THE MUD HOME
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag >
      • Rubble Trench Foundations
      • Earthbag in Extreme Weather
      • Earthquakes and earthbag
    • Earth Plaster
    • Using Lime
    • Cob
    • Straw Bale
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Inspiration
    • Off-Grid Living >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Mud Building Blog
  • Books
    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
  • About
    • Contact
    • Mud Home Facebook Group
  • COURSES
    • ATULYA's In Person Workshops 2025
    • Perfect Earth Plaster Online Course
    • Lime for Beginners Online Course
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
    • The Off-Grid Roadmap
    • Consultation
  • Blogs
    • Mud Home Turkey
    • Barn Life in Spain
  • My Projects
    • The Earthbag Home in Turkey
    • The Barn in Spain

Want to learn the Beautiful art of clay plaster?

Creating gorgeous clay plaster isn't quite as easy as just slapping a bunch of mud on a wall. It's an ancient art and science. If you're serious about earthen plaster work, you might want to have a look at my popular online course.
Take a look at the course

One Woman’s Incredible Regenerative Vision Comes to Life

9/4/2020

13 Comments

 
​(Plus how to make a Madras brick and lime roof)
 
Let me take you to another place, far away from lockdowns and empty supermarkets. Let me take you to southern India, to a beautiful mud sanctuary pioneered by a brave soul called Karen Shetty. Four years ago, the Divyalok eco-spiritual centre was treeless and empty, and Karen was staring at it wondering how to make her vision a reality. Today it is a mud, lime, and regenerative dream. What can I say? This amazing project is a testimony to the power of belief and inner strength.
Picture
Karen in her first earthbag structure.
On the surface Karen doesn’t look especially cut out for creating an eco-sanctuary from nothing. She was born in India and calls herself a cocktail of Scottish, German, English, and Rajput genes. For a long while she lived a more mainstream kind of life, with a Master’s in Business Administration, she ran a garment export firm for twenty-two years. But then ten years ago things changed, as they do. Karen met her guru, did a stack of meditation, and decided to live a little differently.
 
Taking the plunge
Four years ago Karen realised she yearned to live more sustainably in nature, so she took the plunge and bought seven acres of land close to a reserve forest, a sacred mountain and river, in a remote village in south India. From here on she began to build a retreat centre. Not that such a thing is a picnic, especially if you have no experience.
Picture
The primary shelter, Karen’s mud building research hut.
On the face of it she had no clue:
Karen was a complete novice to farming and construction when she bought her land, so she had to figure it all out by experimenting. Her first shelter (she calls it her mud building research centre) was made from coconut fronds, with a mud floor. The entire thing was built in a day! But it was a roof over her head, and that’s what you need.
 
On the face of it, Karen had nothing much to prepare her for the new life she was entering. She had to face a heap of utterly foreign situations and tasks: living alone, planting trees, no electricity or running water, and using mud to build, to name but a few. For three weeks she managed with a kerosene oil lamp. The water was from the river bordering the west boundary.
 
I point this out because I see so many people obsessing about building techniques and engineering skills when they enter this type of project. The thing is, these skill-sets (while useful) are not actually what’s going to get you through. I’ll tell you why Karen’s project is blossoming, and why she and her team managed to get five stunning earth cottages up, secure water and power, and plant an entire forest, all without much of a clue about what she was doing at the outset: Karen had both some spiritual/life strategies in place to keep her going when things got rough, and a pretty solid vision.
Picture
The first mud build was adobe brick.
One Skill You Need to Cultivate
I used to mention this as a timid little aside, but as time goes on and I watch the same kind of people make a decent go of this game while the same kind falter, I will cut to the chase, and tell it how it is: One skill you need to cultivate when you move into this type of life, especially if you’re doing it alone, is meditation (or similar). Laugh if you like, but I see it over and over again. Someone with zero building or farming skills makes an amazing mud world appear, while a qualified engineer, architect or carpenter for some reason doesn’t. I’m not saying none of these folk make it happen, nor that practical skills aren’t important – my neighbour is doing just great and he’s an engineer – but the technical knowledge alone isn’t enough.
Picture
Adobe bricks in the sun.
​The Mud Buildings
Back to the building. Karen and her team have created an incredible array of stunning mud buildings. Sometimes they used adobe, and sometimes they used earthbag. All were built without architects or professionals other than a plumber/electrician, and with the help of local villagers.
 
