Green money for a green revolution

There is so much talk going on about saving Planet Earth and all that live within it. This has led to a green revolution all over the world. People are going green with their food, homes, offices and even with their money. Today, living an earth-friendly lifestyle is the in-thing. Though it sounds expensive and way overboard, it is the most healthy, simplest and easiest lifestyle one can ever live. Jeannette Kamikazi is one Rwandan lady who loves living green. Walking into her home is like entering the secret garden. The sight of beautiful plants and flowers around her house just takes your breath away, let alone their exotic sweet scents all over the air. For Kamikazi, living a cool, calm and collected lifestyle is the sure way to go. “Other than making my home look beautiful, plants create an air of serenity. They are so relaxing and also keep the air clean,” Kamikazi said. On the contrary, people believe that growing plants around their homes is an expensive and tiring venture. Kamikazi however dispels this fear. After admiring Kamikazi’s secret garden, you wonder where she gets these plants and flowers. This is where the Green money element comes into the picture. When Soline Mukamana decided to start a new business on the Rwandan market selling all kinds of plants, she was venturing into a relatively new idea. However, nine years down the road, Mukamana’s Saint Paulia Flower Centre is becoming popular by the day. She says people are discovering the importance of having a good flower garden and protecting the environment in general. “Customers always choose to buy what they like depending on the colour, size and price of a plant,” she said. According to Mukamana, the most sought after plants are those that propagate easily. Prices ranging from 300Rwf to 10,000Rwf per plant, Mukamana pockets her Green Money. In order to support the markets demand for her plants, Mukamana has three established business branches. Two flower centres are in Remera-Giporonso and Kanombe while a propagation centre is located in Kicukiro. At the propagation centre, seedlings are planted and nurtured. Also, cuttings from other plants are used to generate new plants. After a period of two to three months, when seedlings have rooted and are able to resist external weather changes, they are transferred from the propagation centre to the flower centres for sale. At the Remera-Giporonso Flower Centre, Assumpta Uwingabire is in charge of sales and maintenance. With the help of Nason Bikorimana, they keep this Flower Centre running. “Watering the plants every evening ensures that they do not dry and wither from intense heat from the sun,” Uwingabire explained, “…however, during the rainy season, we do not water plants because they receive enough from the rain.” Water is not all that plants need to survive. Every four months Uwingabire says, fresh manure must be mixed in the plant pots. Manure is a source of plant nutrition. Besides nurturing young plants, flower pots are also made at the centres, thus providing a one-stop-shop for the customer. For Mukamana, owning a growing plant business has its share of challenges too. Constantly supplying plants from different centres to eager customers is a challenge in itself. However to deal with this, she has a vision. “By 2011, I intend to have combined all the three centres to form one big garden centre. Here, all garden materials like seeds, manure and equipment will be available for customers who want to start up their own secret gardens,” she said happily. For those who value nature and would love to bring it to home, transforming your attitude by thinking green is the sure way forward. Adding plants to your home where appropriate, not only improves the quality of oxygen in the air, but also adds life to the area occupied. Turning your home into a green living refuge of health and serenity is living an earth-friendly quality life. Contact: anyglorian@yahoo.com