A Feast of Gers

Sunday, February 18, 2024Saturday, February 17, 2024 ~ George Crawford ~ 5 Comments

I save images from around the internet to serve as references and inspirations for projects and dreams. I have wanted to build a yurt (ger) for many years now but never quite seem to get around to it. Other projects spring up and I’m not desperate for housing but it is still something floating out there on the edge of my mind. While looking through images, mostly from Tumblr and Flickr, I thought I would share some traditional images I’ve found because I’ll bet I’m not the only one interested. Prior to the internet, I remember very few people knowing what these were unless you were into Asian culture or alternative dwellings, but now they seem to have a great following again. To me, they are a sensible dwelling with very low impact on the earth, can pack down small enough to haul all over the country, yet provide a spacious, weatherproof habitation. If they are constructed of all natural materials there will be little trace when they are abandoned and nothing to overflow the landfills. All of these images are reposted from elsewhere but I have tried to link them to the source where I found them when possible.

Between the villages of Olgi and Altai in Mongolia

Herder family moving their ger by truck Bayan Olgii Mongolia

settingup-ger — More good photos at this link.

I’ll add more when I get the time. Looking at the details fires up my urge to craft a yurt of my own.

Everything you build, every entertainment you make, every meal you procure yourself frees you from the market economy and liberates you a little more from the consumer system.

Campaign Furniture in the Wild

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 ~ George Crawford ~ 1 Comment

There’s not much point to this post other than I like historic images and found some great camp photos from the 1920s. These are mostly Roy Chapman Andrews in Mongolia, 1925-1928 from the American Museum of Natural History collections. A fun collection to peruse. Andrews is a remarkable person in his own right as a man who worked his way up from janitor to director of the AMNH. Much of his scientific fame comes from some accidental finds of dinosaurs while looking for evidence of human origins in China and Mongolia.

A proper campaign hat and casual camp shoes while sitting at the campaign table. The ubiquitous large tent provides daytime relief from the sun. This environment (Gobi desert of Mongolia) is similar to the American Southern High Plains of west Texas and eastern New Mexico. Note the rifles leaning against the folding chair in the background. I’m sure we were taught as Boy Scouts to not do that!

Clothing of the adventurer. Andrews is thought by some to be the image of the field scientist that created Indiana Jones for the Hollywood crowd. Safari shirt and tall riding boots while he speaks to the wool-clad tribesman on an awesome camel.

Again, the spacious tent used as a field office while the Victrola plays away. At least the rifles are securely tied to a post this time.

Andrews, Shakelton, and the gang sitting round the record player. They traveled in style in the 20s.Outfitted Dodge truck and camel for venturing out into the wild. In this image, the local guide is being shown the new Eveready flashlights. I think it’s time to raise the bar on my camp furniture.