Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Apr 2024
Reply rate
90.9 %
Usually responds within 8 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
Our farm is located in the heart of the Po Valley in Northern Italy. It is very close to the Po and Oglio rivers and the cities of Mantua and Sabbioneta. It is also about 50 minutes from Verona and Lake Garda.
If you like peace and quiet and the countryside, it is definitely the right place for you. We are far from the city, immersed in the countryside of the Po Valley. Next to the farm there is also a small grove, planted by our family where it is nice to get lost in small walks and thoughts.
Our family has been running the farm for more than a century, but in the in the last 25 years we have shifted away a bit from farming by been offering educational activities for children during the spring .
The family is now small, and the farm only has three inhabitants: Vanni, Virginia and Virginia's sister, Maura, a lovely woman who sometimes needs some company.
We are looking for someone who is willing to stay with us for an extended period of time (1 months or more)
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Unfortunately, we do not speak languages other than Italian very well, only a little bit of English, French and German. For this reason, we ask our Workawayers to be fairly fluent in Italian, especially so that they can talk to Maura, since she does not speak other languages.
We also have a small vegetable garden and some raised beds with vegetables on the farm, which you are welcome to use. If you are passionate or interested in gardening, here there is a lot to do and learn. There are also some wild herbs in the fields that we sometimes like to gather to enrich our dishes.
Vanni works with wood and other materials, he is an all-around man in addition to being a History buff and more. There is certainly no shortage of opportunities to learn with him!
Help
We are looking for help specifically with Maura. From Monday to Friday, she spends the day at a day care center for the elderly and we are looking for someone who would like to spend a few hours with her when she comes home; chatting, taking her to feed the chickens, reading the newspaper, baking pies or vegetables from the garden, and sometimes drawing with her. Since going to the day care for adults she has discovered her artistic vein and she likes to spend some time drawing on paper.
In the spring and fall we have a few schools coming to visit the farm and learn about agriculture under the guidance of Farmer Vanni. If you are interested, you are more than welcome to help during these visits.
Languages
Languages spoken
Italian: Fluent
French: Intermediate
German: Beginner
English: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Desideriamo imparare inglese
Accommodation
You will have your own room in the manor house which is divided in two floors. The upper one where Vanni and Virgina live and the lower one where Maura lives. The bathroom is shared with Maura and the kitchen with the family but we like our Workawayers to have their independence and feel free to have lunch and dinner at their leisure. Certainly, sharing some meals together is always appreciated. Wifi is available.
What else ...
Within 15km there are the UNESCO world Heritage cities of Mantova and Sabbioneta, while other places such as Verona, Lago di Garda, Cremona and Parma or Ferrara are not far. The landscape is very flat and there are lots of low-traffic roads so it's ideal for visiting the area by bike. Some of our guests even did day trips to the Garda lake by bike!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
You will have your own private room with a good Wifi connection.
Space for parking camper vans
We have plenty of space, with electricity outlets and water faucets easily accessible.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
4/5 hours/day, 5 days/week maximum
Feedback (29)
BUON VIAGGIO
Un abbraccio da vanni, virginia e maurizia
participer aux activités avec les enfants, s'occuper des… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
BUON VIAGGIO
Un abbraccio da vanni, virginia e maurizia
participer aux activités avec les enfants, s'occuper des… read more
O período em que estive na fazenda de Vanni e Virginia foi bellíssimo!
Aprendi a trabalhar no jardim, na horta, a fazer várias receitas doces e salgadas, e também ajudei na recepção e café da manhã do casa de hóspedes, melhorando meu italiano... fiz muitos amigos!
A familha estará sempre no meu coração, principalmente… read more
I really thank Vanni and Virginia for welcoming me in their home. I learned a lot from them. They're generous people and they made sure I was very comfortable there.
Tasks:
I mostly helped Vanni with their didactic activities with the kids. The kids come to their farm to learn about farm life, making bread, about animals, about the… read more
I'll like to mention that this was my first workaway experience, so I went with an open mind willing to learn but with a not so clear idea of what to expect, saying this, I do believe that I got lucky in been allow to share and learn from such a lovely and caring family.
From the… read more
Ci ha lasciato un ottimo ricordo e speriamo di rivederla ancora quando tornerà in Italia.
Grazie.
Ho imparato molto italiano!
Io e Natacha abbiamo piaciuto tantissimo di aiuture con la fattoria.
Di solito dal Lunedì al Venerdì arrivano i bambini con il pullman, dove se imparano tante cose su… read more
E' una ragazza… read more
Ha partecipato con interesse e passione ad ogni attività. Entra in rapporto facilmente con tutte le persone.
(Ci ha lasciato le sue scarpe, forse per tornare a riprenderle !?! )
Con lui abbiamo avuto un'ottima esperienza. Se vorrà tornare lo… read more
Vanni is an intelligent man with a passion for history and his region. He is a very calm chap with a great sense of humour and a generous nature.
The work was a nice mix… read more
Auguriamo un grande futuro, in bocca al lupo.
Buona vita.
Vanni e Famiglia
Grazie per tutto !!
This is a great place, surrounded by nature, full of history (the trattoria was built in XVII century) but also… read more
Ho anche aiuto la Nonna Rosa nella cucina. Lei è molto carina! Ho… read more
Ho dato un mano a Vanni con i bambini che vengono sul pulman ogni giorno. Poi ho potuto aiutare una volta a fare legno, ed al vigneto, ed anche in orto. Il lavoro non era mai faticoso.
Mi piacuto anche molto a vedere il entusiasmo dei… read more
I was lucky enough to… read more
I stayed at the farm this october where mainly arrive schoolclasses to learn something about wine, corn or milk.
Like the children also I experienced how to make ricotta, helped to produce juce out of grapes and tasted the first time in my life "Polenta",… read more
The most impressing were the words of Vanni: " i do not want you to work… read more
I learned many interesting things (e.g. making your own paper).
The nature arround the farm is beautiful.
I had a really great time with Vanni and his Family.
