: About Me

I am an Entomologist based in Zambia. I was born in the UK in 1972 and was educated there until I finished my Masters degree and got my first job in Africa. I was asked to do a project on mealybugs on cocoa in Ghana and my addiction of Africa was confirmed. I had dreamed of living here since before I left school, why I have no idea (but it was obviously the right choice). From Ghana, I went to Swaziland, Kenya and now Zambia. I mainly train but also advise farmers on crop protection without pesticides, Integrated Pest Management and organics. I am fortunate that my work has taken me to other countries in Africa and I have got to work on a wide range of crops. My experience and knowledge which I hope is reflected in my articles is purely self taught, extensive reading and giving something a go has built up a bundle of crop protection ideas that work in this environment, where resources and access to technology is limited. I intend to stay living in Zambia, a country that I love because its people are so great!.

My passion is ...

the insect world, not only from an artistic point of view but also behaviour and their interaction with their ecosystem

My parents always told me ...

The rebel in me will mould my future

My childhood ambition ...

To work in Africa

Why I write ...

I love putting my ideas into words, it allows me to think through the process and develop them further.

My first job ...

Research assistant

My best moment ...

When I walked off the plane at Accra airport to be greeted by a wall of tropical heat. I had finally made it to Africa after years of effort!

Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Natural insect and pest control agents for your garden

5 of 9

I have been an Entomologist working in Africa for over 10 years now, working with farmers to reduce their reliance on pesticides. When you start delving into this mini world, you soon realize that it is not that much different from the "big" world. In the "big" World, there are areas of destruction (wars, deforestation), natural disasters (floods, earthquakes) of undisturbed ecosystems (natural primary forests). In the mini world wars are taking place all the time between insects. Wasps laying their eggs and ultimately consuming its host, ants attacking other insects, often bigger than the...

More..

• Helium Charter Member