mUD MOUNTAIN BLOG
Back in 2011, I found myself camping alone on a remote
Turkish hill. There was no power or water on the land.
It was the start of an adventure that profoundly changed
my beliefs about what is enjoyable, or possible...
How does anyone go from not being able to bang a nail in, without either bending it or smacking a finger, to constructing a house, in the space of six months? The answer lies far from building manuals, and workshops, and training. It resides a long way from the Turkish mountains too. But first, let me rewind to the beginning of my building adventure. The first month on my land. Just one woman, a tent, and a dubious stick creation that paraded under the term ‘washing-up rack’. The month of May was gobbling up its days like they were baklava. Syrupy, sweet days they were too, with clear skies of cobalt, and mountain outlines sharp enough to cleave the unblemished blue into bite-sized triangles. The green slopes that rolled and swirled about me were on the brink of yellowing, late spring flowers itching to scatter their seeds. It was with this backdrop that I embarked on my first construction project. The toilet. There were always plenty of questions about my lifestyle. But, it was in particular my bathroom habits that seemed to ignite people’s curiosity. Where did I crap? How did I wash? After a couple of weeks of answering nature’s many calls in various ‘off-land’ locations, I accepted that some sort of bathroom was imperative. Thus I made one . . . in a manner of speaking. And, as with every new step I took up there on my mountain, I looked to the land to show me the way first. Was there a spot that nature had divined would be my WC?
I found a small rock-strewn cove at the edge of the forest. It was surrounded by wild shrubs and trees. Thorn bushes scratched at the gaps with their thick green claws. Pushing through an olive tree, I edged into the space within. I was almost invisible to the outside world. Yet, the clearing looked out onto the pomegranate fields beyond. A loo with a view? Ha ha! It seemed my bathroom space had made itself known. But how to go about constructing it? It was then that I drew on the only building resources I had. Den building. And I had to dig quite far into my memory to pull those now indispensable life lessons out. The last time I had made a den, I'd been seven or eight years old, at most. I don’t know if all children build dens, but I think most of the kids on my street did. There were bedsheet hideouts, shelters woven from branches, and my favourite was a moss-carpeted kitchen I made with a girl called Isabelle Dobby. We crafted it under a knotty old tree near her house using the gaps in the roots as cupboards and shelves. Yes, indeed. A moss carpet. It was state-of-the-art in the den world, even if I say so myself. Back in Turkey, well over thirty years on, this was all coming back to me. As I examined the circle of greenery at the edge of the forest that was bidding to be my bathroom, I looked at it as a child might. I studied the shape of the rocks, the placement of grasses, the spaces. Then, I rolled up my sleeves and set about the brambly little circle. Oh what happy hours I spent that day, clearing a showering area, collecting small stones to spread on the floor to stop the ground becoming muddy, inventing a neat little canister-with-hose-shower. But, it was the bathroom ‘door’ that was my pride and joy. I found two sturdy sticks, buried them in the ground, searched out a third branch that arced beautifully and rested it over the other two sticks. And then…wait for it…I NAILED THEM TOGETHER. This may seem like rather a piffling achievement to other more experienced artisans, but for me it was the first thing I’d ever nailed in my life. And voila! A doorway appeared. I found an old curtain and pegged it over the top (den-building tactics revisited) and that was that. It might seem that I’m over simplifying, but that bathroom ‘door’ was a turning point. It was the baby step that empowered me to move on from toilet to tool shed to wooden deck to house, all in the space of half a year. Each time it was the same process. Look at the land, look at what you have, use some logic and just try it out. About two months later, one of my neighbour’s relatives turned up to take a look about my homemade kingdom on the hill. She tucked a grey, silken headscarf around her head and wobbled as she walked the length of the track. On arriving before the toilet, she tweaked the curtain and peered inside. Next, she looked at my tent and my kitchen, with its tree-branch hooks and random wood slats for shelving. She turned up her nose. ‘Ooh, I don’t like it at all. Its … it’s like a kid’s game or something. Why don’t you make a proper house?’ She was right. It was just like a kid’s game. And that’s exactly what made the entire adventure so much fun, and ultimately possible at all. Now, two years on, I’m sitting in a roundhouse made of mud. My kitchen is a rubble-filled mess. There are stray stones everywhere, and my sink seems to change places every day. There are still gaps all over the walls where I need to finish the earthplaster. The window sills are not yet in, nor do I have any furniture. I sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag, like a child in a backyard. Does the chaos drive me crackers? No. Strangely, it doesn’t. Because it’s a game. A big, muddy game. And I love every single minute of it.
52 Comments
Siegren
26/12/2013 10:27:02 pm
<3 hahahaha, wonderful,
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KS
21/11/2018 05:36:00 pm
Incredible and inspiring! Your name is Atulya (a Hindi word which means incredible!)
