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


  • Where you see from

    Where you see from

    It is 27f/-2c right now as I write. But it is the morning and the temperature will rise through the day. Funny how 27F does not feel cold today – no fire – the only room with a heater is the tiny cloak room when the chicks are growing.  But I am dressing for the…

    Read more

  • Baby’s Breath

    Baby’s Breath

    In the night I slept and listened still to my baby breathing across the room. My baby is grown now – a woman, yet I still listen with a maternal half ear, for a hitch or a broken breath. Still ready with a mother’s fight. With dawn another day and another plane of the air beckons, turning our…

    Read more

  • From A Far

    From A Far

    My daughter who lives in Melbourne, Australia and her boyfriend Jack have been here for a very fast visit on their way to Mexico to climb some cliff faces. So what better work to do than help your Mum by replacing a couple of windows  in a barn, that came down in a storm not…

    Read more

  • Zone 5

    Zone 5

    ONE of the questions that came up in yesterday’s poll was what Zone is the farm in. Excellent question. The USA is so vast that the USDA created Zones which are very useful for us gardeners. We are in Zone 5 but very close to Zone 6.  Right in the middle – so we can expect…

    Read more

  • Polling day –

    Polling day –

    So this morning I thought I would ask you a few multi choice questions about your experience here. It will only take seconds. Even if you have never commented before I would love you to join in.  It is a mix of a bit of fun and some real questions about the readers of thekitchensgarden.…

    Read more

  • Brain Clear

    Brain Clear

    Well, you know the game. I have to enter the first heading that comes into my head and this is the one. My brain is clear this morning. And I have to put those words up whether I want to change them or not. I give myself many blog challenges to keep my work fresh but…

    Read more