2 day Hands-On
Common Men Workshop
Note: Proceed to the payment link at the bottom after reading the entire terms & workshop details.
The two-day workshop will be followed by a 1-day plaster workshop, so people coming from long distances can attend both if they wish to study about plasters in deep. Link to One-day plaster workshop
Status:
DATES NOT FIXED

Overview
One doesnтАЩt have to be an Architect or an Engineer to be a Natural builder. Anyone can build a natural building with right knowledge about using Natural materials. This two-day initiative aims at introducing participants to the basics of Natural building. People from different walks of life can come together; and learn by doing hands-on work and observing existing projects in our campus. It can serve as a platform to share experiences with like-minded people and arrive at a living in harmony with nature.
The workshop will be a two-day hands-on course focusing on Natural building: techniques and materials. It will be held in our campus at the foot hill of Arunachala, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. It is open for all regardless of their age and profession.
The course consists of
- Theory sessions with lectures and audio-visual presentation.
- Hands-on sessions (for better practical learning about Materials & Techniques).
- Prototype sessions (artisan will explain through doing a sample).
- Question and Answer session.
Natural Building Techniques covered in the course:
- Foundation using Stone.
- Cob, a thick mono-lithic wall using Mud and Fibers.
- Wattle & Daub, bamboo is weaved and mud is applied on top. Flexible to take any shape given.
- Adobe, Sun Dried bricks of Mud and Fibers.
- CSMB, compressed mud blocks using very less water.
- Natural Plasters using admixtures derived from plants and animals.
- Murals and Sculptures on Mud walls.

Workshop Location:
Thannal campus, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu
Travel:
Nearest Railway Stations: Tiruvannamalai, Katpadi and Villupuram.
Nearest Airport: Chennai, Bangalore.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is not available within Thannal Campus, so participants have to find and arrange a guest house for staying in Tiruvannamalai town. This expense is not included in the course fee. The daily commute to the campus (6 k.m. from Ramana Ashram, Tiruvannamalai) during workshop days also have to be arranged by participants.
Workshop fee:
We will announce the new fee amount when the workshop dates are fixed.
This fee includes lunch & refreshments during workshop days and excludes accommodation & site visitтАЩs travel expenses.
*We function in a manner in which all our studies, documentations, travels and researches are funded with the money from workshops, not from any external funds, sponsorship and fellowships. Projects are done on gift culture, without any consultation fee, which are the results of our studies of Indian Traditional Natural Building techniques. We expect people who want to learn from us to understand this situation and kindly not ask for discounts in our workshops*
If you wish to sponsor any student for the course, kindly write to us. We have applicants waiting for sponsorship.
Registration:
Participation is for limited participants only, depending on the specific course, in a first come first serve manner. Kindly use the payment link below to register for the workshop. Accommodation options and location of campus etc. will be shared after your registration is done.
We are seeking participants with all levels of experience. Most importantly, applicants should have enthusiasm, a deep willingness to learn, an appreciation for working with their hands and a good attitude!
Prepare for the day:
Please see the below links for details of things to carry and other matters of concern. Prepare for the workshop.
Cancellation/Refund Policy:
As per the policies of Thannal Mud Homes Trust, if you want to cancel your reservation, kindly let us know clearly 15 days before the workshop (It is difficult to find a replacement for the vacant seat on short notice). In case of cancellation, we will refund you 75% of the registration fee.
No refunds will be provided on cancellations done in a later stage, that is, within 15 days of the first day of the workshop.
If you are unable to attend the workshop you have booked for and wish to change to another workshop, your money can be adjusted into the fee of the workshop you are attending. You will be provided with only one chance of transfer, with a transfer request placed before 10 days of the workshop.
Transfer in workshop dates cannot be done within 15 days of the workshop.┬а
In case if you are unable to attend and it is within 15 days of the starting date of the workshop, you can nominate someone else on your behalf. Your registration fee can be transferred to the person nominated by you.
All penalties due to cancellation will be taken in as a donation for our upcoming publications or activities of Thannal Natural Building School.
Note:
- We welcome families taking part in the workshop together. Children below 10 years can attend the workshop for free with their parents. Children from 10-18 years of age have to pay 50% of the workshop fee.
- We donтАЩt entertain non-participants at the workshop site during workshop hours unless it is unavoidable. Please let us know in advance if you want to invite your relatives or friends to campus during workshop days.
- Do respect the privacy of others when you go visit any nearby sites.
- This is exclusively a hand-on workshop so get ready to stretch and twist your muscles.
- Do wear light comfortable cotton clothes, preferably old, to beat the heat. There are very few chances of your clothes not getting soiled.
- The sun can be a bit harsh here so carry sunscreen and headgears.
- Do keep yourself hydrated to avoid any discomforts. You can also carry Electoral & Glucose for that extra boost of energy.
