift.” Basket: world market. Desk: Vintage.
On planning: It took us 15 months to find land that didn’t have any county regulations, because that usually requires a lot of building permits. Before we officially purchased the land, we were here marking out the dimensions of the yurt with our steps in the snow, and measuring each piece of furniture we were bringing.
stove: ace.
On yurt requirements: You can’t survive in a yurt in Wisconsin without a wood stove. Also, candles. You have to have that cozy, intimate lighting.
On the animals in the neighborhood: You can hear when you stay in the yurt Everything. Spring peepers and loons are incredibly fast. There is also a big owl that sits in a nearby tree and barks all night. We have heard howls from the neighboring wolf pack. We never get the peaceful evenings we imagined we would have out here! But hearing the sounds of wildlife is wonderful.
Bed: west elm. Throw Pillows: Made by Alena. Rug: Thrifty.
On thoughtful details: Many yurts have a tight mesh with a vinyl interior, which many people prefer because vinyl is very durable and lasts for years. But we chose a yurt with a very large net and woolen interior. Aesthetically, it is much more beautiful. We also want parts of this yurt to be dismantled, so that we can leave as small a footprint as possible.
When without Wi-Fi: We don’t have Wi-Fi but we have really good cell service to call and message family and friends. We live three miles from a trailhead that has excellent Wi-Fi, vending machines, and an overall nice atmosphere. Zach is a wedding photographer, so when he needs a strong internet connection to edit photos and upload clients’ galleries we turn to Trailhead.
On smart food hacks: One way to clean out the fridge is to collect the bits and pieces we have left over and throw them on pizza. I call it ‘trash pizza’ and it’s inspired by Anne-Marie Bonneau Zero Waste Chef. I have been crazy about her since college. They inspired me to get creative about eating everything in the fridge instead of throwing it away.
On eye-opening habits: A few years ago, Zack and I started keeping track What we spent our time and money on. At the beginning of each month, I always predict that my spending will be less because ‘I don’t buy anything.’ However, by the end of the month I would realize that this was not true. We are now actively trying to avoid buying things we don’t absolutely need.
On forming new habits: Everything takes a little longer here. Sometimes, after a long work day, I don’t want to clean the dishes, then drag out my seven-gallon jug of dirty water and throw it out. When tasks arrive at the wrong time, they may feel frustrated. But we knew about all these transactions in advance, so we try not to complain.
Yurt in winter.
In winter: Winter is our favorite season because it is very comfortable. Last year, some days reached negative 30. But we kept the wood stove going.
On sweet feelings: Zach and I got married when we were both 23 – we were kids. I feel very lucky because even though we didn’t know who we were at the time, we have managed to grow well together. None of this would have been possible without their belief that we could live happily in a 350 square foot house. He takes me out of my comfort zone.
Sauna: Saunalife.
In a wood-fired sauna: However, we do not use saunas much in summer Love Stepping inside it in winter. This is our #1 party move when hosting friends.
When living off-grid: We have a solar generator that we charge from solar panels, so there’s power going. We also have a backup gas generator that we use every three to four days in the winter. But if things ever stop working, we’ll be fine. We’re both avid backpackers, so we’re used to going days without access to hot water or electricity.
shower: Amazon. Outhouse: “It was actually built by some people in our local Amish community.”
On rain: We have a solar powered shower that we use in the summer. For the rest of the year, we shower at the gym! Getting a membership at a good gym and using its showers is a frugal minimum solution. Our house is only nine minutes away and has all the amenities we need. We often end our day there and have made friends with the staff.
Yurt: yurata.
On mixed reactions: It’s fun to hear people’s reactions when we tell them how we live. Some people are like, ‘You know, you don’t have to live like that, right?’ Or ‘I can help you if you need.’ And then other people say, ‘Oh my God, this is great!’ And want to know every detail.
On big feelings: Living here has made it clear what resources we need not just to survive, but to truly thrive. And we’ve learned that we don’t need that much. We feel very fortunate to be able to take advantage of this opportunity and explore. Life sustainability was one of our motivators for living in a yurt, but we also wanted to slow down. Seeing when the wind is blowing and paying attention to the fullness of the moon.
thank you so much, elena!
PS Several more home tours, including an architect couple who live in a spaceship apartment and a 175-square-foot apartment in New York City (“I just call it ‘my room'”).
(Photos by zi wang For Cup of Joe.)
