No. 014 Reading Time 4 minutes
We believe building a humble shelter is a spiritual process. It is a challenge and pleasure that everyone should experience in one’s life. Constructing a shelter requires self-reliance and resourcefulness. It forces individuals to rely on their skills and creativity, fostering a sense of independence and confidence. Building a shelter can reconnect individuals with nature. It encourages mindfulness and living in the present moment. It can be a catalyst for personal growth.We are animals in more ways than one.
We believe building a humble shelter is a spiritual process.
It is a challenge and pleasure that everyone should experience in one’s life.
Constructing a shelter requires self-reliance and resourcefulness. It forces individuals to rely on their skills and creativity, fostering a sense of independence and confidence.
Building a shelter can reconnect individuals with nature. It encourages mindfulness and living in the present moment.
It can be a catalyst for personal growth.
There is some of the same fitness in a man's building his own house that there is in a bird's building its own nest. Who knows but if men constructed their dwellings with their own hands, and provided food for themselves and families simply and honestly enough, the poetic faculty would be universally developed, as birds universally sing when they are so engaged? But alas! we do like cowbirds and cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built, and cheer no traveller with their chattering and unmusical notes. Shall we forever resign the pleasure of construction to the carpenter?
Henry David Thoreau
Animals have an instinct that tells them where to settle.
You don’t need to be an architect to build a house.
Being architects we had to unlearn a lot of stuff that was taught in the institution to get back in touch with our intuition and build with common sense. If Animals can build it you can too.
You can read our previous post on what we can learn from animals, insects, and birds.
These 8 books had a profound impact on our journey. They played a big role in helping us build our dream hand-sculpted fairytale house.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau spent two years by the Walden Pond. He built a small cabin on land owned by his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson.
This book is a classic and inspired us to go into the woods.
Our key takeaways:
Creating uncluttered living spaces, echoing Thoreau's call for simplicity.
Harmonizing and integrating the shelter with natural surroundings.
Building a natural shelter with mindfulness and spiritual connection.
2. Mud Ball - How I Dug Myself Out of the Daily Grind by Atlulya K. Bingham
Atulya shares her journey of building a new life and a new home out of mud in Turkey's mountain wilderness. It gave us the courage to escape the everyday monotonous life and start building a shelter.
3. The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage by Ianto Evan, Michael G. Smith, Linda Smiley
This book is a perfect gateway for beginners to start their natural building journey. It starts with the philosophy and covers all the technical aspects of building a hand-sculpted cob house.
4. A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander
It teaches us the language of building structures with timeless beauty through self-aware design and a meaningful process.
5. Build Your Own Earth Oven: A Low-Cost Wood-Fired Mud Oven, Simple Sourdough Bread, Perfect Loaves by Kiko Denzer, Hannah Field
Building a small project such as a cob oven is ideal for the learning curve one requires to build with a cob.
6. The Simple Roundhouse Manual by Tony Wrench
This book put a roof over our heads. Literally. The detailed information helped us build a reciprocal living roof over an amoeba-shaped building.
7. The Natural Plaster Book: Earth, Lime and Gypsum Plasters for Natural Homes by Cedar Rose Guelberth, Dan Chiras
A comprehensive guide for earthen plastering for first-time builders.
8. Earthen Floors by Sukita Reay Crimmel
We are currently in the process of laying our earthen floor and this illustrated guide explains every part of the process.
These books are a great way to start your journey when clubbed with your intuitive sense and followed by action.
Have a “read a good book” Sunday!
Raghav and Ansh
One question we are pondering this week -
If you could pick a house from a fairy tale movie to live in, which one would it be?
PS: We'd love to know what you thought of this newsletter, feel free to reply and let us know!
What you can watch - Life is easy. Why do we make it so hard? | Jon Jandai | TEDxDoiSuthep
Jon is a leader in bringing the natural building movement to Thailand and is the founder of Pun Pun Center for Self-reliance, an organic farm outside Chiang Mai.
“ If you learn to be an architect or engineer, that means you ruin more. The more these people work, the more mountains will be destroyed… and good land in Chayo Praya Basin will be covered with concrete more and more. “
What you can listen - Mud, the ultimate building material - Becky Little - BS018
The award-winning journalist Lisa MargonelliIn is the author of Underbug: An Obsessive Tale of Termites and Technology.
Artist and builder working with earth and fiber in Scotland and beyond. She is the founder of Rebearth. Listen to the heartwarming conversation between Becky and Jeffery Hart, the host of Building Sustainability Podcast.
What you can read - We have already shared an extensive list of books to read ;)
P.P.S. - It would be extremely kind of you to subscribe to our YouTube channel if you enjoy watching our videos. Thank you <3
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Tiny Farm Friends Newsletter. Every Sunday, we share tiny valuable lessons to help you transition to the countryside and build naturally.
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