Welcome to Sacred Groves!

Sacred Groves is a community in Auroville, India. We strive continually to bring down the barriers between the earth and the now toxic building processes employed in modern times. We believe in an ecologically balanced and sustainable model of construction and have been researching on the endless possiblities in ecological development since our conception. Sacred Groves has a unique perspective to look at any problems faced by us during construction, we strive to achieve the perfect balance between the building and its ecological surroundings. The work at Sacred groves is majorly powered by volunteers and Architectural interns and some hired labour from the neighbouring villages. While creating jobs for the locals, we also help Architects and students of Architecture better understand the materials we work with and empower them to be able to bring their wonderful ideas to life.

We offer hands-on Workshops on varied construction techniques taught by our experienced faculty. All our Workshops are open to all (for now) and do not require for the participants to have construction training before-hand. look at the Workshops section for more details.

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Upcoming Workshops:

Summer School 2022

Sacred Groves is organizing a 6 day intensive Natural building Summer School from 17-22 May 2022 open to all.

This 6 day intensive Workshop focuses on building with cost efficient, environment-friendly and sustainable building materials, especially appropriate for our climate with the world’s oldest and widely used building material, mud, locally available and reclaimed materials

You can learn how to identify different properties of earth, lime, how to procure it, prepare it and learn different ways of using it right from the foundation to plastering

Day 01

09:30-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-11:30 Introduction to the works, philosophy and site tour of Sacred Groves
11:30-13:30 Hands-on Training on building with Cob
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30-16:30 Cob Laying

Day 02

09:30-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-13:30 Hands-on Training on building with Adobe
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30-16:00 Adobe Laying

Day 03

09:30-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-13:30 Introduction to Earthcreting ,Preparation of the mix
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30-16:30 Building with Earthcrete

Day 04

09:30-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-13:30 Hands-on Training on building with Demolition Debris
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 -16:00 Building with Demolition debris continued

Day 05

09:30-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-13:30 Lime Preparation in Lime Chakki
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 -16:00 Lime Preparation  continued

Day 06

09:30-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-13:30 Preparation of  Mud Plastering mixture & Application
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 -16:00 Preparation & Application of Limewash
16:00- 16:30 Closing Circle & Certificate distribution

List of Tasks during the workshop

1 Making Adobe Bricks and Laying
2 Building with Cob and Application on Walls
3 Mud Plastering
4 Lime wash
5 Lime Preparation in the Lime Chakki
6 Earth Crete

Note:

for local commute in Auroville, you may hire a bicycle from the visitor’s Centre Cycle Kiosk or rent mopeds or Scooters from Local vendors.

Itinerary is subject to change based on bookings /availabilities/weather conditions. We shall keep you informed.

Cost of the Workshop: Rs.6000
(Inclusive of Workshop Cost, Breakfast, Lunch, Auroville contributions and GST)

10% off For buddy bookings of minimum 3 ppl
15% off for Group Bookings of more than 5 ppl

Accommodation: Rs 400 per day ( shared)

Register here

in case of any queries, please feel free to contact us at 9626678609 or email us at sacredgroves@auroville.org.in

Reach Us:

Feel free to contact us – for work, Internships & volunteering, Workshop enquiries or to share any ideas or information with the Sacred Groves Project in any way you want!

We can also arrange customized workshops for large groups and institutions. We could teach you the different earth building techniques and natural plasters

Or just email us at – sacredgroves@auroville.org.in