"We lost everything," Jessica Tenhoff said. "I didn't even have any shoes."

A little more than a year later, the Tenhoffs have rebuilt their yurt manufacturing, sales and rental business. Their woodworking shop at Northern Enterprises Boat Yard -- where they make the latticework frames and rafters that give yurts their strength -- wasn't affected by the fire. The Tenhoffs moved their fabric shop and sales office to the old Homer Tire and Auto garage on the Sterling Highway near the Pioneer Avenue intersection.

Over the winter, a small cluster of large and small green, tan and white yurts has sprung up. This spring, the Tenhoffs added a new arm to their business: Alaskan Yurt Village, a complex of rental yurts for arts and crafts businesses -- even a renewable energy store that sells electric cars.

"Violent change is uncomfortable," Jessica Tenhoff said of the resurrection of their business. "It is renewal."

First, Nomad Shelter had to replace the nine park rental yurts lost in the fire, Tenhoff said. "It was an intense spring. We lived in vans behind here," she said. "We never stopped."

With no other work, the Tenhoffs had to stick with Nomad Shelter.

"We didn't have any job to fall back on," she said. "Luckily, everybody worked to do that."

In one sense, the fire had a positive effect: It moved Nomad Shelter to a more visible location on Homer's main highway. The yurts of Nomad's sales office and of Alaskan Yurt Village are prominent on the drive into town.

"It's way better we're coming out of the closet," Tenhoff said. "There is a lot more visibility. It works well. People come to look at yurts."

The Tenhoffs have been making yurts since 1987 and started Nomad Shelter in 1995 while living in Nome. They moved to Homer in 2000. Their yurts -- which come in sizes from 16-feet to 30-feet in diameter and range in price from $6,500 to $14,000 for the basic frame and cover -- are based on the traditional Mongolian design. A lattice frame supports the walls, and rafters hold up the roof. Steel cables hold it all together. A Lexan plastic skylight with an optional chimney and vinyl windows bring in light. The yurts have regular doors on hinges. Duro-Last, a fire-retardant vinyl, covers the roof and sides. Insulation and a wood stove or heater can be added to make the yurts livable even in extreme Alaska winters.

Photo by Michael Armstrong Drew Simpson shows off a Zappy 3 Pro scooter in the parking lot of Alaskan Yurt Village. Simpson's father, Lanny Simpson, runs Alaska High Mountain Energy in the Yurt Village, and will be selling the electric scooter and renewal energy products.

The Tenhoffs now have three businesses: Nomad Shelter Yurts, Alaskan Yurt Rentals and Alaskan Yurt Village. They employ from 6-12 employees year-round and average about eight. Some parts they subcontract to local businesses. The skylights and coverings are made at the main office.

"One of my motivators is creating jobs," Tenhoff said of their business. "I think how, if you can make a job happen, do it, especially jobs that will keep our younger people in town."

For older carpenters tired of working outdoors or for new woodworkers trying to learn a skill, it's good inside work. A lot of Nomad's woodworkers start as apprentices in the shop.

The rental side of the business provides a network of nine yurts in Kachemak Bay State Park about a day's kayak trip apart. The Tenhoffs started the business in 2002 when they tried to sell yurts to the state park. The Alaska Division of Parks came back and said, "Why don't you run a concession?"

For $65 a day, visitors can rent dry, warm yurts with beds near park trailheads or beach landings. For families with small children who don't want to camp, but don't want to stay in a more expensive lodge, the yurts offer an alternative.

The yurt rentals also give potential customers a chance to try out and learn about yurts.

"Nobody knew what a yurt was, what they were for," she said. "We had to educate the customer."

Alaskan Yurt Rental offers shop space for emerging or established artists. Current artists are:

* Dan Coe's Handpainted Signs, Furniture and Artwork;

* Bill Kitzmiller's Solarwind Art Studios;

* Sharon and Steve Clause's S. Clause Creations with Gael Moto's fabric creations; and

* Lanny Simpson's Alaska High Mountain Energy and Alaska Dream Studios, with Simpson's High Mountain Images photographs, Glenn Slabaugh's photos and Stephanie Alward's jewelry and paintings.

Glass artist Angelo Gagliardi will be doing glassblowing demonstrations starting soon. Several artists sell works at the shops, including Ralph Stover -- the Bear Man -- with his hand-carved Goofy Moose creations. The cooperation will lead to other spin-offs that can complement yurt sales, like off-the-grid power systems Simpson is developing. Both Simpson and Sharon Clause said the Tenhoff's Yurt Village already has a small-town market feel -- and giving new artists a chance to show their work.

"The venue they're providing is creating a community that's able to spring up for people who haven't the exposure before," Simpson said.

Tenhoff credits her neighbors and friends for helping make the long road back to rebuilding happen. After the fire, people held fundraisers and other benefits.

"This community was so unbelievable," she said. "If you're going to have trouble, you want to be in Homer."

The Tenhoffs will be paying forward some of that help next weekend when they sponsor a benefit for HoWL!, Homer Wilderness Leadership School, Libby Bushell's outdoor education program. The benefit is 7-10 p.m. June 27 at the Yurt Village and raises money for HoWL!'s scholarship program. CTTC, Rockin' Rudy and Yellow Cabin play, with a $5 suggested donation.

With their focus on rebuilding their business, the Tenhoffs still haven't rebuilt their home. They rented a house the past year, but when the lease ends, they have other housing lined up. "Now we're moving back in yurts on our slab," Tenhoff said of a plan to move back to their old house lot. "I'm looking forward to being back in yurts."

"You have to make it with what you've got," she added. "That's Alaska."

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michaelarmstrong.@homernews.com.