Help us with childcare and garden, and learn about cooking near Varzi, Italy

Details

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  Description

  Hi everybody, we are a young family of three: Elisa (31), Riccardo (36) and Alma (1 and a half). There are also Ciarlina and Ciarla, the two cats. We live in the highlands of Oltrepò Pavese, near Varzi, on the the Way of Salt to Liguria.
  In the last three years we were engaged in building our strawbales house, growing vegetables and fruits, and making a small production of wine and jams.
  Now we have to finish the house building a green-house and we have to complete the laboratory for the fruits transformation. From these year we want also start thinking for a plant nursery and the production of berries.
  Elisa does smart-working as editor for a children publishing house and she is involved in a project of outdoor education for children "Boscovillaggio", with other families of the valley.
  Riccardo now is engaged at 100% in the construction of the house but he is a good guitar player!
  Alma is busy all the day exploring the world around...
  
  We get the water from a spring on our farm. This spring is not so plenty, so it's very very important to use water knowingly!
  We are vegetarian (occasionally Elisa eat fish).
  Of course, we offer 3 meals a day!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  General Maintenance

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help with Eco Projects

  Help around the house

  Language practice
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The highlands we live in is very beautiful, rich of forests and paths to explore. In the summer we can go to have a bath in the fresh river Trebbia near by. Instead, if you want to visit cities, Milan and Genoa are quite simple to reach.
  Riccardo can offer guitar and music lessons, and he can teach how to make bread with with natural yeast. He's trying to apply biointensive method in our garden.
  We try to follow macrobiotic principles in cooking, so we can share our knowledge about it.
  We are studying about alternative ways of growing up foods, and also of growing up children! so... we have a quite equipped bookcase on these topics.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We need:
  - babysitting: mature, responsible and joyful people who love babies, who can play and share the time with Alma while Elisa and Riccardo are working,
  - help in the garden (preparing the beds, sawing, controlling the weeds, harvesting...)
  - help in the daily house works (cleaning, tidying up, cooking...),
  - help in building the green-house and the laboratory

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I can teach Italian, I'm intrested in learning English and Spanish
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  Accommodation

  At the moment we can host in hour sitting-room. We have prepared an essential but comfortable bedroom for guests.
  We have also the possibility to host in a tent in our garden.

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  What else ...

  We are a part of a small web of "alternative people" in the valley. We love to see each other for dinners, for playng music, for a movies, or for cooking something to save (ravioli, pizza, biscotti). We have friends who can teach you yoga, how to make baskets, sewing, ceramics and so on...

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  We have a free wi-fi network but with two kids we can't ensure the silence : )

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  Space for parking camper vans

  You can park your car beside the main street, or you can park it in the farm if it's four wheel. We haven't got space for camper and caravan, but you can find it in four km.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week

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