Yurt Sales
Yurts are used all over the world as people are interested in alternatives
to conventional building and want to live more intimately with nature. Individual
yurt owners find many uses for their yurts, such as a studio, guesthouse,
classroom or workshop space, gazebo, retreat and meditation centre, family
camping, vacation cottage, meditation spaces or for a permanent home.
We are builders of Nova Scotia coppice wood yurts, inspired by the Kyrgyz
and Mongolian style yurts. Our yurts are hand-crafted by Selene Cole, (tailors
the coverings), and Alex Cole, (builds the yurt frames.)
We are not just yurt manufactures. We are a family run business that provide educational workshops and are at the forefront of developing sustainable forestry projects in our local community.
Please click here for details on our tipis
Why Choose a Little Foot Yurt?
• We are a small family business blending our artistic skills of
green woodworking, textiles and ancient building techniques to provide quality
traditional style yurts.
• We support local and small business (Schooner Rope & Line in
Lunenburg, NS)
• We support local well-managed woodlots and source our wood whilst
developing coppice woodlands which produces a healthy and sustainable renewable
resource
• Ancient building techniques such as riving, steam bending &
ironmongery produce a stronger frame than other yurts
• The traditional design allows clients to set up and dismantle with
ease. The wooden frame does not use complicated fixtures and fittings so
it can be easily maintained by the owner.
• Egyptian weave cotton canvas of the highest quality is used which
does not produce off gases or capture condensation like vinyl coverings.
Our canvas have been tested to S109 & CPAI 84 Canadian Fire Standards
• By utilizing round wood we create beautifully hand crafted yurts
each one unique and individual.
• Hand made yurts use less resources and energy to provide a very
strong long lasting shelter.
Our Production Methods & Techniques
We build traditional style yurts based on the Kyrgyz and Mongolian designs. Our yurts that reflect the woodland mix of the Nova Scotia Acadian forest. The wood for the walls are taken from well-managed woodlots and the wood for the roof poles and wheel are taken by hand from coppicing hardwoods, which renew themselves every fifteen years.
Every part of the tree we cut down is used. In many cases the wood is split instead of sawing, which leaves the wood fibres uncut to get the maximum strength and then steam bent to achieve components with no loss of structural strength.
Spruce or steam bent ash is used to make the wall trellises, and coppiced
maple, ash or birch is used for the roof poles. With a froe, the ash is
hand-split to acquire the two strongest possible planks and then steam bent
to form the crown wheel. The mortises are burned into a square using a charcoal
and hardwood forced air forge. Each roof pole is cut by hand, drawknifed,
tapered, dried, sanded and finished with linseed oil.
Our production methods and techniques are very different from modern style
yurts, which use sawn wood for the entire frame, aircraft cable for the
tension band and laminated components. Traditional style yurts have an organic
look and in the building processes do require a lot more labour, which reflects
the higher price we charge compared to modern style yurts. Our sales prices
are comparable to traditional yurt companies in England and Wales.
For more information about coppice and the techniques used please refer
to our website www.lfy.ca under Our Yurts.
Coppice-Sustainible Foresty 
Anyone who has felled (cut down) a Christmas tree knows that the stump
will die. Do the same thing to many hardwoods such as ash, maple, and oak,
and they will throw up new shoots. Given the right light starvation these
shoots will grow up straight with few branches. This technique is referred
to as coppicing.
This silviculture practice has been tried and tested for thousands of years
in England. The idea is to harvest the limbs from the re-growth of hardwood
stools (tree stump). By this method the tree stays alive and can yield low
cost lumber for hundreds of years.
Most of the woods in England were coppiced, effectively growing the lumber
to size and using it for almost every domestic application (brooms, handles,
walking sticks) to commercial applications (gates, farming, fences, hurdles,
faggots, and building) By the end of the 19th century this skill and knowledge
has almost been forgotten, due to our demand for uniform, square, graded,
sawn lumber. However, partly influenced by climate change there is a trend
towards sustainability in which we hope this ancient method can be rediscovered
in Canada. Developing coppice woodland crafts could be excellent way to
give value to our local Acadian forest.
