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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


  • Recipe for a hedge-apple hedge.

    We are going to sow a sustainable living fence in the spring.  An old fashioned hedge-row. The hedge will be made from Hedge Apple. Early settlers planted the Hedge Apple (Osage Orange) which is in the same family as the Mulberry, as hardy hedgerows  and the trees can  grow to 50 feet high if left…

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  • Little Party nibbles: Mama’s Russian Fudge

    Every Christmas our mother would make three different kinds of fudges. We would carefully wrap a selection in crackly difficult, transparent cellophane, then we gathered the corners together,  with a red ribbon, tied  in a bow.  We made  a number of little packages. A large number. Us kids would make tiny cards that we attached…

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  • Frisky on the Farmy

    Walking the fences as the sun went down, yesterday evening. Mia toddled out of the barn.  What are you up to Mia?  I wonder.  Nothin’. She says. c

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  • Toasted Sand Witches

    TonTon and I fed the cows, sheep and the useless, non-egg laying, bad tempered, locked up forever in their own little minds chickens, this morning, in a lovely crisp  26F (-5C).  One day I shall show you the particularly sexy quilted farm overalls that I don for the job.  But not until  I know you…

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  • The Christmas Mist – Alone on Christmas Day

    December is on its way. You are all in the countdown until Christmas. I can hear you all wrapping and plotting. Writing lists and checking off names. Putting up Christmas Trees. Rediscovering  decorations. I know you are thinking about what you will eat and who will be at the table. You will wonder whether your…

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  • All friends bright and beautiful! Cuppa anyone?

    One annoying thing about the winter is that my car, that runs on recycled cooking oil, has to switch to diesel. When it is really cold the oil solidifies and the car will not start… oh dear. A positive thing about this part of the winter is that Johns beer and Pepsi (which he cannot…

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