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16/2/2014 07:23:14 am
Csodás házat építettél !!!!! Érdekelne,hogy csináltad. Üdv Gabi
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Kevin Walsh
9/7/2015 01:27:39 pm
Thank you so much, Atulya. I am not sure that the mud construction will be the answer to my construction challenges, but I admire by your approach to many of the same issues that have to be addressed. Your determination and tenacity are inspiring to me and I keep them in mind as I tackle new challenges on my mountain home. Peace and love, Atulya.
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Rick Kruszewski
9/7/2015 08:34:02 pm
How did you make the wall sculptures?
Johnny
26/7/2015 07:54:04 am
Atuyla,
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Lisa Marie
6/8/2015 12:54:46 am
You are a fantastic writer! What a lovely, fresh, and wide-eyed-wonderful view and approach to life and living! Never stop growing, learning, trying, falling down and getting up, exploring and playing: these are the keys to the fountain of youth! Thank you for sharing!
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Kerry
6/8/2015 04:17:36 am
Thank you Lisa! No, I don't suppose I shall stop falling down and getting up again:)
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Kevin Walsh
14/9/2015 02:42:42 pm
I thought you did a great job with your TR (TED) Talk. I shared it on facebook and I hope it will get even a few people to start thinking a bit differently. Peace and love.
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Kerry
14/9/2015 09:47:45 pm
Oh thanks so much Kevin! Insallah, as we say over here. Cheers for sharing it, much appreciated.
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Kerry
5/10/2015 10:04:08 am
Yes Kaliye, I have three. Here's one of them.
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Roxana
20/11/2017 11:55:11 pm
You can also use wood ash in the composting toilet, which is probably easier to 'find' (in your own wood stove) than some of the other things mentioned - depending on where you live.
Lorri
16/10/2015 10:29:19 pm
Hola Atulya. I'm new to your adventure and am loving it. I hope to build a small house, maybe earthbag in the next few years. Reading your story reminded me of My childhood. My brothers built a treehouse but wouldn't let me use it so I built my own house in a nice shady dry area under a bunch of willow trees. I loved it cause the cows would come and use it too. That was the start of my wanting to build my own house. Now thanks to girls like you I am getting up the courage to do it too some day. I do have an engineer husband who is handy with a hamner so that should make it a cinch right?!!
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Kerry
17/10/2015 11:33:20 am
Looking forward to hearing the outcome of that one Lorri. If you ask me, building is a bit like driving:)) He he he. You could always make two tiny homes and link them. Perhaps his will be up in the trees and yours under the willow tree again:) Lovely to hear from you. And best of luck!
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Awi
24/10/2015 03:59:24 pm
Your book is very inspiring and educational, so with your articles. I was able to convince my husband to make an earthbag house, thank you for sharing your experiences. Keep up!
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Kerry
24/10/2015 07:33:47 pm
Now THAT is an exciting comment Awi, thanks for sharing! :)
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Lorri
24/10/2015 08:35:40 pm
Way to go Awi. I'm so excited for you. Make sure you let us know how it's going.
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Don zuch
14/11/2015 03:21:12 pm
Atulya
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Atulya
15/11/2015 06:51:15 pm
A camper van is good Don, it's very good:) Ah, I'm almost jealous. Looking forward to hearing about your adventure.
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joanne kozlowski
7/12/2015 09:49:49 pm
how do I find a near by area. northwest indiana
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Clay Chessmore
15/12/2015 09:51:58 pm
Hi does anyone have any info or experience with permits and regulations? I have property in the california desert and dont know if I would get in trouble for building something like this
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Connie
7/6/2016 04:18:54 am
Hey Clay, I bought my land in Tehachapi, CA. I went to the building permit office in town and told them what I wanted to do, which is build an off the grid cob house. They told me that you can't legally build an off the grid house in California. So I bought land that is far enough out of the way that nobody will bother looking hopefully. I just started building 4 months ago and will not be getting permits for it. I'm going to build small to be safe. There are a lot of people in California that are building without permits and it feels good to know that I'm not alone.
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Lu
18/12/2015 05:54:32 pm
now you've done it... I'm inspired! brilliant! I have been wanting to a) build an addition onto my house in Canada, and yikes, the cost!!!! and b) I own land in Costa Rica and have always wanted to build a terran home, ie a dome inside a hill. this is easier than moving the whole hill!
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Kerry
25/12/2015 05:22:18 pm
Sounds like a great project Lu, good luck with it! Send us some photos when it's done:)
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Maureen
23/12/2015 06:19:10 pm
W hen I go back to Spain in a few weeks will have a go at building something muddy! Got plenty of the stuff. Previously had a wee village house and hubby and I built a kitchen cost very little, worked brilliantly and looked lovely. Tiled worktops and curtained fronts. Got many complements on it would never consider an expensive kitchen now.
