Steve dreamt of creating and living in a utopian community full of friends actively seeking to make the world a better place, living off the land and living sustainably for the betterment of people and the earth. He was a life long advocate for positive global change, most notably his long history of direct action with Greenpeace.
This sense of community was actively lived and breathed at 66 Birkbeck Road, where Steve had created a mini version of his original dream – his home where he welcomed over 70 guests from all over the world including Chile, Australia and America; freedom of expression was encouraged and Steve provided sage like guidance to anyone that needed it.
Steve was the most generous and loving man I’ve ever known and should be remembered for his innate ability to be infectiously funny, witty and clever and above all exceedingly, uniquely and wonderfully odd.
I would like to read two of his journal entries which perfectly encapsulate Steve – a man who dreamt for bigger and better things for the planet and everyone around him, and someone who was not afraid to express his left field sentiments:
Note 1 “Much thinking whilst walking today. Today’s conclusion is that if I believe in making a positive mark then it would be foolish to … not do anything … the earth is not important unless we choose to seize the ultimate objective. To do so we must understand the basic principles governing us as well as everything else. To achieve this goal, we must evolve, adapt and change. How this is to happen and into what is down to us. If we cease to be a consumer of life, we may evolve into a distributor of life and a protector of life.
Steve dreamt of living in a sustainable community and many journal notes and house discussions were conducted in relation to the creation and plausibility of such an ideal. Steve noted that in his mind all communities would have three basic principles considering the philosophy of Epicurus; pleasure, living modestly, and to limit ones desire. he wrote about small communities working together to solve problems, sharing ideas and living simply and sustainably.
It’s these moments of family and friendship, of community and cooperation that Steve would encourage us all to nurture and actively seek out. We should never forget what he stood for, and indeed by not forgetting, we will be building a legacy grown from his ideas.
To Steve – a brother, a father, a big thinker, a campaigner, a dreamer, a horticulturalist, a teacher, a dear friend.
Steve Baker's Farewell 