7gen Bloc

Our friend Dharma Dog is back from his journey to and through India and sends us this thought-provoking video postcard about permaculture and the vision of the world held by his traveling partner, Rico Zook.

Back home in Arizona after my eco-odyssey through India, where I tagged along side permaculture advocate, and sort-of modern-day Kokopelli, Rico Zook, I capture a slice of his vision for "Heaven On Earth"

While I reenter the atmosphere of life in the U.S., like an astronaut adjusting to life under the influence of gravity, I relive the vision through hours of video footage. Rico, I learned, is something of a legend throughout the places of India we traveled (though he would graciously deflect such a description), where villagers welcomed him as if royalty to their humble, yet culturally rich homes and lives. The villages or "bustis," as they are called, had newly installed electricity as recent as 6 months ago! Some of the villagers had acquired a T.V. two months prior to the arrival of their electricity, in eager anticipation of the alluring modernity. I found this news a striking synchronicity to the intent of our trip and ironic juxtaposition to the modest, one-room dwellings, cradled in the lush tea-growing region with the majestic Himalayas towering in the background: The spread of a foreign virus or sign of progress?

The addition of this Western influence to this culturally rich and agriculturally diverse region, which has successfully sustained both for centuries, begged questions of cultural erosion, and irreversible change I wrestled with both then and now. Rico, clearly far more expansive in his views of such change than I, will no doubt be met with new challenges in this Northern region of India and Sikkim however, as he advocates the use of solar and wind powered showers, while electricity seduces to plug-in and power-up.

My reentry has been alternately filled with the normal flux of domestic duties, peppered with pouring over hundreds of still shots and hours of video from the trip. As I viewed both, it was clear I needed to capture a small portion of Rico Zook's vision of a world that includes the consideration of "Heaven on Earth," here and now. His inspiration comes not only from the magnificent Himalayan landscape, but from the simple beauty of the people of the region, that embody an innate wisdom from their cultural and spiritual heritage. I hope you enjoy this video blog, "Heaven On Earth." For more on Rico Zook and his permaculture work, check out this log of our adventure together through India.

–Dharma Dog