Italy
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Ciao a tutti !
Join our small creative family for a season or longer in the Tuscan Apennines / Lunigiana -
LOCATION
We are located in the Tuscan Apennines with surrounding mountain ridge views and magical chestnut forests to get lost in - we enjoy a mediterranean climate in which all of the seasons are felt in full - our Apennine winter is crisp and white a short drive up the mountain, (6k) will take you above the snowline we have small local ski runs, (although due to climate change the snow is less each year!) - the village we live in rarely gets snow, if it gets too cold a mulled wine at our local bar is always a good idea! - In the Summer river swimming in uncontaminated torrents is a favourite pastime - the Ligurian and Tuscan coast are both under the hours drive - our village is located at the center of a Nature Biodiversity Reserve, the landscape is outstanding.
SOCIAL CONTEXT
We look forward to showing you around and welcoming you to the area and our vibrant rural community - the village is always fueled by interesting national and international visitors to socialize with (mainly in warmer seasons) - we are easygoing, very open minded, and live an eco-conscious lifestyle - we love Music Art Good Wine Dancing Singing (only me not my partner Mark), Walking in the Mountains Making Things, and Creativity in general ...we are also busy people working to make our dreams tangible. You will be welcomed into our family home but also with respect for your own time and space for privacy.
WHAT WE DO
We have ongoing creative landscaping and building projects we need help with as well as assistance in the summer months with our little boy Ruben and our 2 dogs Lolla and Mario - Mark and I have a VERY small but eclectic and international property business, which offers services to property buyers, owners, and passing travelers.
We are always on the go, busy designing, making and introducing people to the area, hence our personal projects are always half finished !
Our purpose for hosting is to meet new people and have some energy dedicated to our domestic projects.
As well as seasonal and passing workawayers we hope to find people who may wish to join us longer term.
WHAT WE NEED HELP WITH
Whilst we tend to our business obligations we need hands on help developing our garden, the majority of chores would be outside, with some restoration help and moving things around.
PLEASE NOTE : we hire locally for any help with our businesses as well as for skilled professional building help.
No help would be asked with any tasks in any areas that will be used by paying guests.
At the moment we are converting the old village primary school (which we have just purchased) into our home - a part of the building will be destined to become a workshop space with a hostel dorm for groups of people coming to the area for various activities. As already said there are different tasks, mostly based outside and involved in the development of our garden which is very important to our project and which will be taking into account design and usage, for workshops and as our main source of food - we also need help transforming a lot of reclaimed materials into building elements that will be used on the interior design.
There is much to do and we will find suited jobs based in each person's individual strengths and skill set.
Gardening - Building - Child Care - Computing are the main areas which we require help with.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Individuals Couples and families who are open minded, eco conscious and believe in a community living approach.
FAMILIES
I grew up in the village from the age of 4, we are a British-Italian family - my late parents moved here and ran a walking holiday business for many years. The village is a very safe place for children to play freely in an amazing natural contest. We tend to leave our key in the door and benefit greatly from this "extended community lifestyle".
Ruben our son is very sociable and loves new playmates (big and small) to take on adventures to the stream and to visit the various animals that inhabit our village its surrounding pastures and river swimming rock pools.
I can give you all nexìcessary information on local schools and lifestyle possibilities. If you felt you may like to stay on longer or felt you would like to get more involved - we would love to hear from you.
ACCOMMODATION : separate converted rustic barn 2k from our house / room in our house / seperate room 50m from our house in school.
We of course are also welcoming individuals and couples for the season or for shorter stays -we can provide different levels of accommodation, we give a lot of importance to the wellbeing of our guests and their individual needs.
All accommodation will be clear beforehand with each individual request.
Barn
We will be offering a separate and independent living unit (converted barn) to a family, couple or individuals who felt they may like to join us longer term or for a season - the property, a converted stone barn was our home for 8 years.
It is a character rustic property in a nearby village (2k) from the village we live in - to walk to the school (where the work will take place and where we live ) it is 15 mins across the river or a pleasant bike ride, should there be bad weather we would pick you up by car or possibly lend you a car. The barn has 2 bedrooms 2 living areas and a kitchen, bathroom and small terrace. No wifi but this could be provided for longer term arrangements. Bikes available to borrow.
