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🌱 Welcome to our small growing community in the Italian countryside!
Ciao! We are Andrea and Enrico, living near Castell’Arquato, a beautiful medieval village in the province of Piacenza (Northern Italy). Andrea grew up in a big city and after years of urban life felt a deep calling to reconnect with the Earth and live in harmony with natural rhythms. Enrico has always lived in the countryside, so together we bring both city experience and rural roots to our project.
Our dream is to create a small holistic and self-sufficient community based on cooperation, spirituality, and care for the land.
We live together in Enrico’s village house. We care for our laying hens at home, whom we love very much. On a beautiful piece of land just a few minutes away, we are slowly bringing back to life an abandoned space by:
planting a vegetable garden
growing a young forest
organizing materials for a reuse area (wood, bricks, tiles, metal, etc.)
creating open-air spaces for camping, cooking, and rituals
We live mostly with what the land provides and work as gardeners nearby to cover our basic needs.
Our daily life is simple but full of meaning. We work with the land, share meals, and take time for meditation, yoga, and community rituals that connect us to nature’s cycles. We celebrate the Wheel of the Year festivals such as Mabon and Samhain, embracing the ancient rhythms that inspire us.
We are looking for helpers who want to get their hands dirty and hearts open. Tasks may include gardening, forest care, sorting and organizing natural and reused materials, simple maintenance, cooking together, and helping with celebrations. No experience is needed — just a spirit of collaboration, kindness, and openness to learn and share.
Castell’Arquato is a charming medieval village known for its history, beautiful landscapes, and friendly community. Nearby you can enjoy hiking, local markets, and traditional Italian cuisine.
This is just the beginning. Our long-term vision is to open the space to more people and build an intentional community — a place for healing, sharing, creativity, and deep connection.
We are only two for now, but we believe in growing slowly and with the right people — those inspired by community life, spiritual growth, and working with their hands in the soil.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Interests
Self development
Pets
Sustainability
Vegetarian or vegan
LGBTQ
Events & social
Farming
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Gardening
Languages
Cooking & food
Art & design
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Camping
Cycling
Dancing
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our community is all about living in harmony with nature and personal growth. When you join us, you become part of a welcoming space open to people from any culture or background.
We regularly celebrate pagan seasonal festivals like Mabon and Samhain with rituals, music, and shared meals, which are great opportunities to connect deeply with us and the local community, and to share your own culture and experiences.
You’ll have the chance to learn practical skills such as organic gardening, natural building with reclaimed materials, meditation, and mindful living. We believe in learning from each other and growing together, always with kindness and mutual support.
Hosting people from different cultures enriches us by bringing fresh perspectives and inspiring new ways of life. We hope to keep learning and evolving thanks to the diversity and openness our guests bring.
If you’re curious and open-hearted, you’ll find a warm, supportive place here where you can share, learn, and feel at home.
Help
Workawayers who join us will take part in a variety of hands-on, meaningful tasks, including:
gardening and growing vegetables on our community land
caring for the young forest and keeping natural areas tidy
sorting and organizing reclaimed materials (like wood, bricks, tiles, and metal) into a reuse area
helping set up and maintain simple outdoor spaces for camping, cooking, and rituals
co-creating events and seasonal celebrations inspired by nature and pagan traditions
We work together as a team and share skills along the way, but no prior experience is needed — everyone contributes according to their abilities, curiosity, and energy.
Our approach to work is intentional and collaborative: we believe in mutual support, creativity, and doing things with heart and purpose. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and respectful, with plenty of space for personal expression and growth.
We meditate daily as part of our practice and invite you to join if you like. Meals are usually shared and offer a special moment to connect and enjoy each other’s presence.
Volunteers can stay as long as it feels right for everyone, as long as they respect the spirit of the project and the shared living space. From time to time, we go out to do gardening jobs in the area — during those hours, you’re free to rest, explore, or continue land activities you enjoy.
If you’re drawn to simple living, spiritual connection, and building something rooted in nature and community, you’ll feel at home with us.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We mostly speak in Italian. I, Andrea, can speak English, Spanish and French and would be very grateful to help you connect with the other people present at our place.
Accommodation
We encourage Workawayers to camp on our land, as it offers a closer connection to the community and the daily work. The land is about a 10-minute drive from our home, so staying there makes it easier to be fully immersed in the experience. Walking would take about 30 minutes, or 20 minutes by bike—we have two bikes available for use.
There is space to pitch tents on the land, but please note that there is no insect or weather protection beyond what tents provide. We supply insect repellent if needed. There is a basic shared bathroom with water (not hot), soap, and cleaning supplies, although it’s rustic and windows don’t close perfectly, so insects may sometimes get in.
At home, we have a cozy shared room with a loft bed (one and a half size) and a double bed in the same space, plus a sofa bed in the kitchen area (one and a half size), which can be used if you prefer or need to stay indoors. The bathroom at home is shared, regularly cleaned, and offers hot showers. We provide clean linens and towels.
For meals, when we are on the land, we cook together on an open fire with pots, plates, and a sink with soap for washing up. At home, there is a fully equipped kitchen with stove, oven, and fridge. We mainly eat vegetarian but are happy to accommodate special dietary needs. Cooking together is a favorite activity, and volunteers who want to help or lead are always welcome.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Śraddha (1 year)
Śraddha is the Queen of the hill. She just is what Nido dell'Aquila is. She is a playful, harmless and curious creature. she will bark at you the first minute you arrive but then she will make space for cuddles, and more cuddles. She is part of the family and she plays a fundamental role in our lives, helping everyone work through their most intense emotions with just her presence. She is just a gentle being but she can also be quite intrusive sometimes we ask you to tell her clearly "NO" when it's enough.
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