In Cumby, Texas, 65 miles northeast of Dallas, there’s a little village called The Bird’s Nest, where houses are in high demand. The village is made up of tiny homes and RVs, but what makes it unique is their “no men allowed” policy. The village declares itself a women-only community, with all the residents agreeing that women are easier long-term neighbors than men. Most residents are retired, paying an average of $450 a month for a tiny home, which includes water and trash. The Bird’s Nest was founded in 2022 by Robyn Yerian. The 77-year-old divorced mother of two, a former radiology technician, used funds from her 401(k) to purchase five acres of land in Cumby for $35,000. She then spent $150,000 to develop The Bird’s Nest and moved the $57,000 tiny home she already owned onto the land. The tiny village is a gated community, which makes the residents feel safer. There are currently 11 women and 9 dogs who live there, but not just anyone can move in. Those interested in joining the community must be vetted through a rigorous interview process, which begins with a scheduled call with Yerian, then a multi-day visit. It’s important that the women get along, since they all cook meals together in a shared outdoor kitchen, as well as eating together. The close-knit group enjoys things like yoga, game night, book club, crafts and gardening. Beyond that, they’re all there to support each other in times of need. “We drive each other to doctor appointments if needed,” said Yerian, who went on to explain that the residents look in on each other when they’re sick, and act as each other’s therapists when they need it. The women disagree about a lot of things, especially politics, but there’s one thing all the women can agree on — no men means no drama.
