A Wonderful Encouragement

24 June 2011

Dear Brian and Craig

I am back in Zambia and just bursting with new ideas and enthusiasm for what challenges lie ahead of us after our trip to Foundations for Farming last week. I was so impressed by the standard of crops, the logic of conservation agriculture in terms of mulching etc, and of course the very practical methods you employ to get the stunning results you have achieved.

But I think most impressive of all was the spirit of happiness and willingness that I experienced whilst there amongst your staff and all the participants on the course. There seems to be a very real presence amongst the people there and I left feeling that there is tremendous hope for the future of poor people in Africa. For me it was almost a life changing experience as I witnessed young men and girls (Merit is a star! …and the twins, Washington and Wellington) with so much humility, lecture old hardened cynics such as myself without a trace of nerves, prejudice or intimidation. It was a humbling experience to see their inner peace and happiness and I could feel the bitterness I have harboured for 8 yrs towards my fellow Zimbabweans seeping away in a spirit of reconciliation through farming.

In all that I have learnt at Foundations for Farming last week, I hope that the message of “joy’ is going to be the primary fundamental that I am able to transfer here to Zambia.

Take care and it was great meeting you guys.

Many thanks once again for a fantastic week.

Yours aye
Ex Zimbabwe commercial farmer