Natural Homes
We want to adopt a holistic approach as we begin to re-wild the forest around us. Thus, for our dwellings, we have chosen natural materials that will cause least harm to the environment.
The Hut
The Hut
The mud hut is the first-built eco-friendly structure on the site. It is made using wattle and daub technique and has a thatch roof. The hut also includes a dry compost toilet. All the grey water released from this dwelling gets treated by banana circles before percolating into the ground. We built this in two months.
The Kitchen Block
The Kitchen Block
The kitchen and dining block boasts of walls built with adobe bricks. The bricks were made with the help of local people, using soil found at the site. Mangalore tiles are used for the roof. These tiles are placed on a bamboo frame, which adds to the aesthetic appeal of the structure. The kitchen-dining space was built in a span of six months.
The Guest Block
The Guest Block
Learning from past experiences of designing houses in this region, we optimised the inclusion of air ventilation and light in this building. For this, we designed north-light trusses using bamboo frames. The structure has an exotic open-roof bathroom and a compost toilet too. Spacious verandas add to its homely feel.
Re-Wilding
Re-Wilding
Our efforts to re-wild the forest has a multi-faceted approach. Apart from the removal of Lantana camara, we have also focussed on these activities:
- Water conservation in sandy soil by building check dams along water channels.
- Reduction of soil erosion by building check dams and planting trees.
Wild Garden
Wild Garden
The garden is a space for us to grow our own food. Our organic vegetable beds and orchards ensure that we get fresh and nutritious food straight from the farm. We’ve just started and we look forward to go a long way with these initiatives. The plants have been grown using organic material and certain permaculture techniques. Vermicompost and leaf mulch for plants are cultured at and procured from the site. We collect wheat husk, which is usually burnt by farmers, and use it as manure in our gardens.