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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 Carrot Stick Lady

    The Carrot Stick Lady

    A story for you: As a podcast if you would like to listen in: Listen Here. ‘Tell us the story of the Carrot Lady, Grandma,’ they say. They are like birds or butterflies or crickets – woodland nymphs, these children with my grandfather’s eyes and my mother’s curly hair: hovering, fluttering, their angels lazing in…

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  • Gardening in the Rain with Wetas

    Gardening in the Rain with Wetas

    You start to garden, then half way through it begins to rain. So, we embraced the soothing symphony of cold raindrops down the back of the neck. (snort).” This is not an example of sunk cost fallacy”, I said to Senior Son. Though to be fair I think in many cases pushing on is more…

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  • Do you give yourself permission to just sit?

    Do you give yourself permission to just sit?

    Yesterday was a travel day. From the hills of Belmont down into the city and out to Miramar in Wellington, New Zealand. Back to Second Son’s City Garden for a few days. It was raining like crazy, so in the afternoon, before the children came home from their various schools – I gave myself a…

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  • Upgrading the Burbs Garden

    Upgrading the Burbs Garden

    Imagine this as a Game Show. (Do they still call them game shows?). I don’t even own a TV so what do I know? We could sell this idea. Make millions! The contestants go down to the local plant shop and while wearing blind folds – using only touch and smell – collect up a…

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  • Lasagna? Again? She said.

    Lasagna? Again? She said.

    If ever a cat’s face said be very careful I might just eat you; it is this cat. I bet this cat would eat lasagna too! His name is Pixel. This cat and his brother are new to the house and have very sharp caws. Anyway. Every time I travel to the home of one…

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  • Back in the Burbs

    Back in the Burbs

    I have left the beach. Beautiful Himatangi Beach is on our past now. But. Do not despair – there are another couple of beaches in our future this trip. Before I left the beach I met with a filmmaker friend of mine. We touched on the possibility of me writing him a script. So –…

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