Come and help us with olive harvesting by the sea in Milna, Croatia

Details

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  Description

  Hello,
  
  My name is Maria, I’m a young 72 year old. My partner and I are living in Milna, on island Brač, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia.
  We share our house with a 10 year old Pekinese girl dog and a 12 year old girl cat, both rescued.
  
  Apart from our house, we have 2 one bedroom apartments that we rent out to tourists during the summer season. Apartments are fully equipped and consist of a double bedroom, bathroom, open plan living room/dinning room/kitchen and a terrace or balcony for alfresco dining.
  
  House is only 20 meters from the sea, only 150 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the village centre where there are shops, restaurants, bars, post office, bank, tourist office, souvenir shops, church, chemist, etc.
  House is surrounded by lavender, pine trees, fig trees, lemon trees, pomegranate trees, etc. There’s an outside built in bbq on the terrace that we use to prepare fresh fish that my partner brings home often.
  
  I’m a retired dentist and my partner is a retired diplomat who volunteers as a part time firefighter and he loves to fish in his spare time. He takes his boat out to the sea late night and comes home at down with loads of fish for us.
  
  We’re both fully vaccinated and boosted.
  
  We are looking forward to welcoming you into our home and learning more about your culture and traditions.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  There’s a lot to do on the island Brac and in Milna itself. Milna is a picture perfect Dalmatian village, located on the north side on the island of Brač which features idyllic evening sunsets. Well connected to nearby hotspots such as Split, Makarska and Hvar, this quaint island village is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of neighboroughing islands, brimming with authentic Croatian experiences and friendly locals that take the Pomalo (slowly) way of life seriously!
  
  History of Milna
  The seaside settlement of Milna was settled in the 16th Century and today has a population of just under 1,000 people, making it a quaint and charming village town. Located on the north-western side of the island of Brač, Milna is well known as being one of the safest and most sheltered harbours on the island, guaranteeing it is a favoured marina for sailors to this day.
  Mlina’s charming marina and relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect place to unwind and ease into the local village vibe. The best thing about Milna is that just a stone's throw away from the quiet waterfront town are an abundance of things to do and see.
  
  1. Explore the Island Via Car
  Being one of the largest central Dalmatian Islands, it makes sense to hire a car and explore the entire island at your leisure. Brač is dotted with stone structures (some still in use and others reduced to interesting roadside ruins), narrow cobbled streets, lush green fields, picturesque towns and an abundance of locally grown fruits and vegetables, including olive groves and vineyards. The roads leading in and out of Milna are extremely pretty, and the Mediterranean pine trees contrast against the azure Adriatic Sea in the background, creating a stunning sight!
  Our top tip: Set out with very few plans and see what hidden gems you come across as you explore the entirety of the island!
  
  2. Visit Zlatni Rat
  Named #3 of the Best Beach Destinations in Europe, Zlatni Rat is one of those spectacularly stunning natural phenomenons that you have to see to truly believe! This unique beach is located 4 kilometers from the town of Bol, with its sandy shores protruding 500 meters into the Adriatic Sea to create a ‘V’ shaped beach. This beach is so novel thanks to its ever changing shape and structure, with the forces of the wind and water current constantly altering its appearance - impressive huh!
  
  3. Take in the views from Vidova Gora
  Vidova Gora is not only the highest point on Brač, but it is also the highest point of all the Dalmatian Islands! If you’re feeling energetic you can hike the steady and often steep trek from the town of Bol to the peak of the mountain, sitting at 778 meters above sea level (2,552 feet). Across the three hour trek the views change and become more impressive the higher you get, with the island of Hvar, the Croatian mainland and even Italy on a clear day being easily visible from the very top!
  If you’re not feeling up to the hike, Vidova Gora is also easily accessible via car.
  
  4. Visit the Blaca Monastery
  This 16th-century Monastery is impressively carved into a limestone rock face, creating a jaw-dropping sight that is worth the effort it takes to get there! In the early days, Monks found solitude and peace amongst rockface cliffs, where they eventually built the impressive Monastery in and around the cave. Monks have inhabited the Monastery for centuries, up until 50 years ago.. These days you can visit the Monastery museum that houses an array of interesting artefacts, books and astronomical tools. The Blaca Monastery is only accessible on foot.
  
