Area: Tuscany
I am an English sculptress looking to start a gallery with other artists out here. I need duplicates of my work. I live in a big, restored, stone villa in Tuscany, part of which is used for summer rental, and look after my very elderly mother. This is a beautiful, rural area which offers escape from the pressures of modern life. It is central and well-placed for trips to famous historic centres, but use of public transport is risky. You need to have special skills or be Italian to master the bus timetable. Apart from a sculpture technician it is a good workaway situation for retired couples or a self -sufficient, handy man -type person from Europe, travelling by car. It is really not a comfortable place for student backpackers. The restoration of the farm buildings and the making of a garden on a steep slope, has been a 20 yr project, so , while there is still work to do, the maintenance is piling up. During the winter months it is good to have helpful friends around with plenty of interests and skills to share. A retired architect couple stayed here from Jan to June 2009 and we had a great exchange. They liked the area so much that they are now working to move here so are unavailable for 2010.
Area: Sierra de Grazalema
Spanish man (Rafael 33) would like to know new people and share experiences on the farm situated at the foot of the known Sierra de Grazalema (Grazalema Mountains), 5 min. by car from the white town of Villamartin (12.000 inhabitants). Our Dehesa, an autochthon mediterranean meadow dotted with holm oaks, wild olive trees, carob trees…is the home of the cattle of 40 cows of the autochthon Retinto breed, there is a centenary olive grove, and land for agricultural work, all organic. I live in a typical Andalusian Cortijo (farmhouse). I speak good English, have lots of animals, love music and enjoying nature. Works: -Cutting and collecting balls of hay, straw and alfalfa (summer)-To pick olives (October, November), even the wild ones -To plant trees (reforestation of a part of the farm and of the centenary olive grove) -Mantainance of cuttle herd and other animals Languages spoken Spanish, English Accommodation In the farmhouse there is a small separated house with kitchen, dormitory an bathroom all in one. Kitchen is shared. My parents live in another part of the farmhouse. There is the possibility to do long walks between meadows and streams inside and outside of our land. You can do bird watching as there are beautiful and rare birds even coming from Africa. We have mountain bicycles and in the near Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema you can do trekking, hiking, climbing, paragliding, canoeing…. 80 km from the atlantic sea. MINIMUM STAY: 2 weeks
Area: West Chilcotin, British Columbia
We are Monika and Fred and have recently joined forces in an effort to develop an organic farm/tourist destination in the wilderness of the West Chilcotin. The farm is very isolated in a narrow valley and borders the large Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Fred and I are non-smokers nearing our 60th birthdays. We are developing 10 acres for organic seed potato and vegetable production and have built a greenhouse into the mountain side for vegetables requiring more heat. We are currently working on clearing our little river of major logs to allow for rafting and are developing trails for hiking and cross country skiing. We plan to build log cabins and fencing. Until cabins are built we have a guest room in our beautifully renovated log house. The opportunities for work experience and wilderness adventure are endless. Yet we have no broadcasting service and only a very slow internet connection.
Area: Costa de la Luz
We are a German family with a 16 year old son, living 8km from the wonderful beaches of the Costa de la Luz near Conil de la Frontera. We have a small holiday resort. Dogs, chickens, organic garden . During the next months we need help in painting , gardening and help in an yoga retreat.
Area: Greek Islands
We run a massage centre located on a beautiful island , one of the few places which the Greeks have kept a secret from foreign tourist intervention. It is the second largest of all the Greek islands and has an abundance of mountains, pine forests, beaches and hot springs. We are situated in a small village close to the island’s capital which can be easily reached by bus, train or car as there is a bridge connecting us to the mainland. We have a spacious, old country home with a large shady garden which boasts almond, eucalyptus, fig, lemon and orange trees with plenty of hammocks attached to them. We are also within biking distance from both the sea and the mountains.
