Couple Living Off-Grid in Their DREAM Yurt Home in the Forest - How They Built It + Pros & Cons
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Jill and Charles have created a beautiful off-grid yurt homestead in Vermont, on a forested hillside, with solar power, rainwater collection and a rocket mass heater. But this project didn't come together overnight - it's the result of over 8 years of planning and working towards this dream of theirs!
You can follow and find out more about Jill and Charles's off-grid yurt homestead here:
/ @overtheriverandthroug...
It all started 8 years ago when they visited Vermont to look at properties and ended up buying a beautiful forested 20 acre piece of land. They went home to Dallas, Texas with a 5-year plan to save up enough money so that they could move onto the land in Vermont and create their off-grid homestead. The plan ended up being extended to 6 years with the purchase of 10 additional acres, but they eventually made it up there!
In the 2 years that they've been on the property, they lived in an RV at first (that was also off-grid with solar and rainwater), while they built their yurt home. The yurt is a 30-foot Pacific Yurt with modern materials (vinyl cover and reflectix insulation) that provides approximately 700 square feet of living space. They finished it inside with a kitchen and enclosed bathroom, and the rest is all open concept living space for the dining area, bedroom, office, and storage.
The yurt was meant to be a quick and affordable home to set up, but it ended up taking quite a lot longer than anticipated, especially because they had to build a post and beam platform and deck to create a flat area where the yurt could be put up, and install all their own systems for heat, rainwater collection, and solar power.
The cost was a lot more than just the cost of the yurt kit. They also had to factor in some big ticket items like the platform and deck, the SIP floor panels, the appliances, the solar and rainwater collection systems, and more!
Now that it's complete, the couple has a beautiful, cozy, round home in the woods where they can enjoy being immersed in the forest, and get to know their neighbours, the birds, bears, coyotes and bobcats. Their next steps include building a covered entrance to the yurt, and planting fruit trees :)
You can follow and find out more about Jill and Charles's off-grid yurt homestead here:
/ @overtheriverandthroug...
Thanks for watching!
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COMMENTS
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We want our channel and comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and contribute. For this reason, inappropriate or hateful comments will be reported and/or deleted.
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CREDITS
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Music Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Editing Credit: Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credit: Jill and Charles from Over the River and Through the Woods
#offgrid #yurt #homestead
Thanks for watching! You can follow Jill and Charles on their UA-cam channel here:
www.youtube.com/@OvertheRiverandThroughtheWoods
You pay property taxes?
The joys of happiness ❤
좋네요 화장실도있고 저기가서 살아봐 근데 나는화장실자주쓰고 자 위 해서 어떤4가지없는 남잣끼가 폭력을휘두르면저에게 저는싸움에서 져요
Hats off for this couple. The amount of work to make this happen is wild
I went through upstate Vermont on my honeymoon back in 1984. The Lake Champlain area was the coldest I've ever been. I was used to the cold, coming from MA, but this was DEFINITELY the coldest. I always wanted to homestead and I guess my husband thought I was joking when I found a great property in NH that was 30 miles from a town. He kept asking "Are you REALLY sure?"
I ended up in North Carolina on 22 acres with my 10 year old daughter and no more "husband"!
I never worked so hard in my life. Every night, after spending the day putting up fences and out buildings, I would sit on my back steps and listen to the Whippoorwills with a satisfied smile on my face!
Great job, guys!
Great job to you. ❤😊
@@Happyladybug143 Thank you. Homesteading was one of my best choices. Living amongst people who hated "yankees", not so much!
@GabiMayo-c3h If you have NOTHING relevant to say, maybe you should sit this one out.
@@SpecialSPwhat was wrong by asking a question? Are you that sensitive?
@@beckishoumaker5828 He/she/it is just being a troll.
I love how they shared their process with us. Beautiful home. I think they'd really benefit from growing their own food. They certainly have the space for it with 30 acres.
Wow, what a fabulous labor of love.. Charles, you are a real craftsman. You both have a true vision of living intentionally and respectfully. Love it!
Thanks for the kind words! They really are a great team!
"Freed us up", she said. Says it all.
These folks have skills!
Thanks very much!
What a beautiful design in a beautiful place, and a really badass couple!
So cool hope everyone has a great weekend
Wow! Just a beautiful place and such a hard-working couple. It really helps the bottom line that he was able to create so many things himself for the home. I truly admire it!
Thanks very much.
What a lovely secluded spot. Beautiful surroundings. Love getting inspiration from others. Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪
What an utterly AMAZING man. Hats off to you sir.
What a beautiful home in the mountains. Lots of work but once it’s done, oh so worth it!
