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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.
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LATEST POSTS
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Garlic Planting Day
Today is garlic planting day! The first week of October is the best time to plant garlic in Zone 5. As an aside: In November 2023, the USDA updated its Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the first time since 2012, reflecting warmer conditions in many areas. About half of the USA has shifted up half…
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Let the animal decide
In the wild few living creatures survive an attack that leaves open wounds or broken bones. Wounded means weaker and weaker seldom flourishes. But our human instincts are to save a bird or save an animal that has been or is being attacked. Then our instincts are to then nurse them back to health. I…
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Why I walk in the evenings
Sunsets. Scents. Digestion. Relaxation. Sone foraging too! Last nights sunset was so dramatic that Boo and I interrupted our gentle wander and ran down the back for an unobstructed view. One of the reasons I walk is to leave the scent of people and dogs. This helps warn off predators. And to see sunsets. Later…
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How to Weigh a Chicken
But first! A winter prediction. A Wooly Bear Caterpillar prediction. And like most predictions this is not based on any scientific fact. So do not mistake this for real news! The amount of bullshit news dressed up as actual news is shocking this Fall! Having said that we may as well believe a Wooly Bear…
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A Tiny Cup of Moon
The weekend was lovely. Back on the farm getting everything back in order. There were lots of clouds and wind and a tiny bit of rain. But mostly clouds! This kind of light fully saturates colour. Wonderful for photography. A lot of walnuts fell to the ground in the winds. Which The Charlottes are thrilled…
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Back on the Farm: Exhausted but Moving Fast
I’m back on the farm and exhausted. But it was a successful trip. In California I consulted on a bakery set up then decluttered, packed, repacked and unpacked an entire house. Mostly alone. Mostly 10 – 11 hour days. Completed in 5 days. With one day off to take kids swimming. It was a stunning…
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