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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


  • Loving the new set up

    Loving the new set up

    The sun was out yesterday and everyone was lying about in it. Abundant Sun sounds so glorious. Today we have abundant sun and abundant wind too but hopefully it will dry up some of the mud! Today may be a lovely 55f (13c) but by Sunday we will be down to 21f (-6c). These wild…

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  • Mud Mud Mud and a Tomato

    Mud Mud Mud and a Tomato

    Do you want to see some mud says FreeBeeI’ll show you some mud. Freebie is very, very well. I still can’t quite work out why he spent two days in bed. Maybe it was just the cold? The mud is only going to get worse – I suspect we are looking at another wet winter-…

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  • All Except One

    All Except One

    Chickens are not kind. They do peck each other. I found one pecking at Wai the other day – to my horror- his skin is fragile enough. But this chook had half her side torn off by her flock of white chickens. Basically skinned. It has healed somewhat but all the feathers are gone from…

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  • Pigs get to go back to bed on rainy days

    Pigs get to go back to bed on rainy days

    We had steady rain all night. So much rain that I actually sat up and recorded it for tonight’s SubStack SoundScape. So, be ready to close your eyes for that; coming out at 5pm. The sound of rain on a tin roof. But nothing to see. All dark. As you would expect at 2 in…

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  • Coyotes in the Night

    Coyotes in the Night

    By yesterday FreeBee was somewhat better. He refused to eat anything I brought him until I brought him some freshly baked bread. Pig bread. Then he up and followed me out of the barn and into the driveway for a nosey. He is still coughing a bit but eating well now. (As long as it…

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  • FreeBee is not Right

    FreeBee is not Right

    I don’t know if it is the cold or maybe he has a sore foot but he took some persuading to get up yesterday. He is eating OK. But not at mealtimes. I think he may have had a falling out with Jude who can be quite rough. FreeBee is generally quite a laid back…

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