A New Paradigm Investment Opportunity:
Eco-‐Farm Yurt Prepared for: Those interested in investing in the development of sustainable and regenerative living communities.
Prepared by: Astraea Starr & Luc d’Abadie May 2013
Overview The following is a proposal for a $40,000 loan of which funds will be used to pur-‐ chase and construct a 28 foot diameter Yurt (615 square feet) with a loft. The Yurt will be used by Astraea Starr and Luc d’Abadie as a primary residence for all seasons and will be built at StoneHedge, an eco-‐farm located 25mins Southeast of Edmonton.
SpeciSic items included in this proposal for funding are: • About Astraea and Luc... • About Stonehedge... • Details of the Yurt Structure • Use of Funds • Proposal for Loan Agreement • FAQs
Astraea and Luc would like to thank you in advance for considering their request for a loan. By securing this loan they are able to live a more sustainable lifestyle and be a model for others who wish to do the same. Supporting this proposal has greater impact that providing Astraea and Luc an affordable home-‐-‐it contributes to the development of sustainable living communities in Alberta.
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A bit about Astraea and Luc... Astraea and Luc currently live together on an eco-‐farm outside Edmonton, AB where they temporarily reside in an RV and as they prepare to develop their yurt this spring/summer 2013. They both feel strongly about supporting sustainable eco-‐friendly living practices and share a passion for living harmoniously with nature. They are active members of Stonehedge Community (more info next section) and plan to co-‐create the next stages of the eco-‐farm and give service to their community. Astraea Starr is a dancer, yogi and priestess of the new paradigm. She currently works full time at Noorish Kiva, a predominant yoga studio in Edmonton, where she manages the yoga studio and supports special events. Astraea also teaches her own dance, yoga and other healing related courses ongoing and in workshop fashion. She has done this full time for over a decade and does so now on a part time basis-‐-‐supplementing her income from Noorish and keeping her engaged in her passions of dance, yoga and healing. Luc d’Abadie is an entrepreneur, author and architect of the new paradigm. He manages an online marketing business called Medical Resources Inc., an online medical exam prep course business, and does online marketing for Institute of Skin Enhancement out of Cal-‐ gary. Luc works virtually with occasional ofTice visits to Edmonton and Calgary. He plans to publish his second book this year and further his development of Tribal Commerce and his company Golden Cites Group (www.goldencitiesgroup.com).
Combined Astraea and Luc have strong income and can easily afford to take on the loan re-‐ quested while still spending less than 20% of household income on housing related costs.
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A bit about Stonehedge Eco-‐farm... Stonehedge Eco-‐farm has been an ongoing development since 2006. Michael and Nathalie Jackson own and reside on 21 acres just 25 minutes southeast of Edmonton (10mins from Sherwood Park) off Highway 21. They have been working to transform their property into an oasis of gardens and greenhouses that is home to a community that focuses on healing, educating and inspiring the development of a sustainable world. This year with the formal rezoning of the land to an Eco-‐farm, they will take the much awaited next step of welcoming new families onto the land. The community will consist of Tive families, each with their own 60x80 foot family domain on which they will build a housing structure. In addition to residence, there will be a handful of small businesses on the land including a large Education and Wellness Center. This centerpiece to the commu-‐ nity will be home to workshops, presentations, yoga and spa related services aimed at heal-‐ ing and nurturing those who reside and visit. Astraea and Luc are one of the families living on the land. If the re-‐zoning is delayed or never happens for some reason, the temporary nature of a Yurt makes it possible to have the structure on the land-‐-‐with Astraea and Luc living in it-‐-‐ within the boundaries of current zoning. They currently have a 60x80 foot space on the land allotted to the development of their yurt. The community will consist of a community bathhouse/kitchen facility equipped with showers, hot tub, laundry and composting toilets separated from a community kitchen proudly equipped to feed over 100 people. Development of this structure will be in phases with phase I planned for later in 2013 or early 2014. There is currently a 40 foot diameter geometric dome (2012) and a 30 foot yurt (2011) already on the property. Future devel-‐ opments include shop space (2013), greenhouses (ongoing) and healing/wellness center (2015) as part of the community.
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Details of the Yurt Structure For more extensive information on Yurts than what is included here, see the Appendix.
What is a Yurt?
(also known as a Ger) A Yurt is a portable dwelling structure traditionally used for generations by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. Also historically known as a Ger. In Buryat Mongolian "ger" simply means home. In Russian the structure is known as a yurta, hence it is more commonly known in English as a "yurt." At a basic level, one might say a yurt is a fancy tent-‐-‐but a yurt is really much more. The Mongols live in them year round and tend to prefer them to other forms of housing. If you have ever been in one you will note the powerful energy and relaxed sensation that comes with the circle design. Not to mention the easy take down and set up. The original designs of these structures involved Tive basic elements: lattice walls, roof beams, a roof ring, a door, and a felt or hide covering. Modern Yurts use the Mongolian concept combined with with the conveniences and tech-‐ nology of the 21st century, including insulation and cover fabrics developed by NASA. Yurts are bought in pre-‐made kits that can be assembled in 1-‐2 days, depending on the size.