I've never really been a yurt fan myself, but this is the first time I've thought "oh well maybe". While I like the idea of an open concept, I do like how they have created a room for an indoor bathroom that also helps nicely define the kitchen area, AND a closet area where all of that isn't visible, including like the water heater, etc. I really like how they have theirs set up. Very nice.
You are so blessed to have a man who is willing to do this ❤
He’s so blessed to have a woman who was willing to do this! What a sexist comment from a woman!!?? Internalized sexism is real…
@@velocitygirl8551usually it's the other way around 😁 it's harder to take a person that lived the entire life in the city , usually persons who lived in the country side in the childhood are wiling to do this. And I get it it's much easier to get everything while doing nothing. I mean you have to do some work , like chopping wood , cooking , cleaning, some are not wiling to do those kind of things.
It was HIS dream! Who was supposed to do it??
I'm thankful for your detailed video. Offering up approximately what it cost is very beneficial. I am grateful you shared all the resources you needed to install and how. Septic rain water, solar, vents, heating, cooling, water heater and etc.
Information is powerful. Having a good idea what is involved is essential if someone is thinking about living this way.
Thank you for sharing.
😎 I have been following them since the beginning of their build.
What amazing people. I'm so glad they shared all of this with us. It's all amazing.
Thank you!
Certainly the best yurt I’ve seen!
Yaaayyyy for an episode from our fair state of VERMONT! 👍👍👍👍👍
Haha glad you're represented!! Thanks for watching :) :)
Hats off to them, that’s a lot of work digging holes for the cisterns.
Clever Charles and Jill
Amazing. I would LOVE to live in a yurt like this forever. You two deserve much praise & admiration because creating and sustaining such a fantastic home requires a certain breed of human. Congrats !!!
This is definitely one of the nicest yurt set-ups I've ever seen. Really well done. I look forward to checking out their channel. And I love that rocket heater - so neatly done, and it's not even finished! Where I live in Canada I have no running water, and I have been wanting to create a rainwater collection system. This is the first time I've seen one buried like that, and I think I might be able to create something like that at my home... thanks for the inspo!
Wow. This guy is very talented ❤
Stunning couple so beautiful and so grounded. they are an inspiration ***xxx
Love their channel. I have enjoyed watching fellow Vermonter's create their dream.
Transplant flatlanders.
Im just gonna say it, you're a little bit spoiled and you deserve it! Very well thought out plan. Love all the bells and whistles you have for comfort. Bless you!
Thanks. Some people expect that if you want to live off-grid then you want to wash your dishes and laundry by hand. Some people do, and much respect for that. We would rather spend our time doing the things we enjoy, which don't include dishes and laundry (or going outside to use the bathroom).
I'm going on 7 years building my own cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. It's just over 600 sq ft, and that includes a second floor area I refer to as an attic. I still have to create the rainwater capture system, but I hope to move in this summer. This April I will be 80 years old! Oh, there's no blueprints!
That's awesome!
HI CHARLES & JILL....JUST FOUND YOUR CHANNEL ON YOU TUBE AND THROUGHLY ENJOYED WATCHING THE YURT BUILD. IT SURE LOOKS LARGER THAN 750 sq ft INSIDE, BUT YOU BOTH ARE SO ORGANIZED, THE OPEN CONCEPT, THE BEAUTIFUL WOOD CABINERTRY AND NO SQUARE CORNERS OR ANGLES. IT'S A STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL HOME AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE IN THE FANTASTIC PROPERTY UP IN THE HILLS & TREES WITH NATURE & ANIMALS......THIS PLACE IS LIKE HEAVEN!!! AND THEN , THE SNOW......OH MY, THAT'S "THE CHERRY ON TOP"......❤❤WOW - WOW - WOW❤❤. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR ADVENTURES WITH ALL OF US. GOD BLESS.......PS-I'll be following your channel.......& your kitties look sooooooo comfy & happy😊❤
Thanks so much! Welcome aboard 😊
Well done, Sir. I Can see the diligence and hard work you put in Smart Construction. Well thought out👍
Amazing family! Definitely aligns with financial planning like Dave Ramsey about being debt free, saving money, paying cash, and living how you want to live freely. I like that she had the choice to work contract jobs and choice to relax, too! it's amazing how the husband has many skills too and how they both worked together to achieve this dream come true!
Friends, a couple with 2 small kids, lived in an original mongolian yurt for a couple of years. But the area they live has a lot of rainfall in autumn and they had problems with humidity. Yurts are not for just any climate.
This one looks spectacular. I hope you do a follow up in a couple of years.
