The Kitchen's Garden

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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

Topping and Tailing

Sheila and Poppy. Marcel and the Big Bobby. Queenie and the Little Bobby.Tima. Nothing like a sleeping baby. Good morning. I hope you all have a lovely day. Your friend celi
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Sheila and Poppy

The other day I took the door from between Sheila and Poppy’s areas. Leaving only a piece of hog fence between them. They had touched noses a few times between the bars, and it all looked promising so today I opened the hatch in the fence and let Poppy in with Sheila. Poppy leapt…
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The Cuteness Factory

Not too many words today. Words seem to tax my brain and my back more than images and hay bales do when I am tired. We are building up to Busy here and every step I take I have to take with care making sure my feet go into metaphorically firm ground. My mind must…
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Late night, early morning

Queenie began her labour at 6pm. By 8.30 pm nothing further had happened. I led her into the barn, trailing streams of waterbag, so she and her calf would be safe from the coyotes, she ate her dinner and then lay down for a sleep. While I proceeded to have a nervous breakdown. Boo Nanny…
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Tima

Timatanga Moana, who rode home from the KuneKune farm on my lap. Cuddled into the crook of my arm. For two hours. This image was taken from the back seat of the jeep by The Matriarch. It is way too gorgeous to look at only once. Who ever thought a wee piggie would sit on my…
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Dirty Windows

This morning I will milk the cow, clean the buckets and the milking parlour, strain and store the house milk. Feed The Bobby and Marcel their milk. Feed the pigs their milk and hay and a little grain (for Poppy).( Who is taking after the ‘Flying Nun’. ) Feed the chickens their milk and their…
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