Rooms
We have additional bedrooms in our house and within the school 50m from our house in this case all meals would be had at our family home, which always has the key in the door for you to come and go freely and benefit from its commodities.
FUTURE PROSPECTS
We are always open to new ideas and are constantly inspired by the people we meet. At such unprecedented times and with such unpredictable future perspectives small communities and coalitions can really be the key to make things happen! As I said we are extremely open minded and open our doors to people who embrace this ethos.
We look forward to hearing your interest to join us for a short stay season or longer term we hope.
Naomi, Mark, Ruben xxx
Mario and Lolla, woof woof
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Exchanges longer or shorter term will benefit in different ways from staying with us
We appreciate people's individuality and our hospitality will adapt accordingly to each situation, we aim at ensuring you make the most of your stay independently as benefiting from your help.
We love to cook with and for others - we have fantastic local produce which we will help you explore as well as many foraging opportunities.
Lunigiana has an uncontaminated natural Landscape to discover, its bordering regions are also wild beautiful and very diverse, The Cinque Terre, The Apuan Alps ....- our local train station will connect you with Cultural Capitals such as Lucca, Florence and Parma, easily if you wish to travel.
If you prefer to stay local we have a hospitality and tourism office on the main road, so I have everything that's been printed and have been illustrating the locality and Italy to visitors for most of my life - my father had a walking holiday business in the village for 15 years - so i am not short of things to recommend !
Mark and I are both very experienced with renovating properties together as a team, hands on and managing - we both have skills to share and are always learning ourselves -we both have very artistic backgrounds and skills which we will be putting into use on the school project - I am bilingual in Italian and English and taught languages professionally for 8 years - Mark is a qualified builder and is a skilled craftsman using wood,metal, and stone.
We are happy to share our local knowledge and practical skills with those interested.
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
We are ideally looking for a "handy-hands on couple" who enjoy outdoor life and are happy to undertake mainly gardening activities and some small renovation projects. You must be Dog loving people as we will be leaving you with are dogs (Lolla aged 14 Tuscan Sheep Dog - And Super Mario are little desert Rat aged 12) 4 days a week. We are looking for people that are independent and who do not mind being left alone with a list of tasks if need be.
Cut Grass
Dig Soil
Plant Vegetable Garden
Gardening in General
Strim
Paint Railings
Clean Pots
Sand Old Doors
Sand Wood
Walk the Dogs
Oil/Wax/Paint Wood
fClean Windows
Shovel Earth
Look after Ruben (our 6 year old).
Transform Recycled Materials into Building and Design objects
We would adapt the role to the individuals and do not expect everyone to be able to do everything - so please share your skills and we will find the right place for you to help us as we have a lot to do. We would not expect the same person that is looking after Ruben in the summer help Mark brake stones or vice versa....we appreciate peoples individualities.
In a nutshell anyone interested in joining us and can help with our busy lives will be considered and will be very welcomed !
PLEASE NOTE : we hire locally for any help with our businesses as well as for skilled professional building help.
No help would be asked with any tasks in any areas that will be used by paying guests.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
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.
Converted stone barn
You will have a main base which you can call home in a small village 20 mins walk from us where the property which you will be working on is based with an internet connection and 2 wood burners, which we will provide wood for.
2 bedrooms. It is a stone house with 2 bedrooms a living room and a kitchen dining room.
We can also provide bikes.
Travel to the northern tip of Tuscany and you travel back in time. Lunigiana is a land that epitomises the phrase “unspoilt by progress”. This is authentic rural Italy, in a spectacular landscape that unlike much of Tuscany, has managed to escape the attention of the property developer hordes. The region is perfectly located to offer the best of all worlds. Popular cities and cultural centres such as Florence, Parma, Pisa, Genoa and Lucca are all within an hour’s drive (or just over), and Milan is just two and half hours away.
There is a bus service that will connect you to the train station - You will also be able to join us should we be going out on day trips - we would love to show you around and introduce you to the local territory.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
You may Park the outside the school which we are converting and you will be helping us with - there are also some great locations at the edge of the village where people frequently park without any trouble, we would be able to provide you with various options to suit your preference.
Only if they were sociable and got on with children - we have two old dogs.
More than two
Maximum 5 hour a day, 5 days a week
