Looking for some help on a small agro organic place in the Modica countryside, Sicily

  • Favourited 217 times
  • Last activity: 11 Jan 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    Welcome home, i'm Adrien, belgian by origin, then moved to sicily attracted probably more by the food and the people than the climate. I bought a house with land to start a small agro organic place targetting partial self production of food, close to Modica, province of Ragusa, Sicily.
    I started the project with other persons that have left, already hosting volunteers since the beginning about nine years ago.
    We did planted olive trees, almonds, and prickly pears and soon different fruits to have fruits all year long for the house consumtion
    At the moment i'm running the place alone, but who knows what can happen in the future.
    Food is a very important part in my life, so i always try to get the best supplys, and give the right time and importance to this activity.
    Over Workaway, i'm used to host either way people travelling by bicycle, and couchsurfers too for short periods.
    Volunteers will not have to share their help more than 20 hours a week and also can enjoy two days off in the surroundings or elsewhere. Of course that is more practical for volunteers traveling with their own vehicle.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Meeting different travelers or persons on the place, mostly through discussion and food. The main occupation of the place is about farming food and in the close future also producing and experimenting fermented beverages. Reproducing a maximum of own seeds to increase natural biodiversity
    I am also involved in systems of different economy, i can talk about.
    Unfortunately, i do not have a lot of time to go out and sightseeing with travellers.

  • Help

    Help

    Help is required mostly in the gardens, and in normal routine maintenance. there is always weeding to do, and also picking seeds of the different crops for the next seasons or to aument some spontaneous species in the area. Other helps will be in harvest of olives, almonds, but it is for a short period, while in the hottest and dryer part of the year, we need to water the young plants.
    I started a long time task, converting the place in certified organic land, for the future productions. And why not in a few years, use some animals to eat grass and fertilize the soil. At the moment mostly helping the endemic biodiverity.
    At the moment the building works are temporary suspended, but i plan in the future to make some new light buildings in different materials and techniques, and if you are able to work with wood, there are always furnitures to make in some places of the house or outside.
    Daily cleaning of living spaces, dishwashing or cooking for normal routine are not considered part of the 24 hours help.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    French: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent
    English: Intermediate
    Spanish: Intermediate
    Dutch: Beginner
    Turkish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    I'm very fluent in Italian because i live here and also French as mother language, Now i'm getting better in spanish and start learning turkish, so spanish or turkish speakers are very welcome !

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accomodation is inside the house, there is a sleeping room that can host until two persons in different beds, there are also two caravans in the garden more for the nice season.
    Showers and toilets are outside all year, but of course there is hot water,
    I only have dry compost toilet; water is too precious to be wasted this way. It is important not being afraid to use them, as they represent a huge economy of water, not for the cost, but for the ecosystems. I also ask to use clean and ecological soaps or shampoo, as all the waters always end somewhere... And here is the same !
    Food is shared and also cooking... so we can discover new recipes according to the ingredients we can found locally. And sometimes from exotic origins.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    the public transportation is not very efficient, but from the closest town (modica) you can reach catania, palermo, siracusa, noto, ragusa, usually I do not go out a lot as my life is more concentrated on my place, but sometimes a lift to town can happen.
    i can also borrow you a bicycle on that purpose.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    nearly all types of trucks can come here, There is some places with nice landscape view and also shade unter trees.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Only if pets have a good education and under the responsability of the workawayer.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    something like 4 hours a day with two days off, but eventually flexible according to necessities from the tasks and the travellers.

Host ref number: 898641562818

Feedback (9)



Feedback