Brenda is the woman responsible for Bali Buda shops and restaurants health fruits, and is also a midwife. She talks about health, organic foods, and the future of Bali.
Brenda, where are you and what you have brought to Bali?
I'm from a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. In high school, I had a strong urge to get out of my city and applied with the American Field Service to go abroad as an exchange student. In 1986, at age 15, I found myself in Surabaya, East Java. Kind of shock of my life!
What inspired you to put roots down in Bali?
I'm not "discover" Bali until about five years after Java. Finally, I decided to stay in Bali. I think it is incredible creative energy of the island or something even less articulated. It works for some and it does not work for others. So far it has worked really well for me. I went to Bali for 20 years.
When were you involved in natural foods and the role it plays in our health? Bali Buda How did it start?
I was a relatively ill child. I remember a lot of doctor visits and regular consumption of antibiotics. We ate the typical American diet of 70 and 80; varieties of fruits and vegetables were scarce. Finally, for some reason, I had a tug to a healthy and natural lifestyle. I started to make yogurt and fruit for lunch - my friends thought I was really weird for that time! I started looking for information in the library, organic natural foods and thus began my journey to a healthier lifestyle. I wanted to incorporate it into every part of my life, even natural cosmetics. I try to walk my talk.
After moving permanently to Indonesia many years later, there was a lot of natural products, but not as organic ones. I wanted them to be readily available for my family, so in order to do this, I created a market for farmers to meet demand.
From small beginnings with an employee, Bali Buda has now grown to six stores and cafes with more than 170 employees.
It is really important for me to educate our employees and encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle, so a lot of my work focuses on them so they can be more effective in their jobs and lives outside of Bali Buda.
Do you think our current system of food makes people sick? What can we do?
Yes, I agree. To me, the obvious solution is to eat local foods, natural, to get involved in farmers markets and gardens square foot home. It is simply a matter of personal choice, nothing too difficult to actually do. You just have to do it!
Are local food source Bali Buda? Who is responsible for the revenue and what's on the menu?
Yes, we have always preferred source locally first and complete with imported products. All our products are local. Rather than buying our own gardens, we supported Ibu Kartini and Bali Organic Association back more than 40,000 hectares of land in Bali back to organic agriculture over the past 15 years. Farmers who sell us cut out the middle man and lead a very good life. It's an amazing accomplishment!
The menu was created by myself and a former business partner, as well as visitors passing through Bali, and even the crew Bali Buda. We pay attention and respond to trends, but have our own philosophy of not being too extreme on anything, so we have a good probiotic meat on the menu and we still believe in cooked foods.
Dr Zulaika Asikin, Gorontalo Indonesia Organisation of Midwives (IBI) and Prof Dr H Veni Madju Brenda Ritchmond
What are some your favorite things to do here when you are not working?
In my life alternative I am a midwife. I like to study midwifery, educating and of course do practical work. I am the first expatriate legally authorized to practice here in Indonesia and I'm very happy about it.
Although I do not do a lot of gardening myself, I support many initiatives such as permaculture gardens, organic associations, etc.
I guess my favorite hobby is to learn about sustainable life from conception to the end; the complete cycle. I also like to share knowledge, so when I am invited to a seminar as a speaker I get to travel and experience other parts of Indonesia as well. It is definitely one of my favorite things to do.
name of a place in Bali you like to go and why.
I like most about being at home. We made our home our favorite place to vacation. I want to go hiking or trekking in places where we can connect with nature and local cultures. I love to visit other islands and remote communities and seek inheritance food sources and traditional foods that are new to me.
If you can create your dream community, what and where would it be?
My dream community would be here where I am. It is a traditional Balinese village and it is my dream. We are active in sharing information on best environmental practices, which is the only thing I want to see better here. Everybody knows each other and waits one after another to a certain extent. He is handsome!
How do you see the evolution of Bali?
Well, Bali seems to be becoming the worst nightmare of origin of expatriates. Those of us who came here 20-30 years ago came because we loved the villages, crops and rhythm. We have integrated and become part of the fabric of society. Currently, expatriates are moving here for reasons completely different and honestly, it's a little scary. It seems that there are people who now become aware of future possibilities and are more willing to take a stand for or against them. At least he is not pure apathy. But we'll see, will not we?
Future plans?
I do all the things I love. I plan to continue to share and provide knowledge and obstetric care. We have a third birthing clinic being as a social enterprise.
I also want to increase the options and sources of healthy food, which makes Bali Buda natural products more accessible to more people nationwide. I really like hanging out with my children; there are seven of them so it is almost like a small community in itself!
Finally, look forward to a name change on your way soon. To make Bali Buda more inclusive to the people of Indonesia, we are slightly changing our name to Bali Bunda. Bunda means Indonesian mother and values and wants a mother for her family are the same as we hold true to our customers.
Thank you, Brenda! For more information, please visit the website of Bali Buda.