Coppice also prolongs the life of the tree and enhances the local fauna
and flora of the woodland. For more information on this topic, a great resource
is Coppiced Woodlands, Their Management for Wildlife by the Joint Nature
Conservation Committee of England.
Coverings
We take special care in tailoring the yurt canvas to perfectly fit its frame. Egyptian cotton canvas called Sunforger is used, which is tested to CPAI 84 and S109 ULC for fire retardency (Canadian standard for public access event spaces). It is a treated canvas, which is rot, mildew, water and UV resistant. This canvas provides an excellent weather-resistant covering that is both natural and breathable, allowing condensation to escape whilst keeping the harshest of weathers out. We recommend that all clients using the yurt for a four seasons have a second winter cover. Rather than use a very heavy weight canvas, which is impractical to move around and harder to pitch we offer a double skin on the roof section providing a weather strong four-season shelter. The benefits of a breathable natural membrane such as canvas instead of vinyl plastic are as follows: significantly less condensation, no off gassing, more aesthetically pleasing, lighter, and easier to repair.
Custom Designed Yurts
Every yurt we make is custom designed and we take great pride in working
with our customers in a personal way. In most cases we prefer to meet with
our clients and go through all the choices and arrive at a yurt that will
fit your personal needs. We build in the winter months providing new yurts
in the early spring time.
All of our yurts include the following:
Wall trellises, spruce or steam bent ash (24-28 ft only), door frame, coppiced
maple, ash or birch roof poles, steam bent wheel; tailored yurt canvas including
wall sections with rot proof skirt, roof canvas with perimeter rope, tension
band, canvas door, tie downs, pegs and eight pointed roof hat with window
(color of your choice for roof hat).
We have five common sizes of yurts that we build (12 ft, 17 ft, 20 ft, 24
ft & 28 ft) however we can custom build your yurt to any size and specification
that suits your needs.
As a Little Foot Yurt Owner You Receive:
- A full day of training with Alex & Selene Cole including erecting your yurt (subject to delivery charges)
- A Little Foot Yurt information guide with step by step pictures detailing assembling, dismantling, and caring for your yurt.
- Lifetime support over the phone, in person or by email
- Two year warrenty on all parts and canvas
Carved panels can be personalized to your logo, or taste (photos are
available)
Note: Because of fluctuating costs, all prices are subject to change without
notice.
| 12 ft Yurt |
17 ft Yurt |
20 ft Yurt |
24 ft Yurt |
28 ft Yurt |
|
| Square footage | 113 ft2 |
227 ft2 |
314 ft2 |
450 ft2 |
$615 ft2 |
| Height of wall | 4 ft |
5.5 ft |
5.5 ft |
6.5 ft |
6.5 ft |
| Height in center | 7 ft |
9.5 ft |
10.5 ft |
11 ft |
11.5 ft |
| Base price | $5300 |
$8690 |
$12200 |
$16750 |
$17990 |
Options |
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| Tarp and coconut husk flooring | $393 |
$708 |
$969 |
$1229 |
$1646 |
| Extra winter cover | $990 |
$1360 |
$1768 |
$2377 |
$2725 |
| Single hand-crafted panel door (3 ft wide) | $800 |
$800 |
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| Double hand-crafted panel door (4 ft wide) | $1400 |
$1400 |
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| Carved panels (each) | $300 |
$300 |
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| Small super-clear plastic window with canvas flap (approx 24" x 28") | $150 |
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| Large super-clear plastic window with canvas flap (approx 40" x 36") | $200 |
$200 |
$200 |
$200 |
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| Wood stove chimney fitting | $120 |
$160 |
$160 |
$160 |
$160 |
| 12" steel pegs (each) | $2.50 |
$2.50 |
$2.50 |
$2.50 |
$2.50 |
| Extra tie downs | $95 |
$120 |
$150 |
$150 |
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Guarantee, training & manual
We guarantee our yurts for two years on all parts and workmanship. We will deliver your yurt (subject to travel costs) and provide you with a full day of training, including erecting your yurt. You will also receive our Little Foot Yurt manual with pictures for every step in erecting, dismantling, and caring for your yurt. We are also available to provide lifetime advise for yurt owners either over the phone or by email.
