Laurent was the first tea farmer we met at Rugabano.

Before growing tea, he grew plantain and potatoes and traded them in local markets. Tea is the only crop he can grow and sell at scale for cash.

Since becoming a tea farmer, he has been able to pay for school fees and for health care.

Next, he wants to replace his roof for a tin roof that can capture rain water. And an iPhone.

- “Do you grow your potatoes in the ground or in pots?” he asked us.

- “We buy them in the supermarket!” we answered, sheepish.

- “Why? Don’t you have a bit of grass or a pot you can plant them in?”

Good point.

So he wouldn’t think us was a complete city slickers, Sofia showed him photos of her family’s olive field in Italy.

He likes the look of the olives and wants to have a go at growing them in Rwanda.

He’s asked us to bring him an olive tree next time.

Working on that… 

Laurent's tea field, surrounded by banana trees.

Laurent in his tea field looking rather serious for his portrait. The sword-like instrument in his hand is for pruning tea bushes. He's actually very cheery, look...