The first building Karen and her team created was made of adobe bricks. Karen researched how to make them, and then gathered a team to help stomp the mud. These bricks were made from clayey mud and straw mixed, then poured into moulds, and left to dry rock hard in the sun.
Picture
Mud cottage number two used earthbag building.
A Special Madras Roof Made by Eighty-Year-Old Thatha
The next structure was an earthbag hut, and boasts a very special brick roof. It was constructed using an ancient Indian technique of lime, herbs, and jaggary. “The tiny cute bricks were specially ordered from an old brick maker who had put aside these moulds as they weren’t popular anymore,” Karen explains. “The technique was taught to us by an eighty-year-old mason who we affectionately call 'thatha’ (Grandpa in Tamil). It took us a year to find the right person. Other masons who came by said this technique failed miserably and the bricks would keep falling through the beams. Hahaha! We felt "thatha" was God-sent, as he was not practising his trade anymore and looking after his farm instead. He was so patient with my learning skills and I remain grateful to him. Always on time and very clean and neat in his work.”
Picture
The Madras roof.
How Thatha Made This Roof
“Lime was bought from a kiln close by and we slaked it at our place, mixed it with sand, and had to keep moist until we used it. We then took a herb called kadukai in Tamil (haritaki) which is also used for natural dyeing purposes. This was soaked in water for minimum 15 to 20 days and the water was used in the lime mortar along with a jaggery solution. This lime slurry was used to fuse the bricks on the roof which worked like magic. Without a support or any formwork the bricks stand together in the open spaces between the roof beams. We used wooden reapers from the timber mart, but traditionally they use the trunk of the palm trees which are tall and sturdy,” says Karen.
Picture
Thatha working his magic.
Three Layers
The Madras roof is created in three layers: For the first layer the bricks are placed vertically. For the second layer the bricks are laid flat and horizontally. The third layer is terracotta tiles.
 
This kind of roof is called Katta Kuthu or Madras roofing. “It really makes a difference, with the inside temperatures being much cooler than the outside heat,” Karen told me.
Picture
Building number three, back to adobe brick.
All the subsequent buildings have the Madras roof. Cottage number three is a beautiful adobe brick structure with a gorgeous natural interior.
Picture
The beautiful interior of the adobe cottage. Oxide flooring, with lime and earth plasters.
What Next?
When Karen and friends bought this property it had just one tree on it. Today the trees and medicinal plants total an incredible five thousand and counting! In the beginning there was no power or access, but after countless negotiations with government officials (having experienced Indian bureaucracy, and I can only imagine how much breathwork you need to do to get through this), today Karen has light, and two bore wells for water.
 
The next phase of Divyalok is to introduce weaving and handicrafts for local women who are often abused by drunk husbands and partners.
 
Divyalok really is an incredible story of regeneration from nothing. Never say you can’t create your world and make an impact, because the most unlikely people are doing it in the craziest conditions all over the planet. These days though, I will stick my neck out and say this: If you want to succeed, invest in and master the right tools, which are usually the inner ones.

You can learn more about Divyalok and connect with Karen here.
http://divyaloklife.com/
Picture
From nothing to something spectacular.
Things to Take Away from This Project:
1. You definitely don’t need to be an architect/engineer to create an awe-inspiring mud world for yourself and others.
2. As usual, perseverance is everything. Karen just keeps chipping away at her vision, and low and behold it manifests.
3. Traditional techniques are often the best. If you can find anyone who remembers the old ways, listen to them, hire them… heck, kidnap them if you have to:)
4. Belief in yourself and your mission can take you a long, long way.
Picture
Do you enjoy The Mud Home?
If you find these articles inspiring or useful please consider joining us on Patreon. Your support pays for the running of this website, my virtual help, and my sustenance. A big thank you to all The Mud Sustainers, and everyone chipping in and keeping these posts and articles coming.
Join us on Patreon
13 Comments
Cseeszka Borjigin
14/4/2020 08:00:24 pm

Sooo inspiring and such a beautifully and well done job!

