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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


  • Boys and Chicks

    I love having children on the farm. Just having fun. After the mandatory swim, this fellow gathers eggs, feeds the cats, (Egoli was found at his house so he always brings him and Tiba a little pot of food each).  He picks tomatoes in the gardens then settles down with a little jar of dried…

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  • When life gives you mud: Wallow in it!

    Well you know where this is going don’t you. Sheila has to have a new wallow as the old one by the chook house is actually above an electrical cable. John pointed this out yesterday. I did not know that. All this mouldy hay needs to be incorporated into the stony field and she already had…

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  • Desperately Seeking Beautiful

    I looked for loveliness yesterday and found it everywhere. BooBoo doing his best to be lovely! Big Dog is always lovely. I find peacock feathers in the strangest places. Only the short ones now, all Kupa’s long feathers are in a vase catching the morning sun through the windows. Charlotte is trying her best to…

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  • Pneumonia takes Piglet.

    One of the piglets has died. The little one. He had pneumonia. Pigs show no signs of pneumonia until they are far advanced. No coughing or runny nose. Not even a hot nose actually. Just a creeping lethargy I suppose. Lack of appetite and then eventually no appetite at all. I noticed the night before…

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  • Somebody has been playing with Skunks

    The Old Codger says that TonTon thinks skunks are his long lost brothers being Black and White and all. NO Ton they may be pretty but they are laughing at you. TonTon hates the skunk off. But it is the only thing that will take out the smell. I put up an electric fence in…

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  • The Man at the Gate

    The man was well dressed and nervous. He was standing on my lawn blocked by barking dogs as I stepped out onto the verandah. “Alright if I give treats to your dogs?” He called out with his back to the shiny late model city slick car. ‘Down’  I signalled and both dogs dropped like stones…

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