Posted by Sam Kigar on Wed, Jun 16, 2010
My boss (and pal) Jennie has a Cimarron Platform Tent in her backyard. The tent sits a mere ten yards from her lovely little home Montrose, CO. Montrose, as it happens, isn't far from the mountains from which this line of tents takes it's name. The Cimarrons!
As Jennie points out, her wall tent or "canvas bungalow," solves a variety of space needs and adds a level of richness to her daily life. Jennie uses her tent as:
- A dinning room. Her home is less then 1000 square feet so; when she has a bunch of folks over for dinner it makes sense to seat all or some of them in the tent.
- A kitchen. She cooks on a wood stove and on her Coleman gas range.
- An escape to the great outdoors. The filtered natural light and breeze (when the side walls are rolled up) make guests think they're miles from civilization.
- A screened in porch. When it's hot out Jennie likes to roll up all four sides of her tent and let the breeze drift through while she lounges in her rocker... Being a southerner it makes her feel right at home.
- A guest bedroom. When she has guests, Jennie folds out her futon and lights the stove. Her friends and family are happy year-round.
But don't take my word for it, get a tour from Jennie herself!
Jennie's tent is 14 ft by 16 ft. The platform tents come in:
- 10'x12', 4'6" tall at the side wall, 9' at the ridge
- 12'x14', 4'6" tall at the side wall, 9' at the ridge
- 14'x16', 5'0" tall at the side wall, 10' at the ridge
- 16'x16', 5'0" tall at the side wall, 10' at the ridge
- and 16'x20', 5'0" tall at the side wall, 10' at the ridge
- custom sizes are also available
Folks use these semi-permanent tents to solve all kinds of problems. Outdoors men and women use them as hunting stands that they can return to season after season. The "Tent and Breakfasts" Mary Jane's Farm and Huckleberry use them as unique accommodation for their guests. But these structures don't need to be far from home... putting one in your backyard can bring the far out a little closer in.
Order a brochure to learn more...
Posted by Sam Kigar on Tue, Mar 09, 2010
Since our first donation of five tents to volunteer aid doctors, we've built eight more and given them to organizations taking them to Haiti! (Read more about tents below.)
So far, we've received donations covering the costs of five tents!
We'd love to receive some more donations to cover our costs, and keep on making and sending tents.
Four of our new tents went to the Colorado Haiti Project and four went to Fireside International. Fireside's tents are going to educators made homeless by Haiti's earthquate, who are working to get schools up and running again.
Partners in Health is also in desperate need of tents. If we can build more we will be sending some to them.
We've streamlined our donation process and opened up a new channel for donations:
You can now make checks out to Colorado Haiti Project.
Send checks to: Colorado Yurt Company/ 28 W. South 4th St./ Montrose, CO 81401
- We'll forward your donations on to the Colorado Haiti Project
- They'll send you a receipt for tax-deduction (please include contact info so that they can do so.)
- If you'd like to donate online with a credit card please see previous post, send me an email or call me (Sam) at (970) 240-2111.
As an added bonus, author Becky Kemery and Gibbs Smith, Publisher are giving the beautiful book Yurts: Living in the Round, $25 value, to our first 15 donors who give $100 or more.
Check out some photos and a video of the tents:
Out new tents include:
- Durable, waterproof roof.
- Light weight privacy walls.
- Bug-proof screen walls.
- Waterproof floor.
- A bag for easy carrying and shipping.
When in the bag the tent is acceptable as checked-luggage on commercial airlines. The bag is 48 inches long, 15 inches in diameter, and, with the tent and accessories, weighs 47 pounds.
We appreciate your help in getting more tents to Haiti!
Posted by Sam Kigar on Fri, Feb 19, 2010
Hello,
When the earthquake hit Haiti we, like much of the world, wondered what we could do. It was a relief when we found a small way to help by donating tents made in our shop. After I wrote about the experience of sending five tents down with a group of doctors, I was amazed to find that you too wanted to help in our efforts.
We finally found a way to get more tents to Haiti efficiently and to make your donations tax-deductible. We’ve partnered with an organization called Fireside International. They were operating in Haiti before the earthquake and have a wide network of friends down there.
- How You Can Help – Donate to Fireside International and earmark the funds for Colorado Yurt Tents by emailing arrenner@firesideinternational.org, the accountant at Fireside. Checks can be sent to: The Caribbean Institute of Media Technologies, 3203 Grassy Lane, Anderson, IN 46012. Earmark by writing Colorado Yurt Tents in the memo section of your check. $420 will buy a tent. Donate more or less as you can afford.
- What Colorado Yurt Will Do – We’ll make eight tents at a time which maximizes the efficiency of our materials and production. The tents would normally retail for $650. The difference represents our donation.
- What Fireside International Will Do – Connect the tents with experienced aid workers who will hand-deliver them to Haitians in need.
The 1st in our fresh batch of tents (now with built-in floor)
As the quake gets further away, aid into Haiti is dropping off but need is actually increacing. Haiti is a mere two weeks away from its rainy season. This means not only that over a million newly displaced Haitians will be exposed to the elements but also that they will face increased risk of contracting disease. You don't need me to tell you how bad it is down there.
Photo by UNICEF Sverige
What we're doing is modest but, we think, worth it. Your donation will buy something real (a tent) and a family will have a place to stay for as long as they need. The tents are about 7ft by 7ft by 7ft tall at the highest point. They are made with care and constructed from high quality, waterproof materials.
We are paying our employees their normal wages so your donation also goes to support local, USA business.
Thank you for your help,
Sam Kigar
sam@coloradoyurt.com
(970) 240-2111