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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


  • The Walk and The landing

    The Walk and The landing

    The world is out of kilter when I have no farm animals to manage. So I set my mind to writing. And as you and I have established; the first thing I set up on arrival anywhere is my writing corner. Yesterday I set up my office on the long wooden table. Gently relocating laundry…

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  • The Family Web of Survival

    The Family Web of Survival

    Most of what we do is mere survival. We assume it means nothing. Cleaning. Bathing. Avoiding the phone. Sleeping. Eating. Washing our hair. Sitting on the toilet thinking. Sweeping the floor. Grocery shopping. The smile for the person in the store. Food for our friends chased from their homes into our gutters. Mascara. Fighting the…

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  • San Francisco. TKG Travel

    San Francisco. TKG Travel

    There is a whole history of people writing travel logs that stretches back through hundreds of years. Lots of our favorite writers wrote entire novels at little tables by the sea in far away places. ‘There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately no-one knows what they are.’ Somerset Maugham. Right? But air travel…

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  • Last Big Farm Day

    Last Big Farm Day

    Today is a big day on the farm – getting it all ready for my 6 weeks away. I have help coming. Then Saturday I will focus on the house. First stop San Francisco on Sunday (leaving early) then out to Melbourne Monday night – late – so I will have plenty of time to…

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  • Cat Ladder

    Cat Ladder

    The ladder of cat joy. The old, long, once-red ladder rises from the ground up to the little window into the hay loft. A walk up into where I store the straw. A cosy spot. We call it the Peacock Palace. From this window I can throw down straw for the pigs. The ladder (and…

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  • Snow Flurries Today

    Snow Flurries Today

    What? Right? I don’t think so though. Even though snow flurries are in the forecast it is more likely to be a cold drizzle. Though the temps are going to hover around above freezing for the next few days. (And below freezing on Friday). So maybe it will be a bit of snow. But as…

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