Everybody always seems to want more, even when it seems like they have everything!
Fair point, but to be clear if we build another structure it will be specifically to have a more energy efficient home.
I agree
You crushed this build. Claps from NH.
Thanks neighbor!
I love this so much. It's a dream, it's surreal. You're living my dream. I would do anything to have your property and life. However, I am happy that you did what you desire in life. You went for your dream, that's inspiring. Even though I don't have what you have, the inspiration will suffice. It's a perfect setup and a perfect place to retire. I love it and love that I got to see it rather than not. Live long and prosper. ❤
I love your home, I think it’s a great way to live
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed seeing Jill and Charles's yurt.
Beautifully designed!
Oh my goodness I love Jill and Charles's channel 💖💖💖
Beautiful spot. Love the wilderness. The Yurt looks cozy. Great job 👍👍 thank you, Matt and Danielle, for sharing another lovely story.❤❤
Thanks for watching, so glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Mat for sharing this unique build with all of us. It is not for me but it is probably the nicest Yurt I have ever seen. Once the landscaping is finished I am sure they can easily recover their investment and do something else.
Thanks so much for watching, Greg! It's true, yurts aren't for everyone but they sure are nice structures :D
I absolutely love everything about this! The way you have it arranged, the decorations, the area, just everything. If I could I would do this in a heartbeat. Thank you for sharing your home!!
Thank you so much.
Very interesting alternative living. Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙏
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching :)
A nice, working together relationship is good to see this day and age. Thanks for sharing. Lovely home. 🩵
Really good video! Their voices and demeanor made the video easy to watch.
We're glad you think so. Some people find our voices unbearably boring, and others appreciate the "no drama" vibe. Either way, we prefer to be ourselves rather than put on an act.
This is an outstanding video!
The content alone. ....!
I really want to point out the fantastic editing...to the one who's responsible for that I applaud you and I thank you !!
What a pleasure 🙏
So glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for the kind words on the editing!
Wow! What an accomplishment!
I would love to live there! It is beautiful!😍
Lots of work, but lots of rewards too...
Howdy again you two!!!...you are such an inspiration THANK YOU BOTH, for sharing your YURT JOURNEY!!!...
CONTINUED ABUNDANCE and BLESSINGS TO YOU!!!
Thanks very much!
What a beautiful view for an amazing house, house built outta luv.. Its awesome to see such lovining couple these dayss, so hard to find that combination, Theyre definitely soulmates Thank you for sharing this!!!
Beautiful place in the most beautiful state Vermont 😍 ❤️ good luck y'all 👍
We wish them the best of luck as well! Vermont is a magical place. Thanks for watching :)
Soooo cool you know how to do EVERYTHING ❤❤❤. Beautiful life!
Thanks so much.
I love this home ❤such a cozy place ❤ being off grid and in nature is such an added bonus ❤ thanks for sharing
My kinda of people !!!!
I've never fancied Yurt life before,yet your Yurt home has changed my thinking,I love the layout and especially the bathroom, the fact you have a bath is wonderful. It is nice to see such a lovely kitchen and cosy seating area,the cats looked very cosy indeed. The fact a lot of people opt for outdoor loo and shower in their off grid homes is off-putting to me,I like the idea of being able just to pop to the loo whilst still indoors,no trudging out in wellies in a snow storm, looking forward to watching your channel and all that you do on your land.⛺️❤
Wow this is one of the nicest Yurts Ive seen
I see a likeness to Richard Gere on the gentleman there. A lovely yurt there, and a talented man to make all that .
I lived in one in Mongolia for a month in the winter, while hunting there . Very comfortable ❤
idk if I could live in VT; but if I did, I'd want to be next door to these 2. Looks great, y'all!
Aww that's a sweet comment! I bet they'd be amazing neighbours! Thanks for watching Jill and Charles's story :) :)
What a cool couple
So amazing. I want a yurt so badly. So inspiring. Thank you
They are beautiful aren't they? Thanks for watching!
You both are amazing. It’s beautifully done. What a wonderful way to live.
Thanks so much for the kind words! Jill and Charles really have created something special.
When I first started watching this video I was sceptical because previously I had seen a yurt tiny home which was so magnificently designed everything was perfect, and it had bedroom on level one, and when we got there it was instant nope because the bathroom was basically walk in concept with no doors and no roof, it was hidden behind the bedroom wall as kind of a walk in, and I was just like can you imagine all that moisture and smell of natural business coming in directly into the bedroom and permeating over time into beddings and curtains. Hell nah. But I was pleased to see that design flaw was addressed in this design with a completely enclosed bathroom with fan ventilation. This makes the idea of living in yurt far more appealing because really yurt designs are fabulous to begin with, but I do think they need careful planning on airflow and Ventilation to not have cross mixing in certain areas.
