Farmers
Toto Alimasi
Alimasi is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he was a high school French teacher and a human rights activist. He and his family (to include his wife, PIFF Apprentice Farmer Fatuma) spent many years in Uganda after being forced to flee the DRC, and it was there where they learned market farming techniques. They were granted resettlement in the U.S. and arrived here in 2011. Alimasi speaks English, Swahili, French, Lingala, and Fuliiru. What he most loves about Houston is “the welcoming people and the community around my children’s school.” His favorite thing about farming is to see the culmination of his hard work through harvesting and sharing a meal of food he grew himself with his family. His favorite crop to grow is okra! (Fun fact: Alimasi means ‘diamond’ in Swahili) Press: Waste Land, Promised Land in Orion Magazine, After Harvey, Resettled Refugees Who Found Opportunity Farming Rebuild Again in The Urban Edge, “This Refugee Family Fled Congo. In Houston They Grow Organic Vegetables.” in the Houston Chronicle.
Bobilya Apendeki
PIF Farmer since 2018
Bobilya and her family are originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They spent many years in Tanzania before being granted resettlement in the U.S. in 2016. She’s always been a farmer and she speaks Swahili, Kimbembe, and is studiously and fearlessly learning English. She loves the weather in Houston because it’s not too cold! Her favorite thing about farming is that it’s a familiar activity; she’s been doing it her “whole life!” Bobilya offers recommendations for others based on her life experiences: take up farming or gardening and take every opportunity to learn in school. She also welcomes volunteers and customers to visit her farm. Her favorite crop to grow (and eat) is broccoli.
Christine Kengue
Christine is from the Republic of Congo (aka Congo-Brazzaville). After fleeing conflict, she spent time in Moanda, DRC and later was resettled in Houston in 2009. She speaks French, Znebi, Lingala, and is continuing to learn English when not working on her farm. The weather in Houston is her favorite thing about the city, as it’s familiar and advantageous to a Congo-raised farmer. Christine most enjoys farming for the sense of peace and accomplishment that harvesting provides. Her favorite crops to grow are tomatoes, eggplant, and lettuce.
Sarment Louamba
Sarment is originally from the Republic of Congo (aka Congo-Brazzaville). He fled Brazzaville and spent time in Kinshasa and Mouanda in the DRC, before spending ten years as a refugee in Gabon. He’s held jobs driving an 18-wheeler and as a window assembler, before turning to farming in Gabon. Sarment speaks English, French, Lari, Lingala, and Munukutuba. He was resettled with his family in Houston in 2009. He loves Houston because “I truly enjoy being a farmer here. It is my life.” His favorite thing about farming is that it relaxes him and it’s safer than driving an 18-wheeler. He appreciates being his own boss, being independent, and setting his own schedule. Arugula is his favorite crop to grow. Press: After Harvey, Resettled Refugees Who Found Opportunity Farming Rebuild Again (The Urban Edge), After Hurricane Harvey, Houston Heals Through Food (Civil Eats), Refugee Farmers Growing in Houston’s Food Desert (Bittersweet Monthly)
Bora Neema
Bora comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where she was working toward a family counseling college degree before being forced to flee. She’s worked as a farmer, seamstress, and nutritionist and over her lifetime she has lived in or passed through Bukavu, Uvira, Goma, Butembo, and Lubero in the DRC; Nairobi, Kenya; and lastly was resettled in Houston along with her husband (PIFF Apprentice Farmer Pierre) in 2017. Bora speaks French, Lingala, Swahili, Mashi, Kihavu, and is making rapid strides in learning English. Her favorite thing about Houston is the “good, caring people” she and her family have met, the climate being similar to Africa (“it feels like home”), and her ability to find work in farming. She says, “I like America; it is a welcoming place for immigrants.” Bora’s favorite thing about farming is that she can deliver healthy, organic food to the people. She gets to use the same farming methods she learned back home in Africa — chemical-free and regenerating. She especially enjoys growing carrots, lettuce, arugula, and Chinese broccoli. In addition to farming with PIFF, Bora is a dressmaker with The Community Cloth and welcomes family counseling clients to talk through tough times and family hardships with her.
