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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


  • Seven Deadly Sins and the Games we Play

    You will have noticed a dearth of good photos in my blogs lately, this is because my camera metaphorically spat the proverbial dummy. I have a new lens on the way but until then the camera is sitting in the corner of my summer study feeling all wan and miserable. It has had no walks…

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  • Dad’s easy tasty Bread Recipe

    My father has been following the blog since its beginnings and is not altogether sure about the merits of my bread recipe. Yes, you can go back and have a  bit of a laugh at it if you like!! You will remember that Dad is a boat builder and measurements and procedures are second nature…

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  • Salmon and Shrimp Chowder because I can’t go Fishing on the Prairie.

    I have a friend, who lives by himself in a beach house on stilts, up the East Coast,  in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.  It is a beautiful bay, deserted for most of the year. He is on the beach every day . Surfing mostly. Or looking for surf. When he goes away to work he…

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  • Rubbish Men catch a Giggle

    Yesterday I introduced you to the farm house in the orchard, we talked about its high ceilings and long old fashioned sash windows. It also had a long wide corridor that ran past all the bedroom doors and to a massive solid wood front door. This front door opened onto a small porch with those…

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  • The Table, the Cat and Kids with Balls

    We have leapt a generation in this piece. But you know how sometimes a story will get stuck in the front of your brain and revolve around in there until it is down-loaded to clear the way for another. This is a persistent memory, but only of a moment really. So I have taken you…

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  • Frozen swimming pools, cats, chocolate, cows and other things

    OK, Update time. The yeast is definitely active in the grape juice. The Snug (the snug is a tiny room with a couch, a beanbag and a TV in it, this is where John  makes the wine, cider etc as he can regulate the temperature in there and sit with his wine whilst watching the…

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