Italy
Favourited 554 times
Organic farm in the Appennin hills 1 hour from Parma. We raise cows, pigs, chicken, grow our own wheat, fruit and vegetables, saffron and herbs, collect wild berries, mushrooms and chestnuts. The old stone farmhouse is also an "agriturismo", where we welcome guests for holidays or dinners. In our "lab" kitchen, we make preserves, jams, fruit juices, dry herbs and prepare the dow for our bread. On our farm, we try to achieve a maximum of self sufficiency. We welcome volunteers and students (Erasmus) who are interested in learning about organic farming and more ecological use of energies and who want to share our country life experience with us. We (Gianluca and me, Iris) have run this organic farm since 1993, after many years of working for the International Red Cross in war driven countries. The work with the Red Cross has inspired us to try to create a peaceful, self-sufficient and quiet place where nature is dominating the daily life... (and dictating the daily work!) ...
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Travelers can learn about small scale organic farming, growing vegetables, sustainable use of limited water resources, extensive animal breeding in a mountain area, renewable energies (solar hot water, photovoltaic panels for electricity, wood for heating), about different construction and maintenance works, about guest accommodation, about cooking with what the farm offers .... The century old wooden kitchen table is a meeting and melting pot of languages, nations, stories, projects and ideas....
Travelers can help with all different activities of the farm (planting vegetables, harvesting, weeding, collecting grass, making fences for animals, collecting and cutting firewood, help in the lab kitchen with the preserves and bread making, cooking and cleaning). They can also indicate their preferences and we will try to make the help match their skills and interests...
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Accommodation is in an open space wood house with bathroom, kitchen, dining area, sleeping area (2 beds), and/or in a shared room of the main house. We have our lunch meals all together, while breakfast and dinner are taken care of by the volunteers themselves in the wood house, with products provided by the farm.
The nearest railway station is Borgo Val di Taro, some 9km from the farm. Public transport like busses are there too, but not very frequent. The area is very nice for hiking and swimming in the river, and it is possible to make day trips to the seaside (Cinque Terre), Parma, Pontremoli, La Spezia, Genova, Pisa...
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