Reply
Atulya
16/4/2020 02:12:30 pm

Yes she did so well! And I've a feeling you'll pull something out of the bag like this too Cseeszka!

Reply
Neha Sharma link
15/4/2020 04:10:01 am

Hello Atulya.
This is incredible! My family has been researching on mud structures for quite some time as we plan to have a few of them at our farm near Bandhavgargh Tiger Reserve, M.P.
Would Thatha be willing to help us?

Warmly,
Neha :)

Reply
Karen
24/4/2020 09:18:00 am

Neha,
Thank you.
You and your family will truly enjoy the journey with mud.
Thatha is 80 plus and may be uncomfortable to travel that far .I will however share this with him.He has not travelled out of his village ..just a few trips to be with his married daughter 400kms away. They will certainly be other masons who know this technique.

Reply
Dia
28/12/2020 06:49:04 pm

Hi Neha and Karen,
I've been reading up and watching all Karens youtube documentarys on the Thannal pages too. Karen your work has been inspiring, thank you for sharing so freely and lovingly. I hope i can visit your home soon (planning to do a workshop with Thannal in Feb 2021.
Neha,I am moving out from Delhi NCR and moving to MP, we plan to build our own home near Seoni/Pench in MP, would love to connect with you and share and learn from your journey. If you hear off or have found any skilled traditional masons, i would love to connect with people in the area. I am in 9811558076

Reply
Sandeep
15/4/2020 12:02:42 pm

Wonderful journey! Very inspirting.

The only disappointment was to notice an Air-conditioner inside the building. Quite a letdown!

Reply
Karen
24/4/2020 10:50:55 am

Sandeep, sorry to have contributed to some disappointment and letdown in your awareness of sustainability. But thank you for this observation. When I started from a single handcrafted cob brick alone in the wilderness and aloneness, I never thought of being featured on a esteemed platform of sustainable builders or any other. To me it was a deeply driven passion for living and learning from nature,building mud spaces,growing my own food organically, planting trees, painting, enhancing my artistic talents, dancing in the rain,and just freeing my soul from its own prisons.Summers are really really hot here,and me having lived in the comforts of city life for 54years ,working in our air conditioned export office, traveling in ac cars and the like,never imagined this harsh temperature as part of the dream.With a formal masters in business administration as an educational background and no formal education in building, design,architecture, agriculture or any other avenues of interest as mentioned above, the challenge was to face the darkness, aloneness, the harsh exposure to the sun ,the villiage life,and unknowns in many areas.The biggest of them all was handling the heat and the added radiation from the mountain range nearby. I refer to the air conditioner as a partner in progress. It offered me the occasional support ,care and comfort required to pursue my dream, rather than hurrying back to the home in the city and the programmed comfort zones of my body /mind and losing focus of my vision. As I direct my energies to being a better human being and evolve as I walk my path, I also make sincere efforts to evolve in natural earth building and sustainable living. There is no escape from the heat as mud building can only come up in the summertime.Please also share pictures of your natural builds. Learning is an endless journey.
Have fun building.

Reply
Joan
28/4/2020 05:43:16 pm

I so admire your goals, efforts and creations! What an inspiration! I could never have imagined any sort of brick could be laid as a roof over beams. The wisdom of those who have come before us is truly remarkable!! I pray these skills are passed down before they are lost for all time.

Atulya
27/4/2020 01:45:20 pm

Really Sandeep? In all this incredible project you chose to home in on the a/c? I'll be looking forward to seeing your 100% sustainable and perfect project when and if it ever happens.

Reply
Hemani
16/4/2020 05:31:49 pm

Hi. I too made my own mud bricks, sun dried them and built a small house. I took help from the village folk. I am totally off grid here. No electricity. Water is from a stream on my western boundary. Most of the material was second hand and procured from within 25 km. My congratulations to Karen.
Much love.

