A twelve-day workshop exploring some of the finer points of earthen building and collaborative community living as practiced at Dharmalaya Institute, bridging skill development and personal development.
Overview
Program Type : Workshop-retreat (residential)
Topic : Personal and professional development — becoming better builders and better humans
Dates : 14-25 January 2019 (must attend from the start and stay for the duration), with an optional extended practicum until as late as 1st March 2019
Language : English (with Hindi translation if requested)
Facilitator : Anujna Dnyaneshwar and other members of the Dharmalaya community
Description
A twelve-day workshop exploring some of the finer points of earthen building and collaborative community living as practiced at Dharmalaya Institute, bridging skill development and personal development. The workshop is open to interns and long-term volunteers of Dharmalaya Institute as well as current and past participants of Dharmalaya workshops, so a prerequisite is having attended a prior programme at the Institute. Activities and discussions will be organized according to the needs on site and the interests of the group. For those desiring even more hands-on experience, the workshop will be followed by an optional extended practicum providing an opportunity to improve your skills and understanding further by working alongside our team of artisans.
Workshop Structure
After the introductions, orientation, and general overview of the programme, we will begin with a big-picture exploration of the theory and practice of earthen building, with hands-on sessions during the day and conceptual/philosophical explorations in the evening (including presentations and discussions).
The hands-on sessions will include various projects around the Dharmalaya campus, including earthen building, organic gardening, and other activities related to sustainability. We will provide training in various techniques, and then step back and give everyone time and space to practice them by working alongside our local team.
The evening sessions will include presentations and discussions on a variety of concepts related to becoming a more sensitive and skillful builder as well as a more sensitive and skillful human. These will include discussions about integrity, work ethic, leadership, communication, and more.
Activities
What to Expect
Specific activities will include the following (depending on weather and circumstances):
Hands-on education in the neo-traditional earthen architecture of the Himalayas, which might include (depending on weather and the needs on site at the time):
Making adobe bricks (sun-dried earthen bricks)
Earthen masonry (bricklaying)
Earthen renders (making and applying mud plasters)
Fine finishing work (e.g. polishing, burnishing, painting and varnishing)
Other natural building materials and methods
Natural landscaping and organic gardening
Water works: rainwater harvesting systems, water storage, and irrigation
Solar cooking (weather permitting)
Other activities that vary with each programme
Rustic forested setting with a clean and simple ashram lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cooking, cleaning, washing dishes and toilets, etc.
The days will be completely full: On most days, you’ll wake up early, work in a focused way until 5:00pm, and then the evenings will be occupied with presentations and discussions.
You won’t have much personal time during the workshop (with some exceptions), and you’ll spend the whole time at the Dharmalaya Institute without leaving, in order to make the most of our short time together. So, prepare yourself mentally for being focused and squeezing the maximum learning out of every moment.
You will be working with your hands and body (including plenty of honest hard work!) for approximately six hours per day on most days of the programme, so it is strongly recommended to be in reasonably good physical fitness when you arrive, and you should bring work clothes.
A blend of practice and theory, with emphasis on deepening understanding through practical experience.
Architecture and design students/practitioners please note: The focus of this workshop is not on design, but rather on doing real-world work to gain understanding of the materials, methods, and underlying principles of vernacular eco-architecture.
For those who are serious about learning and practicing the techniques of earthen building and/or organic gardening, we recommend staying after the end of the programme to volunteer for as long as you can, so that you can deepen your understanding and improve your skills by doing real-world, hands-on work here on the Dharmalaya campus. Please specify in your application whether you might be interested in this opportunity.
Cost
The fee for the workshop is Rs 10,000/-, inclusive of tuition, healthy meals, and comfortable accommodation in shared dormitories or tents (and sometimes a private room may be available at additional cost). Transportation costs are not included. For low-income participants, a limited number of work-study positions are available (please contact us for details).
Important Information
Before you pack for your trip to Dharmalaya Institute, please read the very important information on our Visitor Info page and our FAQ. If you have a specific question that is not answered there, contact us here and we’ll be happy to answer.
Application, registration & payment
This course has ended.