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Biological station and wolf documentation center in Apulia looking for a hand, Italy

Italy
Last activity : 5 Dec 2024

Profile information

Host rating
70 %
Last replied
5 Dec 2024
Reply rate
57.1 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
9
Email verified

Badges (1)

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2024

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

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Description
Hallo! I'm Rocco, I'm a Teaching assistant in Applied Biology and the Wildlife Conservation in the Department of Biology of the University of Bari and I work with shepherds closely with animals .

The Biological Station and Center for Documentation wolf is the brainchild of the Research Center for Biodiversity, within the project "Allupo - from breeding sheep to wolf conservation.

We are a farm in a typical, old, apulian country house ; situated in Alta Murgia National Park.
Our project name is means breeding in presence of wolf population and we breed
autocton animals to save animals diversity.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
you can have an experience of living in old and traditional Apulia farm with animals (goats and cow in free range).
you can also make experience and research on interaction between domestic animals (sheeps, cattles, goats, horses)
and wild animals (wolves , wild boar).
Help
animal care, cooking, sheepfold care, milk, collect wood in the forest. do research on the presence of the wolf, use of the space and its interactions with farming, study of birds nesting in prairies
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Accommodation
Helpers will have the use of one of big room in the farm with bunk beds, bathrooms and kitchen so you can cook your self or eat together whichever you prefer.
What else ...
Italy, Apulia, Bari, Altamura, the hosts can walk in the park, trekking, visit the city near the factory (we can organize visit together to Altamura, Bari, Matera, go to the sea...)
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 444111688124

Feedback (9)

21 Oct 2019

Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host

We stayed at the station for one week.
Rocco the manager is very friendly. He picked us up at Bari port and drove us to Bari again when we left!
Unfortunately Rocco was very busy when we were there so we didn’t learn much Italien culture. I am sure this would have been different if we had stayed more weeks.
You stay in a house to your self and… read more

(Very good )

23 Nov 2018

Left by Workawayer (Sophie) for host

(italiano giú - con errori linguistic)

Ça me fait presque de la peine d’avoir à écrire un commentaire sur un site comme Workaway, tant les jours passés ont été au delà de tout ce que je pouvais attendre de cette expérience.
À aucun moment je ne me suis sentie obligée de faire quoique ce soit. Je l’ai toujours fait de bon coeur. A aucun moment je… read more ne me suis sentie considérée comme une « employée ». Rocco m’a traitée en amie, m’a ouvert sa porte, m’a fait confiance en me laissant seule avec les bêtes (un sentiment extraordinaire et parfaitement nouveau pour moi). Rocco n’est pas un berger comme les autres. Il n’est pas non plus un universitaire comme les autres. Il est un joyeux mélange des deux, extrêmement généreux, curieux et je manque d’adjectifs. Il ne m’a pas uniquement transmis son savoir, il m’a sans cesse encouragée à réfléchir par moi-même, à donner mon avis, à préciser mon regard.

S’il faut donner un exemple : j’ai longtemps hésité à manger de la viande, consciente des multiples raisons invoquées en faveur du végétarisme, et contre l'élevage. J’avais déjà entendu, de la bouche de « carnivores », l’argument qui consiste à dire que les animaux d’élevage participent à former le paysage et à lui donner une certaine beauté. Cette idée restait très théorique, tout comme l’idée qu’un éleveur peut aimer ses bêtes et faire son travail avec soin. En écoutant Rocco parler de ses bêtes, en le voyant prendre soin d’elles et les considérer comme des brebis, des chèvres, des vaches ou des chevaux doivent être considérés, il m’est apparu évident qu’il existait une troisième voie, juste et responsable, entre le véganisme radical et l’omnivorisme banal.

Les jours passés m’ont ouvert les yeux sur bien d’autres vérités. Des vérités évidentes, mais bien loin de mon quotidien parisien, et des vérités plus complexes, auxquelles je continue de réfléchir.

Les souvenirs que je garde sont un trésor inestimable. Ça paraît peut-être idiot, mais ce voyage m’a prouvé qu’une autre vie était possible – et plus que possible, souhaitable.
En rentrant à Paris, je pensais que je « redescendrais sur terre » après avoir vécu au Paradis pendant plusieurs semaines. En réalité, c’est le contraire que j’ai ressenti : quelques jours après mon retour à la maison, j’ai compris qu’en quittant les Pouilles, Altamura, j’avais quitté La Terre, la vie au rythme du soleil, au rythme des animaux, la vie simple et entière.

A vous, volontaires qui hésitez à partir, n’hésitez plus. Les conditions d’accueil sont optimales, comme décrites dans les précédents commentaires. Vous n’avez rien à perdre, vous avez tout à gagner. "Dai, on the road!"

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Mi dispiace quasi di dover scrivere una recensione su un sito come Workaway, poiché i giorni erano superiore di tutto ciò che potevo aspettarmi da questa esperienza. In nessun momento mi sono sentita in dovere di fare qualsiasi cosa – voglio dire che ho sempre dato una mano con piacere, perché lo volevo.
In nessun momento mi sono sentita considerata come un “volontario”. Rocco mi ha trattato come una amica, mi ha aperta la sua porta, si è fidato di me abbastanza per lasciarmi sola con gli animali (una sensazione straordinaria e perfettamente nuova per me). Rocco non è u pastore come gli altri. Lui non è neanche un accademico come gli altri. Lui è un misto felice di entrambi, estremamente generoso, curioso, e mi mancano aggettivi. Lui non mi ha solamente trasmesso la sua conoscenza della natura, ma anche mi ha costantemente incoraggiato a pensare da sola, a dare la mia opinione, a fare più aguzzo il mio sguardo.

