"Sustainable Building Practices: The Power of Lime Chakki"
http://sacredgroves.in/?p=4557

As a student of sustainable practices, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from expert Carrie Feung on our first day of class. During her lecture, one thing that particularly caught my attention was the significant pollution caused by cement production. This realisation led me back to my experience working with Sacred Groves, a sustainability-oriented firm based in Auroville, Pondicherry, India.

At Sacred Groves, I witnessed the power of a unique building material known as Lime Chakki. Not only is this material environmentally friendly, but it also provides water resistance and breathability. The key ingredient, "kankar lime," is a combination of 20-30% lime and impurities that serve as an aggregate in the mix. To create Lime Chakki, 9 units of lime are mixed with 15 units of quarry dust, which provides a compact binding due to its sharp edges.

Another key component of Lime Chakki is the addition of kadukkai seeds and jaggery. The seeds are crushed or powdered, and 10 kg of jaggery is added to 300-400L of water and fermented for a week in airtight barrels. Once set, this mixture is poured into the lime and chakki mixture and made into a paste using a chakki powered by bulls. According to traditional knowledge, after 150 rounds, the mixture will reach the desired consistency.

What makes Lime Chakki truly remarkable is the way in which the kadukkai and jaggery mixture binds with the lime and quarry sand. This combination gels and creates a sturdy, long-lasting building material that is stored in the same airtight container used for fermentation.

In conclusion, I am grateful for my experience with Sacred Groves and the knowledge I gained about the benefits of using Lime Chakki in construction. Not only does this method minimise the use of cement, but it also creates a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative that has been used successfully for generations.

Prthivya

Tuesday, February 7, 2023