The Edenhope Nature Preserve

Today I am writing from up ‘on top’ as our native peoples refer to the bush here. 

Richard, ‘chief cook’ for the survey expedition, is off plumbing a fountain with bamboo half-pipe.  The survey team will not be back until mid-afternoon at the earliest; their immediate goal to establish a point of reference for the western boundary. Tomorrow they will split into two parties, one starting from the northern boundary, then meeting up with the other which will have risen from the southern boundary.

Richard has explained to me that there is another trail by which to reach these lands. It’s directly behind the village. And shorter, perhaps only a mere 6 kms or so [the ‘hypotenuse’]. We haven’t done it yet since the boat along the sea-side trail with all the heavy equipment leaves only about a 4 ½ km to the campsite; and the river valley ascent then is easier to traverse with equipment. But it could be there that in due course the equipment and materiel to build Edenhope village will come….  This is not a plan yet, since the way along the sea [side] is certain and manageable.

In the quiet of the forest morning, with golden light piercing the canopy, everything is more possible. However, it is still going to be a helluva n’effort ….even with the riches of all possible rewards at the other end…. It is for this we’ve come.

The idea of permanence in the forest is so appealing it borders on the ecstatic. But the idea is easy to assimilate. It’s somewhat more of a construct than the campsite we have now; surely more comfortable.  Yet here we wish to center our lives ….as far from the destructive world we know as we can get. This dream recognizes that Nature’s long forbearing has reached a limit .…by this extreme option we have truly repudiated the arrogance with which our brothers have exhausted her patience. We know how severe will be her judgment.

Here in the abundant forest, the great theatre of normal process is a ….stunning reminder of the eternal, the strength we have returned to respect ….and honor.  Nothing has ever daunted such magnificence –the spirits that ply within its embrace are joyous, as are we. Mind you, though, our needs in this living framework may be a little bit more complex than that of the rest of our family.

Because the making of permaculture in the context of a ‘sacred garden’ is a life’s work, we [Ruth and I] look upon our roles as simply advisory, if somewhat enabling. For certain experience has been granted us to profoundly appreciate that all building is essentially the same. You start with a fundamental structure, set it right, laying foundations in the appropriate place, with the right perspective ….and they then serve their purpose.

We have struggled with the toughest adversaries along the path of this journey. It’s curious how we missed much of the path, buffeted as we were by almost ceaseless contradictions in the devilish paradigm set well before us. Yet our determination to succeed – and by that we mean ….desist from spaces and places contaminated and polluted – neutralizing thereby, inexorably, the power of each and every digression ….so many naughty spirits testing us ….failed.

 Probably the concepts for constructing our village will have changed most due to the length of time this has taken. However, endless impositions [such as we all know] and even bad spirits that conspired to thieve us of time and money ….has actually delayed prefabrication of the bungalows, by which we were to have pre-built the village. Yet it has also given us more time to develop our plan and adjust it accordingly. So we now endeavor to build a smaller village than what was originally set out, already downsizing a second time.

The lesson in building with a commitment to permanence is not so much the structures and forms one conceives, but the social system one is developing.  Not really difficult, either; permaculture is what one has always longed for….

The contradictions we have encountered along this path have mystically attenuated. The vision suggests all has more to do with ‘immediate effect’ than longer-term perspective – such is the benefit, rather unexpectedly and cheerily, of only incipient ‘older’ age, not the ‘real’ thing. [Neither of us will concede to thinking it [sic] of ourselves – we are only close to the merest threshold of it [sic again], perhaps even close,, but not yet there.

Yes, we are chastened. And through the thick lens of time we saw why it took us so long to get here. So we can really now enjoy the trip and appreciate what we see down the road that shines brighter near its end, the end of our efforts as principals and founders. It’s almost over.  So it is time for others to come, to savor what we have been blessed to experience, the transition into such a splendid reality we could never be induced to give it up. It was always for all! Not just us….

Some way back, five years ago, when it [this dream] was still a long way off, we began to envision its constitution, the governance by which it would live by…. It first occurred to us then that this can only be a life with one guiding hand – that of the Creation, our Great Spirit …for whom we are humble servants. There were none to share these thoughts then. And still, it is only the rarest of those who recognize this construct as their own, the mind’s eye that sees us as one family.

It is time, I tell you, that we enjoy more youthful energies to shepherd this dream into the reality of community it yearns to be. Ruth and I cannot do more – as the physical limitations are insurmountable for us – if we are to share these pleasures.

Which road to take? what to make? Where to site the river crossing? Will it be a bridge or a ‘ford’?  Perhaps a construct of plentiful boulders?  Or rocks and timbers? Where to site the village? The bungalows? The common buildings? The Nakamals for meetings? Places of teaching, learning, healing; the dispensary? [ ‘silver’ the standard prescription, of course].

There is no doubt that these lands will embrace us and accept us and our needs, its gentle nature the gift we inherited. Here is our gateway to the deepest, dark bush of Santo, rising to as much as 2,000m, it is some of the highest and toughest terrain in the whole of the island of Espiritu Santo. This, though, is our Shangri’ la, far more accessible than the novel [Lost Horizon] suggested it to be.

So let the call be answered; is it not apparent to all that the ‘day of purification’ is already here? Whether desired or not – you knew it was coming. It had become inevitable since the harm inflicted by ‘us’ has reached a level whereby it is impairing the whole balance of nature on our planet ….and even beyond. The life we developed here [in this world] is terminal – you realize it [but are, perhaps, just not quite ready for the implications of such acceptance]. Yet all of us are weary of the greed and carnage we cause – and wish to leave it well and truly behind…. Forever!

The third day in the bush with the survey team …. The plan is to connect the two highest points in the east. They must climb to about 600m to do so. There they will reach the vast plateau, still some significant distance from the river.  Yes, there’s a creek and one or two springs feed it – a very plausible campsite it will someday make us.  But that’s for later; let’s get the survey done.