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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


  • 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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  • My mother hated Rice Pudding

    When my mother was small, her mother became quite ill while pregnant with her fourth child. It was the depression.  It was winter. They were struggling like nothing we will ever see. The family had been relocated again and again as Pa went from town to town looking for work.  So Grandma had landed in…

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  • Don’t Try this at Home: How Not to Prune a Pear Tree

    Our John is pouting. I have pruned his pear tree. Which was not even much use as a shade tree. Something had to be done. He has quite spoilt this tree over the years. In fact when he had his new shed put up he told the workmen in no uncertain terms that if they damaged…

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  • Easy Peasy Cream of Broccoli Soup with Ricotta Cheese.

    You will remember that a few months ago, John bought in some sauvignon blanc grape juice for making into wine. We bottled the wine this morning. This is just a light table wine. Nothing special but Quaffable, darlings!! The good wine is still in the tank. I have a very simple cream of broccoli soup…

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  • barn windows.. and staying out of debt.

    I was in a Big Box superstore  the other day. I try not to go into these places too often as they confuse me. This one was bigger than my wee farmy.  Much bigger. Filled with the most curious collection of useless objects.  AND it had christmas music screeching and shoving me into a scurry.…

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  • Day for Giving Thanks is Tomorrow

    All of my American readers will be frightfully busy.  Kitchens will already be groaning with fresh food, the clank of saucepans being heaved up out of the  pot cupboard that can never stay straight. ( Just shut the doors fast with your foot.) They  will be sorting the ingredients for Gramma Emma’s special recipe for…

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