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Pamela Tibbs  Pamela Tibbs, artisan, writer, and world traveler, has lived and studied in Bali for twelve years. Pamela says, “On an around the world trip, I came here to stay for a month. Time flows like a dream in Bali , months flow into each other and turn into years.” Soon after my arrival on the island, my driver and assistant, Ketut Sudarsana, a man who seemed to know everything about Bali, invited me to visit his remote village to attend a ceremony. I was definitely ready to leave the well worn tracks of the usual tourist sites on the island. "Upon arrival in the village, I was stunned, thought surely that somewhere along the way we had left Bali. The style of life in the village was below any poverty level I had ever seen. Even though I was met with smiles and generosity of the heart, the living conditions of the disenfranchised women and their children were heart breaking. “I decided to experience the life of a local woman by living in the village for a few weeks. After a relatively short time of hauling water from the well, washing clothes in the river, and doing without electricity, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of some people whom I had grown to respect and love. In all my life, I had never wanted to turn on a shower so much, who ever really thinks about water?” "After living the life of a village woman, I wanted to make a difference. With an initial donation by Lisa Overman, a friend who believed in us, followed by the help of generous individuals, school groups, and organizations from around the globe, we started Side By Side Organic Farm, a sustainable development project, to help local people break the cycle of poverty and return to a traditional green way of life.” Pamela has worked with Balinese healers, artisans and farmers. “It is all connected,” she says. “We are one with our planet. There is a creative side that lives in everyone. Traditionally rice farmers were artisans, creating while they waited for the rice to grow. Being close to the earth, touching the ground, helps us to touch our intuitive creative energy.” Pamela is available for motivational speeches and art and craft exhibits at Side By Side Organic Farm, at her workshop in the rice fields of Ubud, and around the globe. She believes that by helping those less fortunate, we help ourselves to lead a more purposeful life Pamela has created exhibits, taught workshops, and participated in fundraisers in the United States , Micronesian Islands , Singapore , and Australia . People who participate in events that benefit Side By Side Farm feel inspired to create a better world. |
Ketut Sudarsana  Ketut Sudarsana, masseuse and healing arts practitioner, started his life in the small village of Tianyar , in East Bali . Ketut had to begin work at ten years old in order to help feed his extended family. His village is dry with poor soil; when he was a child, food was scarce. In order to survive, Ketut had to help his family make salt from the sea and sugar from palm trees. |
About the Founders |