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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


  • Surrounded

    Surrounded

    The mountains stand like sentinels. We are surrounded on all sides. Brooding recalcitrant structures with stone towers for guards. Looking down on this little town. Blocking the way out. As a child of the sea and the plains it is hard not to feel surrounded. Captured by these vast behemoths. When I first went to…

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  • Frozen Lakes and Working Dogs

    Frozen Lakes and Working Dogs

    Travel is fleeting. Here and gone again in a minute. I think that is why we take lots of photos when we travel. I flew into Calgary, Canada on Thursday and was lucky enough to spend a couple of nights there. It is cold and snowy but I have all the clothes for this kind…

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  • In Calgary! Thanks Gods.

    In Calgary! Thanks Gods.

    And as usual I am awake and ready to go long before anyone (my son) else. But the tension of the last few weeks is draining right out of me. I have become a puddle. The first flight was lovely. Because they gave me an upgrade. The second flight had multiple hold ups. The captain…

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  • Hooligans and Shenanigans

    Hooligans and Shenanigans

    And what on earth is a Dutch Baby?  This fluffy German pancake is often called a Dutch Baby, (what?). Aunty Google tells me it is also called a Puff Pancake, Dutch Puff, Hooligan Pancake, and some call it Pannenkoeken or a Hootenanny. Hooligans We like to call it a Hooligan. Because when it puffs up…

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  • It’s freezing!! Again.

    It’s freezing!! Again.

    Way below freezing again this morning. And the winter fires were declared over and out – all finished – just last week after I climbed up onto the roof and put the anti bird nest hat on top of the chimney. A dangerous exercise if ever there was one but already the starlings were flying…

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  • FreeBee must be feeling Better

    FreeBee must be feeling Better

    Because, on the weekend, he broke down two gates, and let the cows out again. So now he (FreeBee). The cows. And Jude. Are out in the field. And will stay in this big one acre field for the foreseeable future. The barn is just unable to hold these enormous animals. These big pigs who…

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