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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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The Last of the Summer People
The last of my summer visitors has gone home. Yesterday Megan’s family had the tour then packed her into the car and off she went. I have been so lucky with my summer visitors this year. You met them all – some have become and will remain very good friends. So now it is only Hugo and…
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The Day of Pigs
On the loose. Hugo and I made a dash for the feed store and the the grocery store (which was not as successful as I remember – it has been so long since I was in the supermarket that they have changed everything around.) So I lost more than I found anything and of course Hugo…
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The Year of the Toad
I have lived out here on the prairies of Illinois for about nine years now. Not long. But in all that time I have never seen so many toads. They are on the road, in the ditches, in the gardens, everywhere. On my daily walk to the West Barn and back I search the path…
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Pigs and Birds
It was Sunday yesterday. A busily quiet day – Sunday is a set up day really. As we set up for the week. Manu the Hereford Boar. Isn’t he a lovely boy – he is growing into his eyes. And still friendly and well mannered. Tima is definitely not having piglets in Five days. Tane…
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Listen to Sheila
Yesterday afternoon I saw (with a certain amount of alarm) that Sheila my big fat old pig was building her winter bed, for hours in the afternoon she went about the barn stealing hay and straw and sticks and anything she could gather into her mouth lumbering back to her new corner out of the drafts…
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Set Up To Succeed
When working with young people of all ages – yes that means you too, because after all we are all young in one way or another – it is important to set goals that are achievable. To set our young ones up to succeed. To set tasks for our young people that are clear and winnable, with…
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Letters To My Mother
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