Eric Eberhardt truly lived the values he espoused. His belief in organic gardening and efforts to organize local food co-operatives led him to 30 years of proprietorship of The Gentle Rain natural health food store in Stratford, Ont.
Born in Houghton, Mich., Eric was one of six children of Charles and Virginia. He attended high school with Marsha Jackson, and they were married in 1970. Eric graduated with a teaching degree from Illinois State University.
On Dec. 23, 1971, Eric immigrated to Canada with Marsha and their infant daughter, Erin, after a dispute with his local draft board. Initially denied conscientious objector status, his case was taken up by Senator Edward Kennedy and Eric was given C.O. classification. He had started alternative service at a facility for the developmentally challenged when his draft board ruled he must move to a placement in another state or be subject to a fine and imprisonment. This prompted his move to Canada. Eventually, his case was taken to court and the draft board was found to have been harassing him. Though he was exonerated and free to return to the United States, Eric remained committed to Canada.
During his first placement as a conscientious objector, Eric lived for six months with Mennonite friends who introduced him to organic gardening. He pursued this at his first small acreage in midwestern Ontario, then in an attempt at homesteading on Cape Breton Island, where his second child, Ewen, was born, and at the farm near Sebringville, Ont., where he spent the past 20 years.
At The Gentle Rain, Eric became a mentor to and patron of many southwestern Ontario organic food producers. His beliefs led him to a life of gentle political activism. He ran unsuccessfully as one of the first Green Party candidates in the federal riding of Perth-Middlesex, and served on several city environment committees.
When faced with major costs to renovate the old farmhouse on their property, Eric and Marsha decided to tear it down and build an environmentally sustainable dwelling. In 2005, they worked with the Thames Talbot Land Trust to place a conservation easement on 40 hectares of their farm.
After Eric was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, he greatly valued his time with his children and five grandchildren, and continued to cultivate his garden, stay active in his health food store and enjoy many canoeing and kayaking adventures.
More than 700 people attended his visitation in Stratford and the memorial service held at a friend's farm on July 16. That day, the flag at Stratford City Hall was lowered to half-mast in his memory.
Jim Barnes is Eric's friend.