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Kerry
25/12/2015 05:23:39 pm
Yes, money kills creativity if you ask me. Thanks for posting.
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Grace haven paul
24/12/2015 08:35:25 pm
Dear Atulya..having read each of your articles. I am fascinated and drawn to have a home of my own made with mudbags. Though it's a new venture inspired by you and you alone I would like you to help to know how to make the floors and divisions i am from Delhi INDIA and if you visit India anytime I would love to meet an amazing person that you are..God bless you..love Grace
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Atulya
25/12/2015 05:25:07 pm
Thank you Grace, how kind of you. I love India, and have been about 7 times, but not since I got a dog:) Hmm, floors and divisions. OK, I'll write a post on that in the New Year.
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Old Goat
28/12/2015 07:58:51 am
>>>
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Kerry
30/12/2015 06:19:46 pm
He he he, go for it!
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Clay Smith
30/12/2015 04:50:03 pm
Hi Atulya,
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Kerry
30/12/2015 06:18:55 pm
I hear you Clay. Building codes can be frustrating, and you have a few options: 1. Move somewhere without them (there are many US states that allow earthbag building. I just posted a list of some on the FB page.) 2. Comply with them. 3. Get round them (as your friend has done and as Ianto Evans gives brilliant tips on how to in his book, "The Hand Sculpted House". Sometimes I find though, that it's the constraint that pushes the creativity pedal. Here's a post on it.
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Bear
29/1/2016 04:21:49 am
Ayulya
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Atulya
29/1/2016 10:52:01 am
Ah thanks Bear, much appreciated.
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Pattiemelt
7/2/2016 06:22:25 pm
I have been planning (or maybe dreaming) my own hand-built home for several years. First it was earthbags, then strawbales, now I'm looking into cordwood building. So far, every time I think I'm getting close to being able to buy the land to take the next step, something happens to prevent it. But I'm not giving up.
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Atulya
7/2/2016 07:46:28 pm
Don't give up. Never give up. :)
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Kathryn Parker
18/2/2016 05:00:57 am
Thank you, shining star Kerry, for your brilliant writing and for your adventurous spirit! How inspiring. So much so, that I plan to build a small earthbag house on our 1 acre property in a small town in North Carolina. I worry about the permits, etc., but our town has embraced tiny houses because of the need for affordable housing, so I may be able to get it done. My plan is to work with home schooled children to make this an educational project. In fact, our current stick built house was built by the local high school in 1985. Once finished, with solar, water, and electric, it will become a rental to the tourist trade that will pay off our house for our retirement. And I want to document the whole thing - or allow the kids to do it, and use it for future educational purposes. Oh my goodness, I am so excited that these kids would have an opportunity to do this from the beginning stages! If I would have had this opportunity, I would have gotten better grades in high school. When I thought of doing it with just me and my husband, I was inspired a bit. But now I am actually doing something about it. I love how you said that money kills creativity. So true. Ain't got much money, but I am VERY creative! I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all you do.
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Atulya
18/2/2016 10:54:13 am
I love this project idea Kathryn, and would like to share it when you start documenting, so please stay in touch and keep me posted. Escaping the clutches of the system requires a fair bit of ingenuity, and your plan is both smart and beautiful. We have to be able to sustain ourselves and nourish our environment, and this idea neatly manages both. Brilliant!
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Old Goat
18/2/2016 07:21:58 pm
Kathryn
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Atulya
18/2/2016 11:10:38 pm
Well said Old Goat. Yes, please list the vendors. It would be so useful for everyone in the States.
Kathryn
19/2/2016 12:33:35 am
Yes, old goat, and everyone. I will give you resources and I hope you are not as old as your name sounds. It could be awhile! : ) I just got the Hunter book at our library and I have to go take a nap now. My mind is boggled since I'm no spring chicken. But ah'm a gonna do it!
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Old Goat
20/2/2016 02:23:29 am
Kathryn
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Connie
7/6/2016 04:08:54 am
I'm 64 years old and I bought my land 4 months ago. I'm building a cob storage shed before I build my house. I figure I can learn a lot from the storage shed first. I'm doing this by myself because I don't want to draw attention to my off the grid project with no building permits so it's going pretty slow. I'm in the process of building the rock foundation, which is taking much longer than I thought it would. Gathering rocks in a wagon and then pulling it up a slope is hard work for sure. But I figure it's going to be the hardest part of building and am looking forward to the day I start mixing cob for the walls. I'm inspired by your blog because you are a woman doing the same thing I'm doing on the other side of the world. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
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Atulya
13/6/2016 04:37:59 pm
Respect! Go for it Connie, and I would love it if you shared your experiences, especially photos! A great project.
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