Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Mar 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
20
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (5)
Details
Description
My name is Peter (36), I'm from UK, and live with my Italian partner Laura (33), our little boy Arno and our little dog Indi on our small homestead on the edge of the Cinque Terre national park, north Italy. We are 4 years into building a permaculture farmstead (a regenerative agriculture project to restore a small farm with accommodation for guests and helpers).
We are working to restore long abandoned vineyards and olive groves. We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables and we produce white wine, apple cider, olive oil and many other organic/bio products. We also process all our own firewood from the local forest. We don't sell any of our products/produce. Our aim is to provide for ourselves and our community, living as 'off-grid' as reasonably possible to lessen our impact on the environment and to live closer with nature.
Our project is spread across 3 sites (differing micro-climates, different crops!) all on the beautiful mountain we call home. We are surrounded with diverse forest and stunning sea views.
After meeting, Laura and I traveled around Oceania and Asia for 4 years, before settling here with the idea of building a sustainable paradise to host travelers and start a family of our own 😁
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Help around the house
House sitting
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Permaculture principles and operations (sustainably and efficiently growing organic fruit and veg), Bioregionalism (living from the resources available locally), Water capture/storage systems/irrigation. Sustainable/off-grid living practices. Local nature and wildlife. Sustainable construction and DIY. Local cuisine and cooking. Language practice (Laura is a language teacher, we both speak English and Italian, Laura also speaks Spanish and Russian).
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
LOOKING FOR URGENT HELP PREPARING FIELDS AND GRAPE VINE PLANTING DUE TO LAST MIN CANCELLATIONS! 😅 thanks
We go to great lengths to leave as small an impact as possible on our environment, with the aim of becoming a carbon negative project. Please be prepared to walk up to 30 mins (of steep but beautiful mountain trails) to and from work sites, rather than driving, also where we live is around 500m of mostly steps from the nearest road/parking/bus stops.
We also strive to avoid using petrol-powered/electric tools (wherever reasonably possible) so expect to see and use a variety of traditional hand tools and techniques in our daily lives! You will often find me repairing and restoring old equipment and tools or keeping my work clothes going on our old sewing machine 😁
We offer 3 meals a day during your stay, sometimes you will have to cook for yourselves, but a choice of food will always be provided. Bonus points if you can cook for us once in a while 😉. We ask 20 hrs max help a week (including up to 30 min travel times and generous breaks so usually around 16 hrs work), over 4 days a week max. Good weather weeks we can be more flexible with working hours, wet weeks we have to get stuff done while it's dry. We typically don't work in the rain.
We are ideally looking for a couple or single travelers, to help, live and eat with us and be part of our family. Tasks vary widely depending on month, season and year! Get in touch near the time for a better idea of exact jobs needing doing. Responsibilities may include: planting/harvesting fruits/vegetables, harvesting/processing lumber, vineyard/veg garden maintenance, house tasks.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We offer the spare room in our beautiful house. We have indoor and outdoor kitchens, veg gardens and a pool available during summer months. We also have 2 other basic farmstays available for use.
What else ...
We are situated 10-15 minute bus or car journey from the famous Cinque Terre villages and national park, our vineyard is inside the national park 10 mins drive or 30 mins walk from our home. The area is a hikers paradise, well known for lush, diverse forests and stunning mountain/sea views everywhere. Many beaches are accessible nearby. The area is also a great place for rock climbing, mountain biking, island sightseeing, sailing/kayaking, canyoning, cliff diving, and snorkelling in summer, and also skiing/snowboarding in winter.
We are also 15 mins bus/drive from La Spezia city, boasting numerous markets and a huge selection of bars and restaurants.
We are also on edge of Tuscany, 1 hours drive/train from Genoa and Pisa. 2 hrs from Parma, 2.5 hrs from Florence and 3 hrs from Milan.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have reliable wireless broadband connection and a small office space for working. We recently hosted a remote worker who said the space was ideal.
Space for parking camper vans
Free parking is available to smaller vans in the village where we live. Larger vans can park in one of 2 clearings in the forest nearby, regularly used by campervans without issues.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (9)
He's super fit and strong, and a really focussed and dedicated worker. He showed great interest in widely varying tasks and was always available and eager to learn new skills, and was always… read more
We were rained off most of our first week but got so much done after that. It was a very busy period for us (harvest) and Anet was always hard working, available and eager to learn.
She was always clean and… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
He's super fit and strong, and a really focussed and dedicated worker. He showed great interest in widely varying tasks and was always available and eager to learn new skills, and was always… read more
We were rained off most of our first week but got so much done after that. It was a very busy period for us (harvest) and Anet was always hard working, available and eager to learn.
She was always clean and… read more
Really interesting guys with huge hearts and aspirations! Super hard workers, always willing to get stuck into any task no… read more
our experience was amazing we were well looked after an treated above an beyond.
very sad to leave.
Peter is a top bloke kind caring an so down to earth.working with him was a blessing.an to be welcomed into there family home felt awsome..if you get the chance to stay here I… read more
Learning about a lot of stuff with Peter who is very ressourceful and know a lot of things about vegetables, fruits, trees and manual technics for building walls etc...
Peter and Laura also has a lot of stories and experiences to tell, about their past adventures in… read more
Il posto dove si lavora è paradisiaco.
Torneremo a trovarli di sicuro.
Two wonderful people, we had a great time both working and living.
The place where you work is heavenly.
We will be back to see them for sure.
Peter and Laura are two really lovely and kind people. They always make sure… read more
