Visited by Rastas X

Ben went on to say that Jack didn't think that all 13 Rastas would leave the compound at one time. Brother I.V., who to say the least, led the group, very rarely left the compound and was not likely to ever leave Jamaica. Nor would he allow many of the others to be gone for anything like two weeks. To continue apace, the life and work of the place depended on the presence of most, if not all of the brothers, most if not all of the time. So, by the time the proposal was presented to Brother I.V., it had been scaled back a bit: Two of the thirteen Rastas residing at the compound would travel to San francisco and would return in two weeks or less. Even this plan though, did not meet with his approval. In the end, he agreed to send one Brother from the compound  (Matthew,probably his wisest source of counsel) and one Brother whose residence and business was in Kingston (James, an attorney who served the Rastas as  liaison with the outside world). Brother I.V. thought one week would be enough but left Jim and Matt to decide when they would return. One of my most sinifigant attempted detractors used to say of me "If it were possible for Gideon to have a religion, it would be Marijuana". And while I'd just as soon you didn't call it that, I would agree. Not only do I love cannabis, those whom I meet that use it, grow it, traffic in it, study it or use it as sacrament I usually wind up liking...a lot. The more Ben told me about the Rastas, the more I liked them. I was beginning to think that at least a  half-dozen of my friends had known of the Rastas' visit for some weeks before I did and kept it to themselves in order to present me with a delightful surprise. (Or it might just have been that no one thought to mention it...perhaps thinking I already knew) Whatever the case, I was delighted and thankful to be associated with the individuals who had chosen to be a part of GoE. Ben was part of it long before it became Gates of Eden. Even before we called it Muf'n.  From our first meeting, he was always there for us, whether it was with news of free materials he had discovered while operating his business or volunteering to do plumbing or electrical or whatever help we might need. Even some of the folks who lived and worked at GoE had come to us thru him. He was older and wiser than I and would freely share his positions and opinions in such a way that you might think they were your own.So he was obviously a great friend. He and Amelia walked back to our place with us that afternoon and spent another hour or two there before driving Jim and Matt to Laurie May's where they would be staying nights. Money was not an issue, but it was decided that they would be more comfortable at her house, which was spacious and luxurious and only she and her two kids lived there. After one night though, Laurie  May moved them from the main house to the pool house, so they could do their night chanting without keeping everyone up. During the rest of their visit (it turned out to be nine days and ten nights) we saw the Rastas only once more. On the last day of their trip they stopped at our place with Amelia and Laurie May and we had another round of splifs and a couple hours of talking and chanting. As they prepared to leave, Brother Matthew told me that Brother I.V. had asked him to invite me (and one other from Gates of Eden) to visit them at the compound on Blue Mountain. Some surprised that Brother I.V. must have known of my existence before Jim and Matt started their trip, I was flattered and told them I'd be honored to visit them and would let them know my itinerary as soon as I had one.                         

Visited by Rastas IX

As we talked over lunch, it dawned on me that Ben was involved in the Rastas' visit. He and Roena became good friends and it was he who had introduced her to Laurie May and Roena who introduced me to her.  Amelia's ex-husband, Jack (whom I never met) had had a business relationship with the Rastas for several years. Over a few decades the Rastas had placed some of their people in key positions in Customs and were able to deliver cannabis grown by them in Jamaica to locations inside the U.S. Most of their deliveries weighed just over a ton of manicured buds. The Rastas seemed motivated to put enough weed in the country to help the hippies' "revolution" to succeed. Whatever their reason, their dedication to the task was remarkable; at every rock concert of the sixties and seventies they provided tons of free buds for the attendees. (I was told that they delivered eight tons to Woodstock and at Altamont I saw them hand out hundreds of lids of buds in the few hours that I was there. Obviously they wanted to inject huge amounts of weed into the country but were not interested in profiting from their efforts. (at least not monetarily) This worked quite well for Jack and for others who had much the same relationship with the Rastas as he did. At a time when a pound of manicured buds would easily sell for $200.00, the Rastas would  take no more than $2.00 per pound for it (DELIVERED INSIDE THE U.S.) In truth, the Rastas have little need for money. Their land is paid for and the fruits, vegetables and animals, wild or domestic, on that land provide them with nearly everything that they eat.  Considering that they probably deliver an average of more than a ton per week (and that's  intentionally underestimated) their income from it could be more than $16,000. per month. Easily enough to cover shipping and handling costs. Several months before the Rastas visited Gates of Eden, according to Ben, it was decided by Jack and his partners that the Rastas were not receiving their fair share of the proceeds and, since they could not be persuaded to take a bigger bite for themselves, gifting would be the way to go. First, Jack and company presented them with a 20,000-watt electrical generator to light the buildings and pathways of the compound. The wires are strung, the bulbs screwed-in, the generator started. The Rastas loved it. Especially the lighted paths and the Christmas-tree lights just outside the entrance to the chapel. At first they loved it. But very soon they noticed the noise it generated, decided that would not do and before it had run a half-hour, shut it down, never to be started again. So, Jack is out about $3,500 and has yet to provide a usefull gift. For weeks he racked his brain for what would be a gift that the Rastas would appreciate. Then, one day, on the phone with his Ex, Amelia, he asked her for a suggestion. She thought his best bet would be to fly the thirteen Rasta Brothers living at the compound to San Francisco, put them up at the St. Francis  and over a period of a week or two, take them on all the tours of the City and the Bay.

Visited by Rastas VIII

It is only a block from the Plaza to Fillmore st.,where many good places for lunch are located. That day we chose "Bangcock Gardens", having heard good things about it  but not yet having visited there. As the five of us were being seated (four in our group had returned to their work in the GoE shops, not yet ready for lunch) I noticed a friend, with a companion just entering the restaurant. This was our neighbor from just across Divisadero St from our place. His name is Ben. His last name slips my mind, but it was one of those names that at some previous time described one's work; like Chandler or Carver. Right now, I'm thinking it is Plummer. Ben was the first person in our neighborhood to notice us and come to welcome us. By the time of our chance meeting at the restaurant, we had been friends for nearly two years.He accepted our invitation to join us and introduced us to Amelia.  She was new to me, but Matt and Jim and Ben knew Amelia. I was surprised to learn that she was an author, writing a piece on the Rastas and had been interviewing Ben that morning, to get his perspective.  Jim and Matt would be heard the next day. More surprising: Laurie May and Amelia are sisters! And I mean REAL sisters, in that they have the same set of parents. Before that, I had no idea Laurie May had a sister; no one had ever mentioned her to me.(though I later learned that  Roena knew her-they met when Laurie May took both of them shopping at some point) By the time we left the Thai place I had a lot better understanding of what the Rastas' visit was all about.