Community Natural Building Programme
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18/10/2021
Come and learn with us, to build with mud beneath our feet.
Join us for 3 day workshop where we will sculpt a small structure (wood fired oven) made of Cob, Straw, Bamboo and all reasonable Natural materials.
Excursions, Presentations and discussions will cover design basics, foundation laying details, preparation of cob, and all that takes to build in mud.
Spend a night under the canvas and get back to nature at a location you are sure to give your heart to.
Community Natural Building Programme
Workshop : Wood Fired Oven (in Cob)
Date: Fri eve 12th Nov to Sun eve 14th Nov
Location: Camptunes, Panshet (30km from Pune)
Dm for more info
Adventureseekers in collaboration with CNBP.
In support with local technicians and expertise.
Reposted from .in
08/07/2021
Chapter 8
Earthen flooring
Earthen flooring is one of the oldest forms of flooring developed by modern humans. This form of technology has been in continuous use since about 7000 BCE. It has taken many forms and while some types have evolved considerably, the basics of the technology has remained the same, and is ubiquitously used in rural homes to this day. Traditional earthen flooring in India comprises of a mix of sieved earth and cow dung. This mixture is then tamped to harden. This kind of flooring requires weekly upkeep, as it is prone to being dusted away over time.
Flooring technology has come a long way since ancient times, and alternatives like tiles and cement floors are the current norm. These forms of flooring are seemingly durable, but compared to the embedded energy used in manufacturing them, it far from the most sustainable option, having adverse effects on the environment for generations to come.
The advantage of earthen flooring, apart from the very low carbon impact, is that is thermally efficient, helping to keep our home cool in the summers and warm in the winters. For our Earthbag home, we used a mixture of sand from local rivers, local clay and organic fibers/straws of available grass. We also added lime to the mixture to make it more durable and waterproof.
Earthen floors are extremely cost efficient, with materials costing almost nothing. Since we were our own labour, we saved a bit in that aspect as well. We did hire only one master flooring expert though, who's steady hand helped us to achieve a smooth finish that is a pleasure to walk on, while also looking amazing! in
Did you know that wattle and daub is one of the most ancient building techniques implemented by early humans? Evidences of ancient wattle and daub date to around 5000 BCE in the Neolithic period. Examples are found in Catalhoyuk, Turkey, North America and South Asia. It is a relatively simple construction technique that is low cost and highly flexible. Check out our video to learn about how we used it in our earthbag house