Grazie al dottor Rocco Sorino e grazie al tempo passato a la sua casa, ho aperto gli occhi su molte verità, troppo numerose per citarli tutti qui. Alcuni verità evidente, ma troppo lontane del mio quotidiano parigiano per vederle. Altri verità complesse, alle quali continuo di riflettere.

I miei ricordi sono un tesoro senza prezzo. Forse sembra stupido, ma questa esperienza e questo viaggio mi ha dimostrato che una altra vita era possibile – e non solamente possibile, desiderabile.

Tornando a Parigi, pensavo che io riporterebbe “con piedi per terra”, dopo essere stata al paradiso durante qualche settimane. Ma, in realtà, ho sentito l’esatto opposto : ho capito che lasciando la Puglia, e Altamura, avevo lasciato la Terra, la vita al ritmo del sole, al ritmo degli animali, la vita semplice ma intera.

A voi, volontari che state sul punto di andare ma che esitate, io dico : NON ESITI PIU ! e condizioni materiale di accoglienza sono ottimale, come già descriviti nelle altre recensione. Non avete nulla da perdere, ma tutto da

(Excellent )

15 Oct 2018

Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host

We had the most amazing experience with Rocco on the farm :) not only was the work we did very enjoyable but the whole cultural aspect was lovely for us, getting involved in all things Italian, learning new words and eating the most delicious food we had ever tried! We did lots of practical work while we were there like building new gates,… read more

(Excellent )

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21 Oct 2019

Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host

(Very good)

23 Nov 2018

Left by Workawayer (Sophie) for host

(Excellent)

15 Oct 2018

Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host

(Excellent)

5 Apr 2018

Left by Workawayer (Magdalena) for host

I stayed here for about 3 weeks in the surprisingly busy period in March. Both Rocco and Giuseppe are very friendly people and the farm is situated in a very beautiful place so you can enjoy your time here. However please note there is no wi-fi here and the phone service is not great either so I would only recommend this place for people who like… read more

(Excellent)

5 Apr 2018

Left by Workawayer (Florent) for host

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Negative)

20 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Svetlana & Burak) for host

I stayed at here for almost a month (even though I was planning to spend there just a couple of weeks) and I couldn't imagine this experience to be better.
The farm is situated in an extremely beautiful place with a very particular type of nature: quite a dense forest and plain rocky hills. The farm itself is a traditional Apulian stone building… read more and on the pastures around you can see some old "trullo" and other types of traditional Apulian rural stone architecture which is quite impressive.
The work I did was mostly just helping the shepherd Giuseppe with his everyday works: feeding animals, repairing stone walls, building fences and, actually, herding beautiful Gargano goats. I'm not sure my help was absolutely necessary (there is not so much to do in winter, in other seasons you can also participate in milking goats, making cheese etc.), but for me everything we did was a great experience.
But the main experience was just knowing and communicating with these wonderful people: Rocco (the owner, a research biologist) and Giuseppe (the shepherd) (an important thing to mention is that we were speaking Italian and otherwise I wouldn't have known them so well, cause Giuseppe, as far as I know, doesn't speak much English). Both are incredibly passionate to what they do: Rocco to his project and his research and Giuseppe to herding the goats, and they really transmit their passions so convincingly that I wanted to leave everything and stay at Corte Cicero for the rest of my life herding animals and conducting biological research :)
From Rocco (who is a big scientist and a talented teller) I learned a lot about animals, birds, forest, biodiversity and animal conservation, so it was also a very challenging intellectual experience, not only just regular work on a farm.
Exactly this combination of the very intense traditional farm life (animals, traditional food, rural scenery) and the intellectual motivation of it (the project of wolf conservation and breeding autoctone species in order to preserve the biodiversity of the region) is something that makes this place so special. I'm happy I could contribute at least a little bit to this very inspiring and promising project and acivity.
I could write more and more here about this wonderful place, wonderful project and wonderful people, but you'd better come and see by yourself :)
Grazie ancora a tutti i bei conducenti, mi mancate e spero di venire a trovarvi in un prossimo futuro! Un abbraccio e saluti alle caprette!

(Excellent)

23 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Antonella) for host

La mia esperienza è stata meravigliosa. La vita autentica da masseria, la bellissima Murgia come cornice, gli animali di cui prendersi cura, il pascolo, non dimenticherò mai le giornate tra lavoro e risate e le serate assieme a chiacchierare attorno ad una tavola imbandita con i tipici prodotti del Sud. La sistemazione per i volontari è una… read more

(Excellent)

22 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Ludovic) for host

This month spent here was one of the most beautiful workaway experiences I ever had. I felt at home from the very fisrt day of my stay and was glad to take part in this project of wildlife conservation! Hope to come back soon!

(Excellent)

14 Jun 2017

Left by Workawayer (Jonathan) for host

I stayed at the Biological Station for two weeks in late May to early June of 2017 and had a wonderful time. The station is really an old stone farmhouse in the heart of Alta Murgia National Park where professors and students from the University of Bari conduct research on flora and fauna. I stayed at the farm house and helped with daily life… read more

(Excellent)

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Biological station and wolf documentation center in Apulia looking for a hand, Italy

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Reply rate

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Email verified

Badges (1)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (9)

Photos

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