Tnx vm! I buy whole leaves from various suppliers, happy to point you in their direction if you're interested. No, I don't grow my own, maybe if I move to a place with actual dirt someday....A friend of mine who's a big time backyard gardener offered to grow some, but upon looking into it, it just wasn't worth it with the small quantities we'd be able to make, particularly when I can get decent already-cured and fermented leaves for $12-25/# (a pound gets you abt 30 cigars on the average).
As far as rolling well, I'm a piker compared to some on this and some other forums I've been on. What you're looking at is my #291-307. My first 20 or so were absolutely awful looking, but like anything you get better with experience.