Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
22 Jun 2025
Reply rate
81.6 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
22
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Host offers payment
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Please only contact us if you are interested in joining us for longer than a month. We cannot accommodate couples as we do not have the sleeping arrangements.
The farm will offer minimum wage for the hours worked.
Giulia was born in Verona in the year 1993 and is a qualified pastry chef and Louis was born in Munich in the year 1988, studied economics and organised classical music concerts.
In 2020, we began cultivating the land of an ancient farm located 25 KM (15 miles) south-east of Florence with the aim of becoming self-sufficient. The land includes vineyards, olive grooves, crop fields and forest with a total surface of 24 hectares (59 acres.)
Besides working the vineyards, olive grooves and vegetable garden, we herd a flock of goats and poultry along with an apiary.
The farm is run organically (certified) and we experiment with biodynamic and permaculture practices. What we harvest we transform thus giving us wine, oil, vegetables, and it’s by products, milk, cheese and honey.
On the farm live Giulia, Louis and their two sons Wilhelm (2022) and Georg (2024) and Louis’ brother Alexander (1995), that works as a tailor.
The work on the farm is primarily divided into three teams:
A team of usually 4–8 volunteers that care for the fields and animals.
A team of usually 1–2 volunteers that care for the kitchen.
A team of 1–2 volunteers that care for Wilhelm and Georg.
The teams are not strictly divided as there are synergies, yet when contacting us please specify what team you would like to be part of.
We all live in the same house and eat all meals together. The shared sleeping arrangements are divided between boys and girls.
Expect volunteers to usually have an age between 18 and 35 that stay for a minimum of one month (generally longer stays are preferred). Some stay at the farm longer, as they come as part of an internship programme usually linked to farming or cooking.
After a good day of work, we together enjoy a well deserved dinner along with our wine that usually brings with it great conversation.
In short: if you are seeking to dedicate your strengths and efforts along with others from across the globe to a life dictated by nature, then this place will grant you meaningfulness, contentment, friendships and great memories.
We thank you for your read and look forward to hearing from you.
All the best from the Borghetto,
Giulia and Louis
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are trying to learn as much as possible, primarily from nature and by confronting old farming practices with new ones. We are regularly seeking advice from our neighbour, a 75 year-old farmer named Beppe. From him we not only discover old farming practices but also how people lived and what the cultural practices of the area were.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
As mentioned, you will be part of either the field, kitchen or children team.
Here more details on what that includes:
FIELD AND ANIMALS:
The type of work on the field and with the animals always differ depending on the season:
In spring, we assist the births of the animals, prune the 1500 olive trees, plant the summer vegetable garden and do spring pruning in the vineyard (6ha).
In Summer, we work early in the morning and late afternoon due to the heat and primarily harvest the summer garden. The olive grove needs to be cleaned in preparation for the harvest.
In autumn, we have both the grape and olive harvest along with making the wine.
In winter we prune the vines and fell trees and chop wood.
This was just an outline of the classic tasks that repeat every year. Along those we might repair or build a dry stone wall, general repairs on the farmhouse, roads and field infrastructure, plant new trees etc.
KITCHEN
headed by Giulia, it is the heart of the farm: it follows the Tuscan culinary tradition using our own along with other local produce. Aside from the everyday meals, fresh bread (with our sourdough) fresh pasta, all kinds of sauces, pickles, preservations, cakes, biscuits and other desserts are prepared.
Hunters provide us with fresh game along with goat and chicken meat that needs preparing.
WILHELM AND GEORG
The two boys do not yet visit the kindergarten, so they are both at the farm all day. Support Giulia in the caring, including them in the kitchen/field work, bring them for walks and play.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Always interested in learning something new but primarily offering to speak italian for you to learn
Accommodation
The farmhouse, beautifully located overlooking the Valdarno valley has an ancient history. The oldest part is the tower that is roughly a 1000 years old. Through the centuries the building grew to what it is today.
You will be accomodated in a shared room that is divided between boys and girls.
What else ...
The closest train station is a 10-minute drive from the farmhouse. From here the train takes 30 minutes to get to Florence. Should you be arriving by train, it is here that we will pick you up.
The upper Valdarno valley not only has a wonderful landscape but is also home to an incredible culture. The next main road from the farmhouse was already used by the Etruscans to commute from Arezzo to Florence. Along this road churches named Pievi were build roughly 1000 years ago. These are real architectural masterpieces and unique to this area. Absolute breathtaking is the Castello di Sammezzano, an 18th-century castle build in the moorish revival architectural style.
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
My animals / pets
Feedback (22)
It was my first workaway experience but this family made it perfect for me. Starting the first day when Giulia picked me up from the near by train station, I felt her openness and amazing sense of humor. In my opinion she is a good cook and a drama queen 😁. The same happened when I met Vilem( their beautiful boy)… read more
They will make you feel like home in the first few minutes, they are welcoming, kind and generous.
We spent most of our time with Louis and the other workawayers working in the farm, there is a lot to do! But the place is truly amazing and the view of the vineyard in the early morning make… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
It was my first workaway experience but this family made it perfect for me. Starting the first day when Giulia picked me up from the near by train station, I felt her openness and amazing sense of humor. In my opinion she is a good cook and a drama queen 😁. The same happened when I met Vilem( their beautiful boy)… read more
They will make you feel like home in the first few minutes, they are welcoming, kind and generous.
We spent most of our time with Louis and the other workawayers working in the farm, there is a lot to do! But the place is truly amazing and the view of the vineyard in the early morning make… read more
Luois manages to create a great working… read more
Like any farm, there are always a few… read more
Overall, I had an amazing time staying with Luigi… read more
That said, the true value of this host is very nuanced and deep. To find it you have you have to be willing to escape your comfort zone.
If you take everything in stride and be willing to spend the… read more
If you ever want to live in a… read more
Giulia and Louis were the best host we could ever hope for. We spent 2 and a half weeks at their farm and we enjoyed every second of it. They were very interesting people, kind, friendly, and extremely generous. We felt very welcomed since the first day we arrived. At the end of the stay we didn't want… read more
Thank you to Giulia,… read more
You will discover a real family with a very young atmosphere and many workawayers. The atmosphere was really good and relaxed. Moreover, Giulia prepared great meals for us.
Virdis was… read more
I truly hope to come back soon! Thank you all for the… read more
I arrived without knowing what, who or how, and I found the wonderful family you are.
You welcomed me with open arms, I've learned amazing things I never expected; from how to respect and care for the land through the pruning of the vines with Virdis, treating and handling the… read more
To all the workawayers: if you want to become part of a family that welcomes you immediately and with love, takes you through all the highs and lows, spoils you with a lot of delicious food and wine and taking you… read more
