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
-
Sheila speaks. (audio)
Last night everything was quiet in the home barn, the wind had dropped, the birds were roosting and the cows munched quietly in the background so while I put Sheila and the kune-kunes to bed under their respective covers, I recorded the discussion between Sheila (my big old Hereford pig) and I. Our good night talk. A…
-
Wild Focus
Sometimes I take great photographs. It is important to know what we do well and acknowledge it and I am good at composition. But sometimes all the images I take are rubbish. So, yesterday as I puttered about in the melting snow and ice, filling all the water troughs with the hoses and feeding my animals and…
-
Up Close. Very Close.
And personal. Always. Up close and personal. Both the turkeys and their ever present associate and ringleader Geraldine the pea hen. As I dole out the feed into separate bowls for the pigs, they have their heads in the pigs bowls, as I lean in to scoop chicken feed into the white bucket they are leaning…
-
Pania Gives Lessons
While the young peahens watched, Pania showed them how it was done. Interestingly I have never seen a peahen display her feathers for a peacock. They usually do this to scare off a cat or show off to each other. I have no idea where Mr Flowers was but it was a regular meeting of…
-
Favourite Barns
Sometimes my favourite barn is the West Barn, sometimes my favourite barn is the Home Barn. Yesterday my favourite was the West Barn. Favourites move about – this is the key. If you have a favourite forever you need to re-evaluate your favourite criteria. Things were quiet yesterday, gentler, there was no reason for me to be anywhere in any…
-
The White Truck
Now that it is colder I need the white truck to transport me and the dogs and the pigs food and waters across to the West Barn. Of course I am usually carrying 6 x 5 gallon buckets of water. But yesterday was warmer and the faucets were working so I did not need to fill…
The Kitchen's Garden
Sustainable. Self Sufficient. Loving the Land. Join Us!
Site Navigation
Letters To My Mother
Want more?
Join me on Substack where I tell stories of growing up in a different time, a simpler time, a time when all those sustainable tips we are relearning now were normal and ordinary.
Join us at The Sustainable Home:
Sign up to our monthly newsletter for tips on managing a sustainable home.
The Kitchen's Garden 