Yes! Venting the bathroom is a challenge, though, because putting a hole in the yurt ceiling is not ideal. We went through the floor and ran the pipe pretty far over the cliff, and it seems to have worked, fingers crossed.
What a glorious life! I am so envious!
Beautiful, thank so much for sharing, it is incredible what you have done🎉
Such a beautiful yurt!
Agreed! Thanks so much for watching :)
Magnificent! This was very well planned out and obviously quite an investment. Wonderful lifestyle.
You guys are amazing on what you have been able to do if I had the understanding of how to do something like that I would do it too, but I’m now 78 a solo female I live on 37 acres and that is giving too much for me to handle keeping up with my rock gardens in my lawns and trails so I’m looking for a smaller area so I can raise all my vegetables and not have to live in town, but at my age I need one for Living, but I’m just astounded at what you guys have done, congrats!!!!
Thanks for watching our story about Jill and Charles!! They really have done so much in a short amount of time!
Wishing you the best of luck with adapting your gardens so they're easier to manage. 37 acres sounds like a lot to keep up with for anyone!
Looks like heaven and I don't particularly care for neighbours, sometimes they want more from you than just a hello/goodbye in the day. You've done well with the way of life you've chosen in the yurt. ❤
Well, we do have neighbors but they've been pretty helpful and we can't see them from our clearing at the top of the hill 😊
Beautiful space, thanks for showing it to us. I hope you also find a fun social group
Thanks very much.
INCREDIBLE!! I ❤ IT!
Love Yurts, you folks have designed it the way id love mine if I was to get one , Your property is something Id want as well, You have quit the talant Charles , looks so comfy cozy and to live with nature it cant get much better than that. I hate city life . Excelent cost , more affortable than buying a residential home . Your well set up I love everything about this home.
That is gorgeous!!
Very nice house.
yearn after
I love this for you guys😊😊, Cool Beans ❤❤❤❤
Looks very comfortable.
Omg I love vermont
Wow…just gorgeous.
Thank you so much!
It’s lovely!
Beautiful! So well done and those views 😍
You are such a beautiful couple, your home is gorgeous, I am so happy for you! You've done a brilliant job, everything to be proud of! Merry Christmas, happy new year to you both! God Bless you both! I wish you all the happiness you deserve ... I subscribed!
Thank you so much, and welcome aboard. I hope the UA-cam algorithm decides to send some of our videos in your direction. 😊
I could live there❤
Amazing!
what an inspiring couple !
I LOVE IT 😍
Dream house for me!
So intelligently done! Beautiful yurt! You lucky ducks! Do you grow food and/or have a greenhouse? Do you have animals to raise for food or do you hunt or are you vegetarians? Charles could definitely sell his electrical skills within the community. Great cat.
amazing solution really
Love what they have done! Great video and music!
Amazing!!!
Wonderful video
This is something I could get behind!
You Guys are so cool :)
You guys are so cool :) and I mean it 100 procent :) I want to build one Yurt just like you :)
nice stove and in-floor heating!
Just wow
I appreciate their honesty. A yurt really isn’t a great value at the end of the day once you realize that it is covered in a material that will fail relatively quickly. But maybe that covering can be replaced? Overall if you are investing so much time to build a rural home, a framed home with more durable materials seems like a better value. If you do most of it yourself as they did, 100k for materials probably gets you there for a 700 sq ft structure, plus it can be much better insulated.
Thanks for the discussion! To be clear, the materials are actually pretty durable (a 15 year warranty on the roof, for example) but yes, the insulation issue is what makes us think about building something more efficient to live in, and perhaps turning the yurt into a seasonal rental for income.
Beautiful home! We're slowly turning to off grid living and sustainability. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you and best of luck to you!
This was an extremely ambitious project, in my opinion. I believe, you will start up another project as you become restless. One thing, for sure is the Talent behind everything that went into this home.
It is comfy and manageable. Be wary of your health because, sometimes we find out, the hard way, we should have just been satisfied with what we had. Obviously, I am expressing my opinion from my own experience. The idea of developing your landscaping will further enhance your living experience. Vermont is a beautiful State and I have been there many times, because I live in Ontario, Canada.
Thank you for sharing your lovely home space and what went into the design and build. It is lovely.❤
Maravilloso video
This is incredible, thank you so much for sharing!
You’re welcome! We’re so happy you liked the video.