Natural Resource Management
“Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children.”
Kenyan Proverb
Kenyan Proverb
Building with earth today, we benefit from the countless customs and discoveries of humanity down through the ages. The tradition attempted to be in harmony with Nature, to use and still respect her. There is hardly any continent or country which does not have numerous examples of earth construction. But one thing calls our attention, in the earth building history: All over the world and through millennia, one is amazed by the balance and harmony of these buildings with the landscape and the surrounding environment.
With new developments (i.e. the compressed stabilised earth blocks or stabilised rammed earth on a semi-industrial scale), one should not forget the risk of ecological disasters due to the mismanagement of resources. On the other side, a proper management of the earth resources can create a new harmonious balance between nature and the buildings, where each enriches and completes the other.
The works of the Auroville Earth Institute show that it is possible to integrate quarries into the urban landscape.
With new developments (i.e. the compressed stabilised earth blocks or stabilised rammed earth on a semi-industrial scale), one should not forget the risk of ecological disasters due to the mismanagement of resources. On the other side, a proper management of the earth resources can create a new harmonious balance between nature and the buildings, where each enriches and completes the other.
The works of the Auroville Earth Institute show that it is possible to integrate quarries into the urban landscape.
THE CHALLENGE: USING EARTH WITHOUT DEPLETING THE RESOURCES
Building with earth requires first to dig a hole. Ignorant people may say: “Easy to dig anywhere as I like… and forget the rest…”
No, never this way of thinking: this will cause later on disharmony, unbalanced and ecological disorders. This kind of mind set will deplete resources and cause damage to nature! The results can be disastrous with rainwater running off due to trees cutting, breaking of natural dams, wastage of agricultural land, pollution of water tables, quarries as ugly garbage dump, etc.
One should rather say: “I need a hole of this size, and how can I foresee the best use of it in order to create a harmonious living space?”
People who respect nature would rather have this kind of approach to the develop their place. Then it will be easy to harvest rain water or treat wastewater, develop further agricultural land, protect natural resources, etc.
No, never this way of thinking: this will cause later on disharmony, unbalanced and ecological disorders. This kind of mind set will deplete resources and cause damage to nature! The results can be disastrous with rainwater running off due to trees cutting, breaking of natural dams, wastage of agricultural land, pollution of water tables, quarries as ugly garbage dump, etc.
One should rather say: “I need a hole of this size, and how can I foresee the best use of it in order to create a harmonious living space?”
People who respect nature would rather have this kind of approach to the develop their place. Then it will be easy to harvest rain water or treat wastewater, develop further agricultural land, protect natural resources, etc.
THE NEED OF PLANNING
Soil for building is a precious material: don’t waste it. Separate the piles of topsoil from building soil. Don’t mix waste building materials with it. Use the rubble from building sites for filling the basements rather than good soil.
First of all, one should scrape away the topsoil, which can be re-used later for agriculture or gardens. Two types of quarries may be developed: deep, which can later be used for rainwater harvesting, pools, basement floors, etc., or shallow, which can be used for landscape design, work or play areas, gardens, etc.
A proper plan should be drawn up beforehand to avoid later on problems. A de-centralized approach can be the most harmonious and efficient, if well coordinated. The use of water harvesting, medium scale waste-water treatment, etc., can be integrated harmoniously into the urban environment. At this point, a co-ordination between the city / village authorities and the earth builders will profit everybody: urban development’s always need excavations somewhere and they can be made in an intelligent way by producing building materials for the local developments.
First of all, one should scrape away the topsoil, which can be re-used later for agriculture or gardens. Two types of quarries may be developed: deep, which can later be used for rainwater harvesting, pools, basement floors, etc., or shallow, which can be used for landscape design, work or play areas, gardens, etc.
A proper plan should be drawn up beforehand to avoid later on problems. A de-centralized approach can be the most harmonious and efficient, if well coordinated. The use of water harvesting, medium scale waste-water treatment, etc., can be integrated harmoniously into the urban environment. At this point, a co-ordination between the city / village authorities and the earth builders will profit everybody: urban development’s always need excavations somewhere and they can be made in an intelligent way by producing building materials for the local developments.
Building with earth has a great past, but also a promising future everywhere in the world! Don’t miss it by spoiling the natural resources.
“All, in this manifested world, consisting of moving and non-moving, Are governed by the Lord. Use its resources with restraint. Do not grab the property of others – distant and yet to come.”
Isavasya Upanishad
Isavasya Upanishad
BASIC GUIDELINES FOR THE EXCAVATION
1. Identify the appropriate soil quality and evaluate if the hole can be used for rainwater harvesting or any other appropriate solution.
2. Design the shape the hole according to the natural contours, landscape and urban requirements.
3. Avoid cutting trees and rather adapt the hole to the existing location of the trees.
4. Design the quarry (area and depth) according to the future use of the hole.
5. Remove the top soil which can be re-used for agricultural or landscaping purpose.
6. Dig according to the design requirements: steps or slope, deep holes or shallow excavation, etc.
7. Sieve the soil preferably in the quarry: the waste soil can be re-used on the spot to finalize the landscaping.
8. Don’t let any waste to be dumped or accumulated into the hole.
9. Protect the quarry with bunds from undesirable rainwater running off.
10. Protect the hole from possible pollution.
11. Finalize the hole according to the design (landscape, rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, etc.)
2. Design the shape the hole according to the natural contours, landscape and urban requirements.
3. Avoid cutting trees and rather adapt the hole to the existing location of the trees.
4. Design the quarry (area and depth) according to the future use of the hole.
5. Remove the top soil which can be re-used for agricultural or landscaping purpose.
6. Dig according to the design requirements: steps or slope, deep holes or shallow excavation, etc.
7. Sieve the soil preferably in the quarry: the waste soil can be re-used on the spot to finalize the landscaping.
8. Don’t let any waste to be dumped or accumulated into the hole.
9. Protect the quarry with bunds from undesirable rainwater running off.
10. Protect the hole from possible pollution.
11. Finalize the hole according to the design (landscape, rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, etc.)
A FEW EXAMPLES OF INTEGRATED QUARRIES
Shallow quarry transformed into rainwater harvesting by percolation
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Shallow quarry transformed into rainwater harvesting by percolation
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Deep quarry transformed into rainwater harvesting by percolation
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Quarry planned for a basement floor
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Quarry planned for a basement floor
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Quarry transformed into a basement floor
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Quarry transformed into a basement floor
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Quarry transformed into a half underground reservoir
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Quarry transformed into a wastewater treatment
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Quarry adapted for rainwater harvesting
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Quarry planned for a wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting
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Quarry shaped for a wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting
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Totally integrated wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting
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Shallow excavation for making adobes
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Shallow excavation from adobes making transformed into a rice field
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Shallow quarry transformed into a pond
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Waste land before excavation at Aruvadai, near Auroville
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Waste land being excavated at Aruvadai, near Auroville
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Waste land after excavation at Aruvadai, near Auroville
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Low line land before excavation at Karasanur, near Auroville
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Low line land being excavated at Karasanur, near Auroville
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Low line land after excavation at Karasanur, near Auroville
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Low water catchment before excavation at Karattai, near Auroville
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Low water catchment being excavated at Karattai, near Auroville
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Low water catchment after excavation at Karattai, near Auroville
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