Bekandze Farm was born in 2023 as a small act of response—a way to face an uncertain future by choosing to do good in the process.
Founded by Prof. Dr. Jem Bendell and Dr. Patrick Smith, we believe that even in times of instability, we can still act with care for the earth.
From the beginning, our focus has been on regenerative farming education. We believe farmers are the frontline defenders of food security and the health of the planet. Therefore, ours is a demonstration farm, of 3100 sqm, to show different methods of regenerative farming. At that size, and without a reliable demand for organic fresh produce from restaurants, the farm currently requires a subsidy of about 5 million rupiah a month. Due to our advocacy and educational mission, we have hosted:
These activities were done without fees -- relying on local and international donations, as well as volunteer energy.
Our co-founder has given a number of talks about the learnings from Bekandze Farm, including at the Ubud Food Festival. We produced a short film, "Scaling Organic Farming in Bali"—which we later screened at public forums such as Green School, Usada in Bali, and Buka Mata Buka Hati in Bandung. Our activities in West Java, were partly inspired by the popularity of our educational content in the Indonesian language on TikTok and Instagram.
Our consultations with the farmers and other stakeholders in the food sector led to a paper on why restaurants and resorts need to lead on scaling organic farming - and how.
As a true organic farm, we cannot scale production like chemical farms, nor meet the chemically-shaped expectations of the normal market, nor rely on an organic-interested market that has proven (at present) to be extremely fickle. Delivery costs (particularly time) to individuals are too high, and the order sizes too low, to make a delivery service economically viable. We have reduced staffing to reduce costs, and current production is not enough to cover basic operational costs of the farm. The on-site educational activities can only occur with new sponsorship, and with a working farm that showcases a variety of methods.
Many people come to Bali to heal and to reconnect with nature. Some long for wooden homes that blend with the landscape, tired of concrete and city noise. In the last 3 years many people have contacted us wanting to stay at the farm, to experience it, and to even help out. But we didn’t have accommodation to house them. Even a business development manager at Airbnb reached out to us in 2026 to explain that people are wanting experiences on organic farms.
So we decided that the best way to turn this interest into a meaningful experience that generates revenues for Bekandze Farm, will be to build traditional accommodation for 4 people
Bekandze Farm is located between the main sacred water springs of Tempaksiring and Sebatu, in an unspoiled rural area. It is the way Ubud once was, where locals are pleased and curious to know who you are. Unlike most rural areas, our organic farm is free from toxic pesticides—a safe space for all living things within it. For those seeking stillness and rejuvenation, this is the place.
With the right investment from a business partner, two ecolodge units can be built from wood, designed for quiet rest and harmony with nature. Not luxury—but a space to return to nature's rhythm. Our first interest is in re-assembling traditional Joglos on the property.
Guests would experience more than just accommodation. They would:
We could also offer structured programs for guests who wish to deepen their knowledge of regenerative farming—extending the educational mission we have always carried.
The investment to launch the eco-agritourism must therefore cover the costs of a guest relations manager and some marketing.
The revenue from the ecolodges will be used to cross-fund the operational costs of the organic farm, which is what will make the accommodation attractive.
Any profit will then be shared between the owners of the farm, with at least one founder already committing to reinvest any earnings back into the education activities of the farm, such as our free courses for Indonesian farmers.
The new income will maintain the basis for educational activities to be expanded, as well as new lines of processed products to be developed. We see significant potential in the brand.
We are looking for one business partner who believes that business can be a tool to spread impact—not just generate profit. We are looking for someone who would take a third ownership of the business - someone who will become involved in helping make the agritourism succeed.
We need funding of IDR 650,000,000 to build the ecolodges and then market and manage the agritourism offer. We can provide a detailed budget if you have a serious interest.