  5. Taste Locals Wines
  There are numerous wineries dotted throughout the island allowing you to taste the local white (Posip) and red (Plavac Mali) wines that Brač is well-known for. If you’re looking for a wine tasting with a view, head to the Stina Winery located on the waterfront in Bol. Here you’ll be able to try a variety of locally produced wines whilst taking in the impressive view, tour the cellar and taste local produce including olive oils and freshly baked bread.
  
  6. Explore the Dragon's Cave
  Situated 300 meters above the village of Murvica is Zmajeva Spilja, known as Dragon’s Cave. This cave was once used as a hermitage by Monks in the area, and features interesting carvings into the cave walls, including carvings of a dragon, which are believed to date back to the 15th Century. This cave is only accessible by hiking to the destination and can take up to 4 hours return.
  
  7. Visit a Secluded Bay
  There are four main beaches located within walking distance of Milna Town; Osibova, Maslinova, Pasikova and Lucice Beach. Each of these beaches features large pebbles, azure waters and are surrounded by fragrant pine trees that provide respite from the summer sun. Being south facing, the beaches surrounding Milna are protected from the northern winds, ensuring they’re the perfect spot to laze the day away in the sunshine, or take a quick dip. Apart from these well known beaches, there are plenty of places to find a secluded piece of paradise all to yourself on the island of Brač!
  
  If any of this is appealing to you, please get in touch, we are looking forward to meeting new people and learning about different cultures and traditions.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We have an olive grove with 100 olive trees and we need help with harvesting olives in October/November each year. We would like a couple of strong and hardworking workaways to help my partner and I in harvesting olives in exchange for a stay in one of our apartments in Milna, island Brač including three meals per day.
  
  Harvesting usually begins end of October/beginning of November, however it depends greatly on the weather, wind, rain…
  
  Our olives are organic and certified ecological and natural and we do not use any pesticides etc. Our soil and trees are tested every year to make sure everything is organic and natural in order to keep our Eco certificate. We use our olives to make Extra Virgin, organic, cold pressed, eco olive oil.
  
  We’re new to olive harvesting, these are young olives, only few years old, so they don’t produce richly, however, we usually manage to make enough oil for us and our family to have for the whole year.
  
  The tradition of raising olives on island Brač on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia is both ancient and culturally engrained in the local communities. We find it ultimately a peaceful and spiritual experience that we love to share with family, friends, tourists, and anyone else interested in living as close to the land as possible.
  
  We would prefer to host two people in our separate apartment. We harvest olives every day that’s not raining - for 5 hours with a break to provide the meal.
  
  I personally love fall season on the island. It’s still quite warm, but not boiling hot. There’s still some tourists around, but not crawling with tourists. Perfect time to really experience the island way of life. We are confident you wont be disappointed with free time to yourself.
  
  We don’t host during the summer season with Workaway because our accomodations are used as tourist rental in the months of May-October. It is when the island gets busier with tourists from all over the world coming to enjoy the crystal clear waters, award winning beaches, and Mediterranean climate.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  Croatian: Fluent
  English: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Happy to give Croatian lessons and looking to improve my English.
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  Accommodation

  One bedroom apartment with a double bedroom with a king size bed, two night stands, large, three door wardrobe and a writing desk and a chair. Sea view from the bedroom window.
  Three piece tiled bathroom suit; toilet, shower/bath and a vanity sink.
  Fully equipped kitchen with all the necessary utilities: fridge, oven, stove, coffee machine, kettle, plates, mugs, glasses, cutlery, pots, etc.
  Open plan dining and living room with dinning table, two sofas, tv.
  Outside table on the balcony with the sea view.

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  What else ...

  Free Wi-Fi at the apartment. Island is very well connected with the mainland and other islands with ferry going to Split every couple of hours and catamarans connecting with other islands few times per week. Also, regular buses connecting Milna with the other villages on the island.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Wi-Fi is very good and already had a German woman stay with us for 6 months during the pandemic whilst she worked from home. She had no issues with Wi-Fi. Happy to provide a reference from her.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Any animal, within reason, is ok. We love animals.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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