1. How should we introduce you?
A line or two about yourself
I am Harsh, and I am growing a mini forest. I use
the tree planting as a front for changing peoples hearts and minds. They come to
plant trees and work on the land, but they often leave with new life goals and only
a dash of nihilism.
A designation
Fool on the hill
An adjective (What is your superpower?)
They say I have a very calming
presence. Thats a superpower in todays mad world, I think?
2. What does your work aim to say/do?
At the core of it - You do you. The physical work aims to conserve and build soil health, prevent erosion, conserve water, create a permaculture sanctuary full of birds, bees, trees, creepers and happy people.
Long term goals include complete autonomy in terms of food, water, electricity, shelter and emotions. Read more here: www.thegaiagrid.org
3. What are one to three books/ movies/ documentaries/ podcasts that have greatly influenced your life?
Books
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch (life changing, all three books)
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn (talking gorillas and climate change)
The Upanishads.
Podcasts
JRE
Empire (calling out colonality)
anything at all by the Vedanta society (on non-duality)
Documentaries
Jiro dreams of Sushi (aesthetic max+sushis)
I Am (Tom Shadyac)
Coconut Revolution (win a war with coconuts)
Movies
Waking Life
The Man from Earth
Dr. Strangelove
4. What purchase of Rs. 5,000/- or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)? Would appreciate specifics like the brand, model, where you found it?
A machete, costed 1200 rupees, made by a local master artisan, a true
work of art, always by my side, use it everyday for my farm work, collecting branches, mulch, scaring intruders etc.
5. What is the best or most worthwhile investment you’ve ever made? Could be investment of money, time, energy, etc
Quit my corporate job and hitch-hiked through India, Haiti, Mexico. Used 22 days out of that time to do two Vipassana courses. Oh, and did plant medicine in the rainforests of Mexico, also changed me fundamentally as a person and how I view life. Essentially, took long-term time off, for myself. It eventually led me to start Gaia Grid.
6. If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it - metaphorically speaking, getting a message to millions, what would it say and why? It could be few words, or a paragraph, it could also be someone else’s quote
“Leap! And the net will appear.” - self
Are there any quotes you think of often, or live your life by?
“You do you.” To expand on it, follow your bliss, walk on uncharted territory if that is what your heart calls for.
7. What obsessions do you explore in the evenings or the weekends?
Writing ideas from the day into legible text for my (hopefully upcoming) book, writing poetry, making gentle electronic music, having mind bending conversations with my volunteers (that hail from all walks of life and all over the globe)
8.What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
I try to design my life around the fibonacci numbers. Big purchases on specific dates, building designs not per vastu but as per the golden ratio/fibonacci sequence.
9. What would you (if you could) tell yourself when you were 18? What advice would you ask your younger self to ignore?
Accept yourself, then get over yourself. (Also the theme of my Tedx talk- link here)
10. What are the bad recommendations/fads you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
People in my area of work tend to greenwash things. Eco this, and natural
that. Metal straw, personal cups and sporks..I guess they serve people..but so much of “eco-consumption” is just virtue signalling to win peer validation. But hey, what would I know, I’m just a savage that lives in the forest.
11. When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do? (If it helps, what question do you ask yourself to get you back on track?)
1. Hands on work with the soil, planting trees, watering weeds etc.
2. Listen to Osho or Erik Satie
3. Zazen
12. What should I ask you that I didn’t know enough to ask?
The thing I often ask people that I’ve just met is “Why are you still alive?” As in, what moves you? It is interesting to hear the different takes. I think why I am still alive is because even though all my desires have reached fruition, I lack the courage to end the human experience. Nihilist much?