Henriette Ngangoula
PIF Farmer since 2018
Constant Ngouala
Constant is originally from Congo-Brazzaville, having fled as a college student during the civil war in the late 1990s. He spent years as a refugee in Gabon, where he turned to farming as a means of dignified employment in a place where his freedoms were restricted, before eventually being resettled in Houston. He is a talented and renown vegetable farmer, selling each Saturday to the top chefs in Houston from his busy booth at the Urban Harvest market. He plans to add fruits to his repertoire by starting an orchard on land he recently purchased in New Caney, northeast of Houston. Press: Waste Land, Promised Land Orion Magazine, How Houston Chefs Collaborate With Refugee Farmers to Produce Some of the City’s Best Dishes (Eater Houston)
Roy Nlemba
Roy is originally from the DRC, he lived briefly in Angola before Moving to Russia. He had a very challenging experience in Russia where he lacked many opportunities. After 10 years in Russia he moved to the United States where he calls ” le pays de la liberte et des opportunites” the country of freedom and opportunities. He worked different jobs but never had a permanent contract. His other positions allowed him to visit at least 25 states which he loved but he never felt that they allowed him to grow and reach his full potential. After lots of prayers, tears, and struggle he was presented with the best opportunity! A current Plant It Forward Farmer introduced Roy to the program. After training, he felt like Plant It Forward was the answer to his prayers. He felt fulfilled and thought he is now doing something that’s meant to be and he is continuing a tradition. His family had many acres of farmland. He was mocked by community members and friends that he left Africa with bigger plantation to come be a small city gardener/farmer. Today all that mocked him are envious of his success and nobody could believe that he bought a house, a new track and can support his family as PIF farmer.
Elizabeth, Oretha, and Mable Nyuma
PIF Farmers since 2018
Elizabeth and her daughters, Oretha and Mabel, are originally from Lofa Kante, Liberia. During the Second Liberian Civil War (1999 – 2003) her parents were killed and she fled with her children to a refugee camp in neighboring Sierra Leone. After five years in the camp, they were fortunate enough to be cleared for resettlement in Houston. Elizabeth speaks English and Kissi fluently. She wasn’t able to complete schooling but went straight into business and farming as a teenager. Growing food for subsistence and income has been a lifelong occupation for Elizabeth and it sustained her family both in the refugee camp and now here in Houston. Elizabeth prides herself on her self-sufficiency — as a farmer, she doesn’t want nor need to buy food from another person! She loves the warm Houston weather and the feeling of security she and her family have found here. Elizabeth and her daughters run the PIFF farm at Blossom Heights Child Development Center in the Mahatma Gandhi District. Press: Featured farmer in photo documentary The Hands That Feed Houston.
Materanya “Pierre” Ruchinagiza
PIF Farmer since 2018
Pierre hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically Bukavu, in the east of the country along Lake Kivu. After fleeing the DRC, he spent time in Bjumbura, Burundi; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; and Nairobi, Kenya. He and his wife, PIFF Apprentice Farmer Bora, were granted resettlement to the U.S. and arrived in Houston in 2017. Pierre is speedily learning English and also speaks French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Mashi, Kihavu, Kifulero, and Lingala. His favorite thing about Houston is the weather; the tropical-ish climate reminds him of Africa. He’s a savvy jack-of-all-trades, having in the past worked as a general secretary in education; as a store owner selling food staples; as a pastor; and as a farmer raising poultry, rabbit, and vegetables. He loves farming because it encapsulates his life’s experiences. His favorite crops to grow are Hakurei turnips, Napa cabbages, radishes, lettuce mix, and kale. Ever the businessman, he welcomes your investment in his and Bora’s farming enterprise!
Fatuma Rukundo
PIF Farmer since 2018
