Ecology, wildlife and food on the edge of the exciting Garfagnana, Tuscany, Italy

Details

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  Description

  Come stay on a biodiversity-focussed permaculture small-holding, and join an ecologist restoring wildlflower meadows, rehabilitating native woodland, and growing a sustanable food forest!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I am an ecologist with a professional background in nature conservation, and a particular enthusiasm for bats. My priority in life is to leave the corner of this land whose stewardship I am responsible for in a better state for nature than I found it. I will gladly share everything I know about ecological restoration and conservation with you, in the hopes that you can go forth and do good things for the natural world! Besides learning about approaches to sustainable land management, here you can immerse yourself in the natural world, watch wildlife, explore ancient and unique landscapes, enjoy the great outdoors (wild swimming in rivers, gorges and lakes, hiking in the mountains, wandering the coastline), and generally get to experience quiet, rural, Italian life.

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  Help

  There's much to do, plenty to learn, and heaps to share. Depending on the time of year, we could be developing and maintaining the no-dig vegetable plots, sowing seeds, harvesting, foraging, restoring meadows, tackling invasive acacia trees, controlling bramble, pruning fruit trees, undertaking botanical surveying, photographing plants and insects, fencing, maintaining tools, renovating an outbuilding, building furniture...come with enthusiasm and some practical skills and leave with even more! There are the important small daily tasks too: playing with Watson the spaniel, housework tasks, supervising the chickens on their afternoon ramble, and watching the sun settle down for the night behind the mountains.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I'm a native English speaker, learning Italian, learning Spanish, and happy to share all these languages!
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  Accommodation

  Welcome! My home is rustic but comfy. You'll have your own bedroom with a double bed, clothing rail, armchair, and mountain views, and shall share the rest of the house with me and my friendly little spaniel (and my Italian boyfriend, when he pops round). There is a spacious bathroom with a compost toilet, shower, sink, and a bidet that functions as a plant pot for an exuberant fern; two sitting rooms; a small, functional kitchen; and of course, ever such a lot of outdoor space to lose yourself in.
  
  This place rewards the hardy, offering no lazy comforts like central heating and air conditioning, although wifi is a recent addition. Sometimes there is hot water, sometimes there is not. Responsible, careful use of water and energy resources is a must. Laundry happens once a week. I like to keep the house tidy and as clean as a house in the mountains can possibly be, and you will be expected to play your part in this.
  
  I am an enthusastic cook, and you'll be able to enjoy homemade meals every working day. I bake my own bread, make my own pasta, and go through phases of experimenting with fermenting different veggies. I rarely eat meat, but am not vegeterian, so eggs from my hens, milk, local cheese and the occasional anchovy or sausage or whatnot make appearances in my cooking. I can accommodate vegeterian and vegan diets, but not food allergies, I'm afraid.
  
  Halfway up the hills that bring you to trailheads for the less-explored end of the Appenine mountains, my house is a good 15 minute drive from the nearest small town. Public transport is not available to or from the house, although there is a train station in the village at the bottom of the hill (about 4 miles away). Therefore, I strongly prefer workawayers who have their own transport, as they can enjoy a degree of autonomy, and make the most of their free time in the area. If you are coming as a pair you'll definitely need your own vehicle as my little van only has space for one passenger!

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  What else ...

  In order to make the most of your stay I strongly recommend having your own transport.
  All in a drive of an hour or less: trailheads into the Apuane alps or Apennines; sublime seaside; canoeing on the lake; wild swimming in the Lima; paddleboarding in the gorge; historical cities (Lucca and Pisa, with Florence, Bologna and Modena a little further away); charming local bars and cafes for aperitivi and caffe; family-run restaurants offering authentic Tuscan cooking.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There's a parking space for a small van.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week