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Astraea and Luc’s Yurt Astraea and Luc’s Yurt will be a 28’ Yurt purchased from Yurtz by Design in Surrey, BC. Yurtz by Design is a reputable seller, #1 in Canada and has been around for over 10 years. The Yurt will include an insulation/winter package and will have all necessary up-‐ grades to be a comfortable primary residence year round in Edmonton’s climate. For more detailed information and speciTications on the 28 foot Yurt Astraea and Luc will be purchasing see the appendix.
Impressive Aspects of a Yurt A yurt is one of the most versatile dwellings available: Portable – you can assemble and disassemble a yurt in a few hours or at most days. The packages includes step-‐by-‐step installation instructions. A yurt can be transported in a pickup truck, utility trailer or boat. If you need to move your yurt on your property, with the help of a few friends it can be moved fairly easily. Secure -‐ yurts come equipped with lockable steel doors and solid wood door frames. Comfortable in all seasons -‐ the yurt has proven itself in all kinds of weather. Cozy and warm in the winter, with insulated walls and roof, and a circular shape that makes it efTi-‐ cient to heat. Cool in the summer, with windows, dome and door openings to provide cross Yurt Proposal - Page 5
ventilation like no house can. Eco-‐friendly -‐ All of the rafters are milled from ecologically harvested timber. Yurts are environmentally unobtrusive buildings and cause no permanent damage to the land on which they are built. Durable -‐ Yurts are built to last for a very long time. They are tested for structural strength and all-‐weather durability and will last for many years without any problems. Also, they are easy to maintain. Fun and natural – Living in a yurt is an adventure. Yurting gives you the opportunity to live close to nature and keep life fun and simple. Spiritual – Yurts are used as places for yoga and meditation because of their comforting surroundings. The atmosphere inside the yurt is one of warmth, security and high vibra-‐ tion.
Astraea and Luc’s Development Plan • Phase 1 -‐ Raise Funds and order Yurt Package (May) • Phase 2 -‐ Build Deck (May/June) • Phase 3 -‐ Raise Yurt (June/July) • It will take to 2-‐3 days to erect the yurt
• Phase 4 -‐ Install Wood Stove (June/July) • Should only take a day and will not be a rush given time of year
• Phase 5 -‐ Purchase Furnishings (June/July) • Phase 6 -‐ Build Kitchenette, Bathroom, and Sleeping Loft (July) It will be essential all items are complete by September when weather starts to shift colder.
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Use of Funds The following is a breakdown of how the $40,000 loan will be allocated.
Item Description
Expected Cost
Yurt Package (including shipping and gst)
$25,000
Wood Stove (including venting and installation)
$3,000
Decking
$3,000
Kitchenette
$1,500
Loft
$1,500
Additional Items (Flooring, window coverings, etc.)
$3,500
Misc and Reserve
$2,500
TOTAL
$40,000
Note: due to the magnitude of the project it is expected that costs will not be in excess of the $2500 reserve amount included above. Astraea and Luc also plan to infuse funds in many areas as neces-‐ sary.
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Details of the Loan The loan requested is for $40,000 CAD. Although the $40,000 is for a housing structure, the Yurt is a non-‐permanent structure and does not sit on titled land and therefore any loan associ-‐ ated with the Yurt is not a mortgage, but a loan. The Yurt will sit on a piece of land leased from Michael & Nathalie Jackson or a sub-‐leased plot of land belonging to the Stonehedge Community who has leased it from the Jackson’s. In either case the lease fee will be $300/month and includes shared use of roads, garbage/recycling and out buildings. Utilities are additional and estimated at an additional $100-‐200 per month. The following table outlines the terms of the loan Astraea and Luc are seeking. All items are up for discussion and negotiation, however the aim is to meet the below parameters for the loan.
Item
Details
Loan Amount
$40,000
Term of Loan
4 or 5 years
Our preference is a 5 year term.
Interest Rate
6-9% per annum
It goes without saying we would love the lowest possible interest rate, but realistically we do not want to pay more than 9%.
Loan Structure
Monthly Payments
We would like to start servicing the loan with monthly payments 3060 days from the date of the loan. Payments would be P+I and paid monthly via cheque or email money transfer.
Early Payout
yes
Option
Related Notes We do not expect to require more than this amount.
We would like the option to make balloon payments towards the loan at any time and would like to have the option to buyout the remaining loan amount at anytime (minimum of 6 months).
An example of a 4 year and 5 year loan is outlined in the following table.
