Following our discussion this afternoon I have written a brief tribute to someone that I believe will one day be recognized as a main driver towards what has become trendy to refer as VERMICULTURE / ORGANIC FARMING. It is Eric’s view: shared by numerous agriculturists that this could be the saving of agriculture in the third world.
A TRIBUTE TO ERIC HARRISON
Most of us know Eric as someone who always gives 100% to what he believes in even if it is his dammed trumpet.
Eric and Joan were allocated a beautiful farm at Mkwasine where they were expected to grow cotton and wheat. It soon became evident that cane was a better option and Eric and his neighbors switched to cane achieving some of the highest yields in the low-veldt. Eric and Joan also have three lovely children (what happened to Eric’s drive?)
Soon after sanctions started to bite Eric switched to Coffee and true to his nature he was not satisfied in starting small: he ploughed out and planted half his farm to coffee achieving excellent yields but poor quality.
Eric then went back to growing cane but this time he switched to what is now know as short-row furrow irrigation – again his results were excellent but he was not satisfied so he switched to Drip Irrigation. NOT JUST A TRIAL PLOT! but his whole farm.
We all waited to see what was next and were not surprised to see him plough out half his cane and plant Citrus. The Land reform policy could not have come at a worse time for Eric as his Citrus trees had began to peak in production.
Following losing his and Joan’s beautiful farm Eric had to channel his tremendous drive and energy into some-thing new and demanding and fortunately this was WORM FARMING. Eric wrote and had published an excellent simple and easy to follow guide to worm farming. Eric was given help and advice by Brian Oldreive, Hennie C. Ecksteen, Jako Pieterse and Dr. Brian Campell (EVERY! Farmer and keen gardener should buy a copy) I believe these are available at the CFU office in Harare)
Stories about Eric are numerous, here is one.
Parents at Mkwasine will remember Eric flying their school children down for Harare but after landing there was no sign of the plane. A couple of nervous fathers jumped into a car and raced down the runway where they were met by the sight of Eric sitting in the Pilots seat while six school children pushed the plane up the runway.
Digby Nesbit from N&B will remember being the first person seen to do the same at Harare Main. On both occasion Eric had run out of fuel.