Free Spirit Spheres, a company run by Tom Chudleigh in Qualicum, British Columbia manufacturs these hanging habitats from sitka spruce. Chudleigh says the idea came to him during a meditative “dreamspace” and he decided he had to try it out. These newfangled tree houses can be tethered, by 3 nearly vertical ropes, to each of 3 separate trees, or from buildings or rock faces.

The wood spheres are made of “uniwall construction”, two laminations of wood strips over laminated wood frames. The outside is then finished and covered with clear fiberglass to withstand life in the forest. Accessed by spiral stairway and a short suspension bridge, these spheres make living like Swiss Family Robinson fairly easy. They even have a standard power connection and insulation!

Although prices are not address on the website, and I was unable to get ahold of Tom because his new location is “out of range because the trees are better”, more information is available. Tom’s two spheres, Eve and Eryn, are also available for rent, going for $125 and $175 a night, respectively.

Watch CBS News coverage of Free Spirit Spheres or The Discovery Channel’s “Living Like the Ewok’s” story.