Area: Tuscany

Hello! We are George, Ava and Aron (6 years old). Ava and Aron come from Germany and I (George) come from the UK. I have been maintaining this rural ex-farmhouse in this beautiful national park here in Tuscany since 2006. Together with friends and occasional visiting family members we manage a small veggi garden and take care of the property - Casalino. Soon we will get chickens too. Casalino is in an incredible part of Tuscany which is considered the "Hidden Tuscany'. In contrast to the rolling hills, vine yards and the olive groves of classic Tuscany, here it is much wilder and mountainous and we are surrounded by lush forests. This old farmhouse is situated in an area in the north-east of Tuscany called the Casentino, close to the border of Emilia Romagna, in Italy. The house literally in the middle of the woods and is perched on the side of Mount Montopoli and overlooks the stunning view of the Valle Santa. It lies within the national park of Monte Falterona and Campigna. The many footpaths leading through woods, fields and rivers covering the mountains makes it a pleasure to explore the environment. Being so submersed in wilderness away from civilization, it very much creates a feeling of retreat or escape from day to day ´normal´ life. Reached by an old stone road only accessible on foot and by a 4x4 vehicle. We invite you to come and stay with us between these dates... from end of March to end of June (there could be the possibility to go into end of June/beginning July but we're not sure yet) We are vegetarian.

Area: England

We are a family of 5 (with 3 boys - aged 4, 8 and 10), living on an 80 acre Dartmoor farm about 9 miles from Exeter. It's quite a stunning location. We have a black labrador called Alfie too. I'm English and my wife is Irish. We lived overseas in Asia (Japan, HK, Singapore) for about 15 years and recently returned to the UK. The farm directly adjoins Mardon Down - it's a beautiful area for walking. There's a tennis court too if you're into that.

Area: Tuscanian coast

Hi, I am Nicola owner of the farm and Veterinarian. I work 7 months in Italy on horses and 5 months in Laos on elephants. I am in Italy from february to september and in Laos during the winter months. The farm is a 85 hectares property with a stone house from the 17th century. 35 hectares consist in horse paddocks. Located in central Tuscany at 15 kms from the coast and 200 mt. of altitude we have very mild winter end fresh summer due to the sea breeze. The farm manager is Tommaso and when we have helpers around horses the work is going to be shared with him. He lives at the farm with his wife Nina end daughter Oana, while my two kids, Nicolò and Giulia, are grown enough to frequent the boarding school in Florence. At the farm we provide mantainance and reproductive services to brood mares owners. Colts born at the farm are usually moved to the auction or training center when 20 months of age. Artificial insemination and birth assistance are routinely provided as part of the breeding services. We need help mainly about horse feeding and when we are lucky enough to get somebody skilled with animals we also need youngsters handling (essentially grooming and halter leading). Working hours are tipycally 4 a day 6 days a week but can be also 5 a day 5 days a week. Because feeding is done twice a daily using a small 4 wheel tractor we need basic driving skills. Mucking out can be requested in spring as mares are taken in barn to give birth, but during the rest of the year horses are running out in the big pastures. On project, gardening and renovation can also be part of the volunteer work. Accomodation can be in a private apartment with independent kitchen or inside the main house depending by the number of helpers and personal preferences. I usually don’t host more than two volunteers at time except for well defined projects in which more than 2 people are needed. If accomodated inside the main house the helper should contribute in meal preparation and reordering. Food is tipically mediterranean and italian style.

Area: Canton de Mora

We are a married couple with three adult children, and are owners of two small farms in Costa Rica. I'm a family doctor and Dick is a retired professor and computer consultant. Our farms are in the low mountains of the Central Plateau, about 40 minutes by bus from the capital, San Jose, and the major international airport, SJO. We're enthusiastic home exchangers , and spend several months a year traveling. Our interests include reading, foreign travel, cooking, gardening, and bridge. I'm interested in science, critical thinking, and international health care policy. Dick is a geologist/geochemist by training, and he's a reader of history and biographies. We're both fond of our computers. Our 22 year old daughter lives at home and is part of our sausage and bread-making business. We're omnivores, not religious, and not fans of compulsory government education. We're emphatically not New Age thinkers nor alt-med adherents. No drumming circles or homeopathic remedies can be found on our farms. We do love to grow stuff and to eat the stuff we grow.

Area: Lower Saxony

My husband Bernd and I used to have a house full of young people, but now there are lots of empty rooms, since two of our three daughters (17, 24 and 26) have moved out and our youngest daughter currently studies in Ireland. When I read about volunteering, I was immediately interested. Helping hands are always needed, because besides our usual jobs (as banker and commmercial clerk) we are part-time farmers as well. We live in a small village (maybe 800 inhabitants) near Göttingen, well-known for its university. It it located at the corner of the three areas Lower Saxony, Hessen und Thuringia. Hanover ist about 100 km to the North, Kassel 50 km to the South. The Weser hills, the romantic town of Hann Münden and the Harz are not far.