- Wear footwear that you can slip in and out of easily. Our Natural Cob Gym will need the use of your bare feet!
- At times, working with hands can get a little rough; you can get a pair of work gloves along!
- Please carry your emergency medicine if and when required.
- Keep your cell phones away while working, this is a no selfie zone. Video recording during the workshop is also prohibited, notes can be written down.
- The itinerary is subject to change as per material availability, site conditions and local weather.
- For queries: thannalroots<@>com
Completed Workshops
This post is also available in: Tamil
Namaste Srishti,
Sorry due to other commitments we are not able to do a 2-day workshop in Feb 2022. Kindly do join our WhatsApp group to get updates. https://rebrand.ly/whatsapp-dccdd
When are you conducting this 2-day workshop in Feb 2022 and how can one participate.
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Dear Anand ji, thanks for reaching us. We will update the dates of the workshop on the 1st of the week of January. The workshop will be conducted in March 2022. Kindly do join our WhatsApp group to get updates. https://rebrand.ly/whatsapp-dccdd
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Hello.. My name is Anand. I wanted to check if the workshops have begun? If so would love to understand more details..I tried to join your whatsApp group but the group size restricts me from joining. Have dropped you an email to understand more.
Thanks and look forward..
Namaste Satheesh, Our next workshop will update in our Whatsapp group. Kindly join our WhatsApp group for updates – https://rebrand.ly/whatsapp-dccdd
We will be launching an online video course also. Updates will be given in the WhatsApp group.
Namaste Roopa,
The main language will be English, but we help participant individually in Tamil & Hindi also
Hi , just to check what’s the language used in workshops, English or Tamil
Iam Sreerag from Thrissur Kerala.
Eco psychologist.
I like to join with you for more learning and experience and teach others.
I would be interested to learn about Natural Building Techniques in 2 days workshop followed by 1 day plaster workshop during 17-18 Sep 2020.
Even my dream is to buy a small piece of land in Chennai and build such Natura Home in Harmony with Nature.
Seeking for your support, please consider my registration.
Kindly check https://thannal.com/volunteering-with-thannal/
How can I indulge myself as a volunteer?
Namaste Geeta Happy to know your interest. Due to corona virus situation, we have not started the registrations for the workshop. Once the situation is better, we will be posting updates in the Thannal news whatsapp group – https://rebrand.ly/whatsapp-dccdd
Hello Thannal. I am Geetha, from Chennai. My husband is from Tandarampet, Tiruvannamalai. We have a small piece of land at Tandarampet. We are planning to settle down at Tandarampet and live with mother nature. Seeing the mud house with jute bags, i have fallen in love with the house as i have been dreaming to build a mud house. kindly keep me informed about the next date of workshop. Both of us would like to participate.
Namaste Suganyaji, We are repeating the answer from thannalroots@gmail.com, so that it will help others also. Kindly join this whatsapp group for updates regarding workshop from Thannal: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KKZzlMFPDHp2PbaZNV6iAT
Due to corona virus situation, we have not started the registrations for the workshop. Once the situation is better, we will be posting updates in the group
Vanakkam, basically workshop class language will be in English, coz from different states participants will be there, if you have doubts we can try to clarify in your mother tongue also. If you have any inquiry please write to thannalroots@gmail.com
Vanakkam, i could like to participate for the upcoming workshop in November 2020. but i have one doubt.
In which languages are you taking the classes??
Please reserve our participation and let me know the further procedures to confirm the booking..
Suganya Chandru
7708279994
Namaste, Happy to know about your Interest.Please write to thannalroots@gmail.com, so that it will be easy for us to let you know about the workshop. Thank you.
Hai. Myself and my wife would like to participate for the upcoming workshop in september 2020. Please reserve our participation and let me know the further procedures to confirm the booking..
Regards
Rajasekar G
9659069965 .
I would like to register for the upcoming workshop in the month of March 27 nd 28th. With my daughter nd wife.kindly let me know if any slots are available. Thank you.
Please kindly include me in 27 – 28 march 2020 course.
Dr Fatima
9952674660
I want to enroll for the workshop but unable to make a payment, please help me out to be a part of workshop – March 27 & 28
Thanks and Regards
Syed Bilal
Hello, I am in tiru and really want to come. Payment website won’t accept international card, can I pay another way? I can come out to the campus, no worries. Thanks
@Suparnaji we received your payment thanks, before one month of workshop date we will start a whats app group to coordinate with the participants, thanks ЁЯЩВ
Have you received my payment for March workshop. I need confirmation. Suparna bhatnagar. Delhi.
Namaste Nikhil,Start Date: May 4, 2019, 9 a.m.
End Date: May 5, 2019, 5 p.m. – https://www.instamojo.com/thsh/common-woman-natural-building-camp-2-day/
What is the timing of workshop.? At what time , one has to report on 4th may.
I would want to attend the course with my wife for learning it and doing in our agricultural land.