Loan Amount
$40,000
$40,000
Term of Loan
4 Years
5 Years
Interest Rate
7% per annum
8% per annum
Monthly Payments
$956
$809
Total Repayment
$45,888 $5,888 interest
$48,514 $8,514 interest
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FAQs The following are relevant questions related to the project or the loan. If after reading the proposal and the FAQs you still have questions, please let Astraea or Luc know. 1. In the event of non-‐payment, what happens? Security for the loan is the Yurt structure itself. In the event of non-‐payment we would make arrangements to move or sell the Yurt structure so that the investor can be paid back. Ulti-‐ mately Astraea and Luc will be responsible for the amount of the loan.
2. Who owns the yurt? The yurt is purchased with a loan shared by Astraea and Luc. The yurt then is co-‐owned 50/ 50 by Astraea and Luc and they are each responsible for half of the maintenance and ongoing costs of the structure including the loan monthly payments.
3. Can the Yurt be moved easily? You can assemble and disassemble the yurt in a few hours/day. Yurtz by Design provides step-‐by-‐step installation instructions we plan to follow to set up the Yurt. A yurt can be trans-‐ ported in a pickup truck or trailer. They are designed to be assembled and disassembled. We do not plan to move the Yurt for at least 5 years, if at all.
4. What if Astraea and Luc decide not to reside together anymore? Astraea and Luc agree to share the responsibilities of the loan. In the event that their rela-‐ tionship terminates, they will be responsible for paying half of the loan each (approx. $350-‐ 425 per month). This amount is reasonable for each to pay and the structure can be rented out or one of the residents can be replaced by a rent paying tenant if necessary.
5. What are the terms of the lease with the Jackson’s (owners of the land)? As mentioned in the Stonehedge Community section, the Jackson’s agree to lease the land to the Stonehedge community-‐-‐of which Astraea and Luc (in the yurt) will be apart of. In the event that community does not form as planned, Astraea and Luc plan to lease directly from the Jackson’s. The Jackson’s agree to have Astraea and Luc reside in their yurt on the land and Astraea and Luc are currently on the land leasing directly from the Jackson’s.
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Next Steps... Thank you for considering our proposal for a loan to purchase and live in a Yurt as part of a greater eco-‐community. If you are interested in this opportunity to support Astraea and Luc please contact them at
[email protected] or via telephone at 780-‐619-‐3672.
Much love and gratitude,
Astraea Starr & Luc d’Abadie
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Appendix -‐ More about Yurts YURTS IN GENERAL (from Wikipedia) Yurt -‐ originally from a Turkic word referring to the imprint left in the ground by a moved yurt, and by extension, sometimes a person's homeland, kinsmen, or feudal appanage. The term came to be used in reference to the physical tent-‐like dwellings only in other lan-‐ guages. In modern Turkish the word "yurt" is used as the synonym of homeland or a dormi-‐ tory. In Russian the structure is called "yurta" (юрта), whence the word came into English. The ger is not only the traditional dwelling of the Buryats, but of all Mongolian peoples as well as of the Kazakh, Kirghiz, Tuvans, Tatars, Yakuts, and other Central Asian and Siberian peoples. The most commonly known kind of ger is the nomads' ger, which is used by almost all Central Asian nomads, including Mongols and some of the Buryats. The Yurt dates back to the time of Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Yurts have been used by generations of nomadic horse herders in Mongolia as portable homes which can be set up anywhere.