Maintenance package
Handmade yurts are made from almost all natural materials, so the wood needs to be oiled a few times a year and the canvas must be stored properly. A maintenance package is available if you want Little Foot Yurts to erect, dismantle and maintain your yurt over a period of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
More questions? View this document for a variety of commonly asked questions around our yurts and yurt living. Please click here for more details. For a downloadable version of our Sales Package please click here.
Deposits
A 50% deposit is required for all purchases of our yurts before we start building. The remaining balance is required at the time of delivery. A contract would also be made to confirm size, parts, guarantee, and the deposit needed.
Building Times
All of our yurts that will be built for spring each year, must have the deposit paid and be ordered before the end of February. This is because of the cyclical nature of our harvesting techniques; the forestry component of our work (which occurs in the winter) precedes each build.
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 clear window with removable screen |
 handmade panel door |
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Busniess Use & Educational Yurts
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 banqueting venue |
 workshop space |
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Wheel Kit
Everything you need to build your own yurt (except sticks): Includes hand split and bent yurt wheel custom made to your yurt size and all the rope you need to complete your yurt frame. From $650.
At Little Foot Yurts we run yurt building workshops to share our knowledge and passion about natural building. We want to make yurt building accessible and provide our customers with the more difficult components like the wheel and coverings. Please click here for more details.
Canvas Kit
If you require a covering for an exsisting yurt we can custom tailor your yurt canvas. Please click here for more details.
The Tipi
The tipi is a beautiful space for events and gatherings of all kinds. Individual tipi owners have used their tipis for year round living, camping, and for historical purposes at museums and community centres. A 15 ft tipi is ideal for a small family or gathering space. The bigger tipi (19ft) would also work for a smaller family and fit 25 people seated in a circle; however it is harder to heat.
Our tipis have been very popular and have many advantages including a rot proof bottom on our inner liners. (The tipi cover does not have a rot proof bottom because it doesn't touch the ground.) Our covers have large pockets on the smoke flaps to make it easy to fit the smoke flap poles. Also we have grommet enforced dowel holes, and our loops on the bottom of the tipi are made out of nylon, so they will not rot over time.
Do I need the inner linner (dew cloth)? If you will be living in the tipi we recommonend purchasing the inner linner. It will prevent drafts and provide a more comfortable space.
Our tipi covers include pegs, smoke flap ropes and the tipi door.
Please note: Little Foot Yurts does not provide the frame, anchor rope, or wooden lacing pins.
For a 15 ft tipi, you will need 14 poles (bark removed and sanded) at 22 ft (ideally spruce or pine) and 35 ft of natural rope (1/2 to ¾ diameter)
We recommend manila rope which can be purchased from some Army Surplus Stores.
For a 19 ft tipi, you will need 14 poles at 26 ft (ideally spruce or pine) and 40 ft of natural rope (1/2 to ¾ diameter)
| Diameter | Cover, pegs, door, and ropes | Inner liner with rot-proof skirt |
| 19ft (220 sq ft) | $1433 | $709 |
| 15ft (140 sq ft) | $1188 | $570 |
| 13 ft (113 sq ft) | $971 | $443 |
A canvas care guide and training manual is included in the above prices. If you require set of your tipi for the first time we offer face-to face training and set up for $160. Delivery charges are not included. Our travel costs are $65 for every 100 kms (round trip).
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 inner liner (dew cloth) |
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