Reply
Atulya
27/4/2020 01:43:04 pm

Wow, sounds amazing. Well done Hemani!

Reply
Karen
24/4/2020 09:34:36 am

Hemani ,thank you for the encouragement. Big hugs to you for all that you are and manifesting on this earth plane

Reply
Vijaya
30/7/2021 09:59:43 am

Wonderful work
Even we started eork in the farm
Karen Madam can I contact you
Can you give your contact numbet

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Many thanks to the Mud Sustainers supporting this site!

    List of Sustainers
    Picture
    Do you find The Mud Home valuable? Please consider supporting the blog on Patreon. For as little as $5 a month you will have access to my exclusive Mud Home Podcast where I give personal updates and answer your questions.
    BENEFITS FOR PATRONS INCLUDE:
    Email priority, exclusive videos, review copies of my books, sneak previews of courses and books, Q and As, priority for courses and more.

    Author

    Atulya K Bingham
    Natural builder and author of Mud Ball.


    Picture
    "Beautifully written and inspiring." The Owner Builder Magazine

    The Mud Building PDFs

    Want the entire Mud Home in PDF format?
    Picture
    See The Mud Building PDFs

    Categories

    All
    Adobe
    Building Codes
    Building With Wood
    Cob
    Composting Toilets
    Earthbag
    Earthbag Mistakes
    Earth Plaster
    Foraging
    Hobbit House
    House Renovation
    Insulating Plaster
    Insulation
    Laying Earthbags Faster
    Limecrete Floor
    Lime Plaster Issues
    Natural Floors
    Natural Roof
    Off Grid
    Permaculture
    Roofing Options
    Stone Houses
    Straw Bale
    Sustainable Building
    Using Lime
    Wattle And Daub
    Yurt

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Join the free Mud Home earth plaster mini course.

    Picture
    All the Mud Home How-to posts have been compiled into a PDF package with 75 articles and over 200 photos. You can still buy it now, and enjoy lifetime access to all the updates.
    PDF Contents

    My latest book is now out!
    Picture
    “Entranced! Be inspired by one who’s lived and breathed dirt.”
    Kim Fraser, Get Rugged
Disclaimer: All the content in The Mud Home website is provided for informational purposes only. The author undertakes no responsibility for any person or entity who chooses to use the information on this website. It is not intended to be a standard and should not substitute for the exercise of good engineering judgment by engineers. It is the user’s obligation to make sure that he/she uses the appropriate practices and consults the appropriate experts when building. It is the user's obligation to make sure they are following health and safety guidelines. The author is not responsible for any accidents, injuries or damages to persons or property incurred while using the information presented in this website.

Some blog articles refer to the use of lime. Please note, lime is caustic and can cause burns. Read The Mud Home guide to using lime safely here.

EARTHBAG BUILDING PDF
EARTH PLASTER GUIDE
BOOKS
Newsletter
About Atulya
Privacy Policy

SUPPORT

Picture
Picture
The Mud Home takes many hours a week to run, and costs a lot to sustain. If you find this site useful or inspiring, please consider supporting it so that it can continue.
Picture

Many thanks to all those who've already become Mud Sustainers.

The Mud Home  Copyright © 2013  Atulya Kerry Bingham
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag >
      • Rubble Trench Foundations
      • Earthbag in Extreme Weather
      • Earthquakes and earthbag
    • Earth Plaster
    • Using Lime
    • Cob
    • Straw Bale
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Inspiration
    • Off-Grid Living >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Mud Building Blog
  • Books
    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
  • About
    • Contact
    • Mud Home Facebook Group
  • COURSES
    • ATULYA's In Person Workshops 2025
    • Perfect Earth Plaster Online Course
    • Lime for Beginners Online Course
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
    • The Off-Grid Roadmap
    • Consultation
  • Blogs
    • Mud Home Turkey
    • Barn Life in Spain
  • My Projects
    • The Earthbag Home in Turkey
    • The Barn in Spain