"Hari and Asha Build Their Sustainable Dream Home for Just Rs 4 Lakh"

Can We Truly Give Back to Nature as Much as We Take?

For the past nine years, Hari and Asha, a couple from Kerala Kannur district, have been living the answer to this profound question. Their sustainable lifestyle, built on the foundation of a self-constructed mud house and a 34-acre lush forest they nurtured themselves, stands as a testament to their commitment to nature.
Hari and Asha, married in 2007, have long been committed to sustainable living. Hari works for the local water authority in Keralas Kannur, while Asha is actively involved with a community supporting farmers practicing natural farming. Both recognized the importance of an eco-friendly lifestyle early on, drawing inspiration from Keralas rich tribal history, where homes were traditionally constructed using mud and bamboo.
The couple constructed a 960 sqft mud house with a focus on ecological preservation, ensuring that no trees were harmed during building process. 

Asha shared, even when I was in college, my professors used to say that if you are building a house, build one that is eco-friendly. They recommended mud and clay houses as the ideal choice. After graduating, I began planning how to build this house, and after my wedding, Hari and I actively consulted architects and started bringing the plan to life.
The couple reveals that their dream home cost less than Rs 4 lakh to build, with most of the expenses going towards labor charges. Despite being equipped with all the modern amenities—except a refrigerator—the house consumes less than 4 units of electricity per month. For context, an average middle-class household in a city typically uses more than 4 units of power in a day.
Interestingly during the summer, Nanavu mud walls act as natural insulation, keeping the heat out, while in the winter, they help retain warmth inside. The couple also installed a solar power system and biogas to meet their energy needs. Thanks to the houses natural ventilation, they do not need air conditioning or ceiling fans for cooling. The only time they rely on grid electricity is occasionally, when using the water pump.

A Sustainable Lifestyle for the Future

"Any kind of electricity derived by harming the environment—such as hydro power projects, nuclear fission, and damming of rivers—is really bad. It is better if we can produce the energy ourselves," says Hari.
The couple has installed a 1.15-kilowatt rooftop solar panel and a biogas plant to meet most of their electricity needs. The biogas plant efficiently converts all kinds of organic waste, including fecal waste, into biogas, providing a sustainable source of energy for their home.
"There is a direct connection from the toilet to the biogas plant," Asha explained. "Once our energy demands are met, the remaining biogas waste and slurry are used as natural fertilizers for the forest."
While their home is equipped with modern amenities like a television, a computer, and electric kitchen appliances such as mixers, the couple deliberately omitted a refrigerator. This choice is driven by concerns over the environmental impact, particularly the harmful CFC emissions associated with refrigerators.
Instead, the couple uses an earthen cooler to store their food, maintaining their commitment to eco-friendly practices while avoiding the environmental impact of refrigeration.
"The moisture from the soil helps maintain a temperature of around 10 degrees inside the earthen cooler, keeping the food fresh," Asha explains. However, whenever we notice the sand drying up, we have to pour water in, as the cooler would not work without the moisture.

A Sustainable Approach to Agriculture

Hari and Asha embody Gandhian principles of self-sufficient living by cultivating their food on a 34-acre forest using natural farming methods that minimize human intervention.
Asha advocates for natural farming by emphasizing the importance of observing ecosystems like forests, where plants thrive without artificial interventions such as watering or fertilization. Her approach aligns with zero budget natural farming (ZBNF), which promotes the cultivation of crops through natural growth methods, avoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
"What we do here is also very close to zero-budget farming," Asha explains. We use negligible amounts of fertilizers, such as cow dung and biogas slurry, only when necessary. We let the plants and fruit grow naturally, and as a result, the produce tastes better.
Natural farming not only reduces the environmental impact of agriculture but also enhances the long-term sustainability of the land, ensuring that future generations can continue to grow healthy food in harmony with nature.

To Conclude

Nanavu architectural design, which does not require a single fan, has not only contributed to a more sustainable lifestyle but also resulted in significant savings. The couple believes that a shift in the way land is distributed could bring about immediate changes in how we live and consume resources, fostering more eco-conscious communities.

Edited by Gayathri