SunTime Yurts

SunTime Yurts imports traditional handmade Mongolian Yurts to the Pacific NW (WA, OR, ID, and MT). The Mongol Ger (Yurt) has been an essential dwelling place to the history of Central Asia. Ger-like structures have been used as far back as 3,000 years ago. Many structural attributes contribute to the Ger’s long-lasting existence. The circular shape and heavy weight make it ideal for strong winds and harsh weather common throughout Central Asia. The hand painted rafters and natural wood latticed walls covered with a clean white wool felt create a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. The thick felt mutes outside noise, holds heat in the coldest of winters, and insulates against heat in the hottest of summers. Mongolia gets as cold as -50 degrees in winter and as hot as 100 degrees in summer, quite an extreme environment. The Mongols live comfortably in their Gers year round.

How SunTime Yurts Came to Be

Last March, I bought a one way ticket to Mongolia to develop my independent film making career. My success can be seen and read at www.suntimefilms.com. My 7 months in Mongolia were filled with adventure, friendship, generosity, nomads, food poisoning, and falling in love with the vast open landscape whose horizon is dotted with little white yurts. My friend Amaraa who lives in Ulaanbaatar helps run SNS Yurt, a small manufacturing company of the traditional Mongolian yurt. Each yurt is handmade out of Mongolian natural products. The only materials not from Mongolia are the tight weave canvas (for rain) and paint (no led). Amaraa has worked with “The Authentic Mongol Yurt,” in the UK for over 5 years and Peter, the owner, has been continually pleased with Amaraa’s service.

With no original intention of importing Mongolian yurts I couldn’t resist the idea of dotting Americas suburbs and landscapes with the romantic shape of the Mongol Steppe. I got home from Mongolia in October got my business license and decided to go for it. I’ve had a great time creating the website, designing logos, writing emails, and getting people excited about these beautiful and practical homes. I’ve enjoyed this process so much I just have that feeling something is right.

Using the blog on my website, I am hoping to create a community of yurters in the North West who share their pictures, designs, experiments, successes and errors. I want people to start coming up with systems for alternative energies, such as: solar and wind; plumbing for sweet, grey, and black water; storage of perishables; heating for comfort and cooking; composting and other recycling methods. The possibilities are limitless. The customizability of a yurt is so unique to its owner I can’t wait to see what people come up with.

A SunTime Yurt comes ready to use:

• Lattice Walls made of Mongolian wood and camel skin.
• Rafters hand painted traditional designs with german paints (no lead)
• Single or double door
• Crown with 4 framed inserts (for plexiglass)
• Upright Crown Supports
• Crown Cover with ties (keeps out rain)
• Heavy weight tight weave green canvas
• 9 mm thick machine washed 100% wool felt
• White decorative cotton cover. Trimmed in red, blue, or green
• Outer cover skirt
• All ropes (made of horse and yak hair)

*Made in Mongolia
**Many different sizes and colors

www.suntimeyurts.com