“Please bring organic olive oil and flour if possible…” Having booked numerous accommodation suppliers over the years, I was impressed by this unique approach from Swasti Eco Cottages in Bali. After leaving Common Sense Organics with the Bali bound bottle of Moutere Grove Organic Olive Oil I looked forward to handing it over to the Swasti kitchen once we got to Ubud.

Arriving at Swasti we quickly made a tour of the organic garden. The range of produce included turmeric, mulberries, egg plants, tomatoes and some Avatar lookalike goats.

Entrance to Swasti Eco Cottages in Ubud, Bali

Organic tumeric at Swasti Eco Cottages in Ubud, Bali

Organic Anglo-Nubian dairy goat at Swasti Eco Cottages in Bali

After a couple of days exploring the wonderful Ubud surrounds I finally got to photograph Pa Putra (one of the Swasti kitchen staff) holding the Moutere Grove oil in the dining room. In return for the organic oil we received two free desserts.

Pa Putra from Swasti Eco Cottages holding Moutere organic olive oil from New Zealand

Other highlights were the squirrels darting around the treetops, the frangipani flowers draped around our room, frogs croaking through the night, very friendly staff and the abundance of fresh produce on which we dined.

Interior of Rama Room at Swasti Eco Cottage in Ubud, Bali

Breakfast at Swasti Eco Cottages in Ubud,Bali

However it will have to be the next visit for the 3 in 1 chocolate massage, black rice icecream or a special drink of organic raw cacao, banana and cashew milk.

Special drinks blackboard at Swasti Eco Cottages in Ubud, Bali

Although it was left behind the Moutere Grove Organic olive oil will feel right at home.

Located in Hastings, the Organic Farm Butchery processes and distributes beef and lamb from Ti Kouka an organic farm near Waimarama (they also have some pigs). After photographing at the farm last year I thought it would would good to see another side of the operation. The mainstream media have published large quantities of material about farmers markets, local produce and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from.

However thinking more about images of beef carcasses and slabs of meat I wonder if the public is ready for an even closer viewpoint. While I was photographing, numerous boxes of organic meat went out the door. Nothing was wasted as the bones seen in the trolley were destined for the beef stock at a gourmet food supplier.

The Good Oil on Bali | Murray Lloyd Photography

Hawkes Bay Organic Butcher | Murray Lloyd Photography