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Join us for the olive harvest and discover local village life in Mani, Greece

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hello,

    We are Alexandros and Claire. We live in the South Peloponnese in the village of Lagkada between mountain and sea. We moved to the beautiful area of Mani a few years ago with the will to create a village life and we quickly started working with olive trees.

    Our olive groves are located around the village and in other beautiful locations of the Mani and we are looking for volunteers to participate with the harvest (October until February). The olive harvest is a physical work - in a difficulty level similar to the grape harvest - that requires commitment, teamwork, and physical readiness.

    The oil produced is for our own consumption and small-scale sales. Alexandros' main activity is the restoration of Byzantine churches and historical monuments, and Claire is a piano teacher and runs holiday rentals. But olive production is a crucial part of our life as it allows us to be connected to our food consumption. While Claire is doing the logistics, Alexandros is in the fields and takes a break of 3 months during the winter to do the harvest.

    We will do our best for you to have a holistic experience of the local life in Mani!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    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

    You’ll have the chance to learn about land regeneration, olive farming, and how to tell the difference between good and great olive oil. We both speak English, and Claire, who’s from France, also speaks French. We’re excited to share with you all about the local food, culture, and lifestyle—like foraging, preserving food, and the history of the area.

    Mani is a peninsula with charming villages along the coast and in the mountains. With its beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and a mix of locals and Europeans living here full-time, it’s got a nice balance of wild nature and lively community. We’ll happily share our favorite spots with you!

    Lagkada is about a 1 h15 drive from Kalamata, which has an international airport and bus connections between Athens and Lagkada. In the village, there’s a café where locals gather throughout the day, and just a 10-minute walk away is our favorite taverna.

    The closest beach is 11km away by car. On this coastline, you will find other beaches but also the main villages (Agios Nikolaos, Stoupa and Kardamyli) where the local community congregates. There is public transport every day and we can also arrange for you to borrow our car to go around easily.

    We look forward to host people that take initiative and can make the most of the opportunities provided. Together we can co-create a wonderful experience for both you and us!

  • Help

    Help

    Volunteers help 5 hours per day and 5 days per week with days off in exchange for meals and accommodation.
    During the olive harvest, things operate a bit differently because the work depends entirely on the weather—we can't work on rainy days, so we make the most of sunny ones. To balance this, we add 1 extra hour of work per day, which, in our experience, is just enough to cover the rainy days of the week.
    So the typical schedule is 6 hours a day with two breaks of 1h30 in total ; we start working in the fields at 8:30 and finish at 16:00, with a 30-min coffee break and a 1-hour lunch break. These breaks are precious times of the day to share and exchange. Alexandros particularly like to share about the history of the area, the culture around olive oil, or simply to enjoy the view and the nature.
    Please consider that if it rains, the days off might not necessarly fall on the weekend (or on sunny days).
    In the unlikely events that it there is no rain during your stay, you will then take your extra hours as extra days off at the end of your stay.

    Although the fields are not certified organic due to the small scale of our activity, we produce exclusively organic extra virgin olive oil. Most of the fields have been abandoned by the owners and we work to bring these fields back to life, first by clearing the jungles of high weeds, then by pruning the trees, and finally by harvesting the olives, which is the only way to ensure that the trees will keep on producing. After a period of 5 years without being harvested, the tree stops producing and it is a part of our gastronomic heritage that we lose because it is a very high quality olive specific to the micro-climate of Mani.

    The olive harvest includes the following tasks: pick olives / lay and move nets on the bottom / put olives in bags / burn branches and collect wood.

    The team spirit is a crucial part of this project : when an individual contributes to the best of its abilities to the team, the daily effort becomes easier and more joyful.

  • Languages spoken

    Greek: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We offer accommodation in a house located above the village, 15 min by foot from our house. It is a simple house on two levels with independent bathrooms, a commom yard and beautiful sea views. The upper floor has a large bedroom and a common kitchen/living room. The lower floor has 2 bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with a single bed.
    We can host up to 5 volunteers; it is suitable for couples, friends or individuals. We ask everybody to be responsible for the good running of the house and keep it a clean and livable space.

    Food is provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as for days off and is cooked by team members. The mom of Alexandros, Evangelio, prepares every working day a traditional lunch, which is shared all together during lunch break in the field. Breakfast includes bread, butter, jam, and oats. Dairy products, extra beverages (soda, beer, others) and special requests are not included.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    - We ask people not to smoke in the house or while working.
    - Social drinking is accepted but not drug or alcohol habits.
    - If you have any mental or physical health issues please let us know so we can assess if this is the right place for you (including allergies, special dietary requirements etc.)
    - The minimum length of stay requirement is 2 weeks.

  • 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

    You are more than welcome to come in your campervan but please note there are no parking on the premises. You will find parking spots at the square of the village.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 143282326854

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Photos

The image depicts a small town nestled in the mountains, featuring a winding road and numerous houses with red roofs, surrounded by trees and a mountainous backdrop.
The image depicts a serene coastal town nestled among mountains, with a body of water in the foreground and a cloudy sky above.
The image depicts a group of people gathered around a table in a rustic kitchen, surrounded by a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The image depicts a serene village nestled in the hills, featuring a winding road, stone buildings, and lush vegetation, set against a blue sky.

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