Escape and and enjoy the 'dolce vita' at our place in rural Tuscany, Italy

Details

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  Description

  My profile has suffered because of my poor response to offers for a while due to being longterm ill, and then the Pandemic however I am back to full fitness now and you can see from the feedback from other workawayers that I am a very good host! I am a writer and storyteller born in Scotland but have spent a great deal of time in Italy and I am currently living my lifelong dream of restoring the family's lovely old Tuscan villa and I am looking for volunteers to help in exchange for full bed and board. We are hoping to be totally self sufficient here in this little homestead and to create an eco friendly small food garden. I hope in the future to be able to host workshops here and still enjoy visits from my very large and very busy family and group of friends. This is a rural and beautiful part of Tuscany, in the mountains, surrounded by chestnut forests and rivers but close enough to the beach and skiing resorts (45 mins) to offer the best of all worlds. 20 minutes from the fabulous medieval (and market) town of Pontremoli and just over an hour and a half from Pisa Airport or Cinque Terre, The famous Bay of Poets (look it up on Google well worth a visit). There is an excellent rail service and under 2 hours from Parma, Milan, Florence, Lucca, Modena, Bologna and many other beautiful cities. It has everything including cheap and frequent flights to and from Pisa from almost everywhere.
  The village is ancient dating back to the time of the MOORS after the Crusades and is the ideal get away which is why the people came here in the1st place. It nestles in the middle of a chestnut forest full of wild creatures, the famous mushrooms of course and incredible trees. There is also Lago Verde a very spiritual placr and a good stretch of the legs. In the villa there is the infamous Fountain of Youth many poeople here live into their hundreds. Downside? There are no shops or bars however we make our own entertainment which can be pretty lively at times. Travelling shops call twice a week but you need nothing here except the time to appreciate how the other half, the lucky half, really live. Both well behaved children and pets are welcome.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Travellers can expect to be able to improve their language kills, English and or Italian. Learn quickly how to cook simple authentic, Italian meals. see "old Italy" and experience the culture of native Italians who have never left their village.
  See first hand the ancient building skills and craft skills of the local people which have, and are still, being handed down father to son, mother to daughter and sometimes nowadays, the other way round!
  Enjoy the company of an experienced writer and storyteller and gain excellent communication and cooking skills from an accredited skills tutor and at the same time, have great fun exploring this amazing part of Italy.

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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

  I'm looking for a helper/s preferably over 25 yrs old, and must have experience of working outdoors, gardening or painting be able to help with general housework and cleaning and agree to do 5 hours work per day, 5 days a week. All of the conversion work, e.g building, plumbing and electrical has already been done and now the work is purely manual labour with some painting and tiling. Lots of outside painting and gardening maintenance, doors removed, rubbed down and repainted. Very small garden 6mtrs x 4 Mtrs cleared and planted eco friendly fashion (we are still learning). Nothing too taxing, even better if you can put up shelves and curtain poles but not essential.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Intermediate

  This 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.
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  Accommodation

  Villa, in a lively village, no shops but there are travelling shops that come to the village and we are only 20 mins from Pontremoli, a fabulous Medieval, Market town. Beautiful clean bedrooms in a very old, modern inside, villa. There are 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms! To eat, there is an abundance of excellent produce, all food and wines from local growers. Along with free bed and full board, 3 meals per day. in exchange for the work. The house is very well equiped with a mix of rustic features like wood burning stoves and stone terrace to mod cons, Wi Fi, Satellite TV, large library of books, games, cds and dvds.

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  What else ...

  Your hosts are easy going the area is great and the natives friendly. Lots of other bonuses too. In return for your work will be full bed and board including excellent food and a little wine or beer with evening meal. There will be plenty of free time to explore the magnificent rivers (fishing allowed with licence ) and chestnut forests surrounding the village. Or on weekends, take a hearty picnic, supplied by your host, for a day trip to the magnificent Cinque Terre, The Bay of Poets, Florence, Pisa, Parma, Bologna and Lucca. A chance for a wonderful memorable Tuscan experience.

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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

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours per day Monday to Friday from 8am-1pm weekends free

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