Profile information
Host rating
70 %
Last replied
11 May 2023
Feedback
17
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
I'm Luca, 44 years old, graduated in Economics. I used to run a industrial family business, which I sold about a year ago to dedicate myself to my real passions, which are family, nature, permaculture.
Cristina, my wife is enthusiastic about the project. Amelia, 6 years old, and Iacopo, 9 years old, can't wait for the project to reach the stage when we can introduce animals in the farm !!!. They love playing in the soils, get as dirty as they can with weeds, stones, and whatever the can get from Mother Earth.
We have a registered professional farm, agritourism license and i'll take a course to become a teaching farmer next winter. I used to travel more when i was in my thirties than i can do now... I like every traditional and folk music of this colourful world. I had 2 Vipassana seminars but i'm still struggling to keep the meditation practice alive.
I like yoga, i like smiling people around me and i like creativity in all forms !!!! I like music, i play and sing with my guitar. We cook a lot, we try to eat fresh organic home made food.
As a family we want to transition to more sustainable, responsible, connected lifestyle, so we also need help from everyone ! We are very easy going, always trying to connect with people as first priority.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Language practice
Art Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I speak english (C2) and spanish (B2). I can teach electrical installations, building tecniques, carpentery, gardening, fruit trees management, and, in general, permaculture: i've had a PdC, an Advanced PdC, a course for becoming a teacher (Permaculture Teaching Matters) and i'm applying for the Permaculture Diploma as with the Italian Accademy. We can teach cooking a lot of traditional food. I have a professional farming certificate, i can teach wineyard maintenance and pruning, I can teach photography. The area here is rich with cultural and historical heritage, and i love taking time off to tour around, show and explain about it. Food culture is very strong. I love playing a bit of guitar and singing. In our house we have a significant collection of books, concerning herbs, medical herbs, permaculture, ecology, new paradigms, eastern philosophies and religions, and also many famous books from writers around the world, that you're welcome to use and read. We also have several books in different languages. We have musical instruments you can play with.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are currently creating a permaculture based project. The area is made of 1 hectare of farmland (periurban) located in the small village of Cavriago, 6 km from Reggio Emilia (65 Km from Bologna), where we are creating an organic market garden/periurban park where we will experiment alternative/organic farming techinques and permaculture.
In this place we have a 260 square meters building which is about to be renovated, where we'll have a course/workshop room, a professional kitchen for food transformation, a tools warehouse for workshops and crafts making and an outdoor activity area for events, markets, exibitions and whatever the ideas and the creativity will bring in our minds !
We need help to renew the building with eco criterias (except big works which will be done by professionals), we need help to plant, maintain and create orchards and gardens, to plant wood pales for fences, create supports for climbing herbs/ trees, spread mulch and compost, decide the details about the aestethics, create rocket stoves, build outdoor toys, make the place beautiful with arts and installations. Plus we need people which help us to project and co-design the main land, as described below (the activity is suitable for PDC diploma appliances).
We also have another area at 25 km, consisting of 8 hectares of farming land/bush in the south facing slope of a high hill in the Appenninian range at 600 meters above sea level with a 60 square meters electrically off grid wood cottage on it where we are already growing fruit trees, collecting herbs and berries, and growing wheat and spelt. In this area we also have a yurt, from April to October.
This second area can be freely visited and used for free time and resting in the weekend and to explore the beautiful hills and mountains to simply enjoy nature and discover local culture.
We have a PDF guide which will explain in details who we are, what we are doing, the rules of the house and many more informations about your stay, about how to get here. Just ask for it and we'll email it.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Accommodation
In our living house, in Cavriago, with private bedroom, private bathroom, and private living room with fully equipped kitchen. During spring, summer and early fall, visitors/workawayers are free to stay in the hill site, either in the yurt (in spring7summer) or in the wood cottage, if not used or rented out. Every place is cosy, clean, and fully equipped. Free wi fi provided (be aware that internet connection can be slow in the hill place). We provide all the food. We can cook and eat toghether (we love it !) or, if you prefer, you can be indipendent, using the fully equipped kitchen in the workawayers apartment. In this case we only provide simple, seasonal and possibly organic ingredients like flour, eggs, pasta, rice, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, vinegar, salt, sugar, coffee, tea, fruit jam, biscuits, corn flakes, yogurt, tomato sauce, ecc... . We also have an old cooking wood stove, you can use.
What else ...
Transports are handy: ther's a local train 6/7 times a day going to Reggio Emilia and back and now also a frequent bus (30 min) service. Reggio Emilia is connected both with normal railroad and the fast train line. The closest freeway entrance is only 9 km from Cavriago. Bologna is reachable in less than 1 hour (67 km E) and Milan in 1 an a half hour (140 Km NW).
The area in a radius of 100 km has a lot to offer in terms of beautiful hidden spots, beautifull hills with several old towns, excellent food, nice rivers, historical easy hike routes, 2000 mt high mountains, a National Park and much much more. There is a growing network of people transitioning and moving to an alternative lifestyle, so plenty of opportunities to create connections here.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (8)
Photos
Feedback
Thank you very much and see you soon
A very good experience with luca and his little family.
Friendly people who have a lot to learn and different projects we were delighted to participate with julien, especially the great permaculture project.
A family that welcomed us warmly, with whom we share their daily life, their Italian culture and our ideas.
Thank you again for all… read more
We have so much good and interesting chat together about permaculture, travel… read more
