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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 Local Dairy, the Bus Stop and a Cafe – all on our morning walk!

    This is my new walking companion. His name is Mahia.  For lunch yesterday I raided the fridge for a  few of my favourite New Zealand ingredients.   Look at the colour of that butter! That cow has been on some good grass. Armed with a big mug of hot tea I made kiwi style cheese…

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  • New Zealand Travel

    New Zealand Travel

    Yesterday I arrived in Wellington via Auckland.  Safe and sound.  This is home. I was collected by my sons and we all gathered for a bakery lunch.  We feasted on steak and cheese pies,  deep fried lasagne squares, filled rolls and sausage rolls, doughnuts with cream and custard squares. Not necessarily in that order. All…

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  • Onwards, Upwards and Water Loading

    Now we enter the section of flights that will take me half way around the world, across a dateline, through the seasons and into the heart of New Zealand. I hope you have been water loading. Yesterday for lunch we had a Fridgatta. Basically layer thinly sliced, left over roast vegetables with onion, basil and…

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  • California roast chicken with lemon, thyme and pear stuffing

    First the obligatory baby shot!  Getting a bath from Dad. This one did make me laugh, she is laughing too. Babies are like cats, they always look gorgeous in photographs! Cooking with family is one of my most favourite things.  Roast lemon chicken is also one of my favourite things. We went to the supermarket…

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  • Landing in the land of FAST internet.

    I left the damp and sepia plains at 6.30 in the morning and drove in  a very bumpy bus up to Chicago. Sometimes I question whether these buses produce their own sneaky versions of square wheels.  The jiggling out of focus red hat of the man in the front of the bus was a welcome…

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  • Bye Bye Now Farmy

    Have you ever seen a pig wave her little trotter, smiling weakly? The image wants me to add a  white glove and a tearful well made-up eye;  a sobbing Daisy and desolate Queenie, standing looking all forlorn. At the very least a heart broken dog. A peacock turned away so as to hide his quivering…

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