Photos and Letters of Portable Yurts, Domes, Greenhouse, and Tents

Here are more interesting, informative and enjoyable letters and photographs sent to us by satisfied people who've bought and used Shelter Systems' portable, waterproof shelter and gardening structures for a variety of purposes. Read on!

"Last year, I purchased the Geo-Dome 18. It's been great having it because I use it as a greenhouse environment. My neighbor purchased one three weeks later, because he was so enthused by it. They definitely sell themselves. Some other friends are interested in having one too. I am trying to sell them on the 18', because of how much more versatile this size can be for a garden environment. I call mine 'a tropical greenhouse' due to the fact that I have fruiting papaya and banana and pineapple, plus regular vegetables!" - Paula Halsey, NC

"We are a group of environmental scientists who purchased your White Solar Dome 20 for use as a portable field laboratory for water quality investigations in southeastern Massachusetts. Our project ran for two years, and we used the Dome throughout the four seasons, in ALL kinds of weather. It kept us dry and warm, and hey, our electrical equipment liked it, too. The 'pipe forest' you can see in the foreground is our 3-D well sampling network that we use for our research. Inside each pipe are 15 thin plastic tubes that go into the ground water and sample water from a particular depth. Sometimes we sat for weeks at a single location, and other times we moved the Dome from one site to another several times a day. One day after moving the dome quite a few times, we left it for the night, forgetting to stake it down, as your instructions say. Well, in the night a big storm blew in. We're talking a 20 Foot East Coast Tumbleweed! However, despite being blown 300 ft. and smashed into a pine forest, the Dome could be set back up in twenty minutes with no damage done. The Dome was the best product on the market for meeting our needs for a dry, cozy portable field site." - J. A. Davis, MA

"Here is a photograph of our Crystal Cave being used in the excavation of the Dowell Site in January 1989. This structure made doing Archeology in the winter not only feasible but even pleasant. It is easy to assemble and easy to move. The only problem we had was in high winds when it blew away. This was solved by using Tee fence posts and ropes to hold it down. It has since held up and stayed in place in sustained winds of 30-40 mph." - Robert Lafferty, Mid-Continental Research Assoc., AR

Thought you might enjoy seeing how well your dome works for a wheelchair. I love it and had tomatoes for 8 weeks after the first frost. It has stood up to our often high winds of 30 - 40 mph." -Mime Power, NM

"I live near Arcata on the coast of California. We get lots of rain here, yet I've lived comfortably in my 18' Dome Tent for the 2 years and have not had a single problem. My tent was warmer than a lot of my friends' houses because I had a little wood stove and the tent was cozily small. Yet it was bigger than a rental room. I would not have had the comfort or privacy that this tent has allowed me. It also allowed me to get through without paying a lot of rent. I've had to take it down, not because of any problem with the tent, but because moths and gophers ate holes in it when I left it for 4 months unattended. I had electricity via solar power." -Jennifer Hawley, CA

"I purchased the Lighthouse 18 last November. It has withstood all weather for the past year including being crushed flat by an all-night wet snow last January. I shoveled hundreds of pounds of snow off of it, crawled inside and popped it right back like new. The only damage was a pinhole in the roof." - Richard Markley, OH (Note: Shelter Systems does not recommend that you allow snow to build up on your dome; best is to take it down for the winter or at least to knock the snow off with a broom or melt it off with heat inside.)

"Success on the North Ridge of Mt. Everest is dependent on maximum performance from each detail of equipment. Only the best product is selected. Thank you for the standards of excellence that helped our team stand on top of the world! The Solar-Dome gave us a great place to eat and meet. The white material gave a bright feeling to even the gloomiest of days." - Colin Lynch, 1995 American Mt. Everest Expedition, CA

"In 1986 I ordered a Gro-Dome 8 and it has been in constant use since then. It was getting rather 'feeble' after such a long life [1993] and recently some tree branches fell on it and finished it off! I need another one. I've really enjoyed using it." - Margaret Davis, VA

"We purchased our first dome, a 21', from you in 1985 before moving to our property here in Last Chance. It was a trial run at the time, as we knew we were moving to 12 rural acres, and we wanted to have some immediate living space to use while we began to develop our new home. We tried the dome for a year before moving and it met our needs. At the time we had two young daughters.

"As we made the move, we purchased two 17' domes to complete our 'dome village.' The smaller domes served as our two bedrooms and the 21' unit housed our kitchen and dining room. We enjoyed this setup for five years. Our location in the Santa Cruz Mountains is a wet one, yet the domes handled the climate beautifully. We were able to concentrate on establishing our gardens,
building workshops and experiencing our property before actually picking a building site.

"We have now [1994] completed construction of our home and still the domes live on. The original 21' dome that served us so well as kitchen is now helping produce our food. It occupies a prominent place in our garden as a greenhouse, and last summer we harvested an amazing crop of melons. (We have attempted melons several times before and, at best, harvested a golf ball or two.) In the dome we were able to create an environment that produced the most unbelievably sweet fruit, and for almost two months! One 17' dome we use as a guest bedroom and the second provides great storage for our accumulated junk.

"Your domes have met a great need for our family through the years. I have appreciated your willingness to consult with us as we have had questions. Personally, I have impressions of my children through their young years living independently in their own space, and I know they will always remember these years with fondness. You truly helped us live our dream." - Steve Pitzer,
CA

1 1/2-YEAR GUARANTEE. If for any reason you're not completely pleased with your purchase, return it in original, clean condition within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange as you wish. All items in this catalog have a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for 1 1/2 years. Should any product prove defective we will repair or replace it at no cost to you. Special Orders are not returnable. Read Snow and Wind Warnings.

Questions? Orders & Customer Service: Toll Free 866-777-1066 or 831-464-2002 eleanor@shelter-systems.com Technical: 650-323-6202 bob@shelter-systems.com. Copyright © Shelter Systems 1976 - 2008 All Rights Reserved

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