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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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Ribbons
Yesterday. The ribbons of green that had begun to wind themselves around the fields were covered in snow. Yesterday. My old Carhart jacket that has served me well for years and lay across my back for this entire terrible winter, and just as we plummeted back into the 20’s, broke its zipper. Slopped its dripper. Spat…
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Beginning again
Though that is not exactly what I mean. Not like “oh no here we go again”. More like Right, lets begin again using all the stuff we learnt last season. Farming, like many lifestyles that are governed by nature, runs in cycles, lifetimes, seasons, weather. Nature is definitely the Guv’. Spring has its familiar steps. It…
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Dairy-maid’s Arms
When I was small my Dad used to squeeze my upper arms between his thumb and his forefinger and chant.. “and the muscles on her scrahwny arms stoock oot like spiders knees”. Always in a broad and deeply pretend Scottish accent. I would scream with laughter and wriggle away, long sunburnt arms pumping my skinny…
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Sun-green
This is what is happening in the fields, the sun is greening the ground. Waving its brushy wand. Its hard earned water colours. Colouring at last. I am tired. In fact i am feeling deeply tired. Don’t worry though, it is just an adjustment period. A step, step peck. Daisy has presented with The Mastitis. So…
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I am not the only One
Someone else is completely bonkers too! Pushy Pig. It gets worse. See what I mean? That little pig gets away with anything. Poor Boo Nanny. What can you do. (Does a rhetorical question have a question mark?) The Daily View is going, ever so slowly; green. Ever so slowly but it is coming. I hope…
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Out in the sun
We really don’t need too many words when the sun comes out. Every animal seeks the sun. Which is good, as a solid dose of the sun is excellent for our health and well being. Not too much if you live back home in New Zealand but out here on the prairies of Illinois the sun is…
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Letters To My Mother
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