BY RALF JACKSON WALTERS

(SNOW CAMP—May 4) Invented three thousand years ago in Central Asia, Alamance County just got its first yurt Saturday. It was all part of the fun at Siloam Missionary Homes where folks came out in the spirit of an old-fashioned barn raising to help raise a Mongolian yurt shelter.

The first of four which are planned for the 33-acre gated village for missionary families, the round- shaped yurt is an iconic image of nomadic life on the barren steppes where Genghis Khan and his fearsome horde once lived. Built to withstand the harsh weather of Mongolia, these North Carolina yurts will have it easy in a climate that favors magnolias.

“The yurts are a new concept at Siloam Missionary Homes,” says President Larry George of the nonprofit organization. These are attractive and affordable alternatives to eleven brick and mortar or stick-built houses that are currently being used as extended-stay homes. We envision these durable and weather-proof yurts as short-term housing for visiting missionaries who are here for just a few days or church youth groups who come here as volunteers to help with repairs, tend the animals and grounds, or even for a weekend retreat or overnighter at our conference center.”

Made in Dugspur,VA. by Buffalo Mountain Yurts, the yurt frame and rafters are made of wood. Once erected on-site, the walls, roof and floor are wrapped and covered with a military-grade tent canvas that is virtually tear and puncture proof. The floor of the yurt is 24 feet in diameter or about 450 square feet, and sleeps as many as 18. The cone-shaped ceiling is topped off with a clear plastic dome, giving a clear view of the stars at night. A conventional door and several windows with screens are used for locked entry and ventilation. Units can be air-conditioned and heated with a wood stove as weather dictates and have a loft, kitchen and enclosed bathroom, says owner Stephen Carpenter. George said that all four yurts at SMH will be built into the side of a hill with each sitting on a platform, creating a fun “tree house experience” for kids and those still young at heart.

“Last year, we provided homes for missionaries from 14 different countries,” George said. “We want to share with the community in our area people from different cultures. So the reason we chose a yurt is that they’re unique and different and when you see one, it shouts out foreign culture to you.”

Siloam Missionary Homes is a home away from home for missionaries and their families who need rest, are recovering from illness, or are transitioning back to American culture after serving in foreign lands for many years, George said.

People interested in visiting the sprawling community and its village center that resembles an old west town will have an opportunity to do so when SMH hosts its annual “Farm Day” June 22. Families and their kids come to have their pictures taken with the colorful Alpacas that are raised there and take part in a day full of fun, food and various activities.