WELCOME!

I am Cecilia. A New Zealander who farms in Illinois.

My farms are organic and regenerative and full of stories. I have been writing here about environmentally sustainable farming and food and travel since 2011.

Join Us!


LATEST POSTS


  • FROM SNOW TO GROW

    FROM SNOW TO GROW

    I am moving quickly with this blog post this morning as my old laptop is sending ominous flickering warnings.  The screen keeps blacking on and off.  Last night I backed up all the pictures.  I am surprised it even came on this morning.  This is the WRONG time of the year for major purchases.   But…

    Read more

  • WONT SEE THIS OFTEN

    WONT SEE THIS OFTEN

    I was not going to post this morning. I like to take one day off from the blog a week – I I give myself a wee sleep in. But then yesterday afternoon I saw this. This is a milestone in WaiWai’s recovery.  You need to see this. 

    Read more

  • SIX WARM PIGLETS

    SIX WARM PIGLETS

    If you were hanging out in the Kitchen’s Garden Lounge of Comments yesterday you would have read that a piglet was lost in that first cold night.  I found him dead on Poppy’s side of their quarters.  Being the Lady Pig Farmer is not always easy. All our focus these first few days is keeping…

    Read more

  • PORCINE SLEEP DEPRIVATION

    PORCINE SLEEP DEPRIVATION

    When I was a Mum of little babies I used to moan my arse off about having no sleep. Baby got me up TWICE or even God Help Us FOUR times in the night. I would cry. Poppy  the sow feeds her piglets every hour – almost ON the hour. But she does it with her…

    Read more

  • PIGLET PICTURES AS WINTER DESCENDS

    PIGLET PICTURES AS WINTER DESCENDS

    PIglets in a second but first I was watching the blowing snow through the green of the glasshouse as I watered the plants being grown for summer consumption. It is an interesting lesson in the juxtaposition of seasons.  Spring piglets in the barn. Snow in the fields. 

    Read more

  • DOING ALL I CAN

    DOING ALL I CAN

    Taking a step back from mothering the mothers and their babies is hard for me. But the new babies had a good day yesterday. The barn is closed up and quiet. Womb-like except for the lack of warmth. Poppy’s Seven have learnt to drink and run and are not hanging about in the cold preferring their…

    Read more