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7 feet lattice side walls are standard in all yurts. They are made of expandable, top-‐quality, 1-‐1/2" x 7/16" kiln-‐dried Douglas Fir, to produce the strongest product possible. Solid door frames are made from Tinest quality BC grown 2" X 6" Douglas Fir; sanded and stained. Yurt Proposal - Page 12
The Front Door will be double 30" French Doors of Douglas Fir, with shatter-‐proof lami-‐ nated double glass panels. This exterior steel door is insulated, Tireproof, and weather re-‐ sistant; comes complete with high quality hardware and lock set. We will also have a sec-‐ ond smaller door on the structure. Rafters are made from hand selected Lodgepole Pine; round log poles for extra strength, sanded and stained; metal connecting inserts-‐-‐50 in total. What an amazing atmosphere these create. Lodgepole rafters will NEVER twist under snow load and they are 20-‐30% stronger than 2"x 4"s. The Compression Ring is a superior quality, extra thick, layered Douglas Fir, glued and bolted, sanded and stained. At the center ring YurtCo uses “Wind and Snow Load” straps from rafter to center ring on EVERY rafter! The Yurt will include 2 glass windows in addition to those in-‐ cluded in the walls (4 others). Standard size is 3ft x 4ft double paned sliding glass, Low-‐E with Argon seals. Window kit includes insect screen, wooden frame and two wall studs. Low-‐E glass stands for low emissivity glass. It is a technologically advanced, insulating glass that improves energy efTiciency by re-‐ ducing the transfer of heat or cold through windows. In summer it reduces window heat gain by 64% compared to ordinary glass and in winter the superior insulating capability of Low-‐E keeps your home warm and controls humidity. The top Dome and Opener is heavy-‐duty, virtually unbreakable lexan, for long life; extra. 5ft diameter with protective safety ring around edge; stainless steel hardware and fastening springs. Stainless steel opener with telescopic handle is included. The top cover is heavy-‐duty 19 oz vinyl; it includes an exclusive double-‐treated Tinish that is manufactured speciTically for YurtCo so that it will offer superior strength in all applica-‐ tions. Once the surface Tinish has been double coated it becomes slippery, which enables snow to slide off easily, helps shed dirt and makes it easy to clean. Cover also includes VinaGARD® UV protection and Class 1 Sire retardant rating. Side walls are one Single piece; 16 oz vinyl; Class 1 Fire Retardant; wind grommets built-‐ in; wind tie-‐down kit included; Top-‐coated for extra UV protection, anti-‐fungus and mildew protection. The cables that hold it together are stainless steel. Their cable exceeds engineering speciTi-‐ cations. All stainless steel hardware included; screws, washers, brackets and cable. Stain-‐ less steel for a lifetime corrosion-‐free Tinish. The tie downs are eye bolts, rope and built-‐in grommets for high winds. Yurt Proposal - Page 13
The insulations is foil bubble rFoil, which is a double layer of polyethylene bubbles bonded to and sandwiched between two Radiant Barrier aluminum Foil sheets. After years of research, it has been proven that reTlective foil products are excellent insula-‐ tors. The effect of Radiant Barrier Foil (RBF) on radiant heat gain and loss is nothing less than astounding. Although conventional mass insulation products (Tiberglass, loose Till, wood, etc.) are effective against convection and conduction, they have no effect on 'radi-‐ ated' heat transfer. It reduces radiant heat loss in winter or gain in summer, by as much as 70%. The insulation is rated by reTlection as it reTlects 97% of radiant heat rays. It is a common misconception that insulation must be thick to perform well. It is also a common mistake to consider only a material's R-‐Value when choosing insulation. It is highly possible for a thinner reTlective material to provide better thermal performance than a thicker non-‐reTlective product. Not including gold and silver, pure aluminum is the most reTlective material on the planet. The thin aluminum layer in rFOIL reTlects radiant heat en-‐ ergy; and this ability is not related to the product's thickness and R-‐Value.
The beneSits of radiant insulation: •
Safe, non-‐toxic and non-‐carcinogenic.
•
Not affected by humidity or condensation.
•
Durable -‐ won't collapse, compress or disintegrate.
•
Lightweight and compact for easy transportation.
•
Easy to install. No protective garments necessary.
•
Resistant to bacteria and fungi.
•
CLASS A / CLASS 1 Tire rating. Yurt Proposal - Page 14
•
Virtually indestructible, will not collapse, compress or disintegrate over time.
A 15 year warranty applies to Foil bubble rFoil Insulation. Their yurts are rated for heavy snow loads. However, in regions with extremely heavy snowfalls, they offer a snow and wind kit that reinforces the roof rafters and lattice wall with vertical side wall supports. It provides cable tie-‐downs to the yurt platform ensuring protection from extreme wind conditions. It will include side wall supports of round, stained log pole studs to match the rafters. Our Yurt will include a stove chimney opening with an interior and exterior shield that will allow us to easily install a wood stove. The opening Tits a 6” chimney pipe. We will be inserting a high efTiciency wood burning stove The rain catchment system consists of a vinyl fabric gutter that the runs around the pe-‐ rimeter of the roof, catching the water and funneling it through downspouts. This gutter is made of the same vinyl as the roof and is heat welded on so there can never be any leaking. In dry weather, this gutter sits Tlat on the roof and is barely noticeable. We plan to attach rain barrels so we can gather rain water. rFoil used on the Yurt meets the following building code speciSications and testing criteria: •Thermal Performance ASTM C236 & ASTM C518 •Flame Spread and Smoke Density STM E84 •Fungus Resistance il-‐Std 810B Method 508 •Pliability C 12224-‐93 •Water Vapor Transmission ASTM E96 •Emissivity Testing •Beach Puncture Resistance TAPPI T-‐803-‐88 •Tensile and Elongation ASTM D882-‐1995 •Tongue Tear ASTM D1117-‐1997 •Corrosivity D3310-‐90 (1995) •CAN/CGSB-‐51.33-‐M89 | CAN/ULC-‐S 102.2-‐M88
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For more information on Yurts see Wikipedia, Google “Yurt” or “Ger” and/or speak with someone who has experience building or living in a Yurt structure.
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