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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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There be spiders –
Every morning now, early, after John has left for work and before anyone else is awake I walk down the creek path and across the bridge and down the road to let the calves out and see them into their new field. Yesterday morning the sun came up into a cloud of low fog. The…
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Revving up
My last helper has arrived, she came after dark last night. Her name is Jessica. It was quite funny really as it was the first time in ages that I have had to turn the lights on in the kitchen and dining area. It was so DIM. Do we really go to bed with the…
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To Kelly’s Creek Farm
What is it with cats and hammocks? And the crossword.Clever cat. When John pulled the Black Mariah out of the front doors of the crib at the Kelly Creek Barn, we needed the trailer to relocate the calves to their new quarters, with his truck. I bought the tractor around so we could pull THIS out the back doors. A gorgeous…
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aka the chook house
Yesterday Jake and Elise finished the major wall of the new bastard-mink-proof chook house. This was the wall with all the holes that the minks were getting through, it is now framed and covered in strong wire netting. The big door will close over it in stormy weather. And there is a door to their…
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Those who love good food ..
.. Surely must be the happier for it. Growing your food, harvesting the food, then creating meals together and eating it together is the most sublime of culinary experiences. I am so enriched by the young people who have come to visit me and work with me through this summer. We have one more girl to come, she arrives…
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Arrivals
My new helper has arrived. She has quickly learnt how to drive the tractor and is helping clear out the dirty straw in the barn. She has been working on farms all summer and is very adept at picking up new skills. Plus she likes my cooking. Her name is Elise. Welcome. Elise. And hullo…
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