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Help us on our small-scale organic farm in the Apennine mountains near Parma, Italy

  • Favourited 592 times
  • Last activity: 27 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi,

    I'm Marco (40), I live in the Parma Appennines with my girlfriend (28). We share our daily life on our farm with another couple that live with us. We run a dairy farm with 5 cows and 15 goats that graze from spring to autumn. Our main activity on the farm is dairy production, including milking and taking care of the animals, and the sale of our products at the local farmer markets. Moreover we take care of our small vegetable patch, harvest fruit to make jams, cut firewood for winter, and do general maintenance on the farm.

    We are located in the province of Parma in the councel of Bedonia (the town is 5 km from the farm), on the place (850 above the sea level). We are surrounded by fields and woodland, where the animals graze, we get hay, cut firewood, and also enjoy nice walks in the surrounding and admire the nature, the view from the top of the mountain. To reach us, you can get the train to Borgo Val di Taro where we can come and pick you up.

    We are both ex-volunteers, and we are happy to let workaways experience farm life in a beautiful place.

    The tasks we share with the volunteers are different depending on the seasons. They are mostly helping with the milking and cheesemaking, looking after the vegetable garden and harvesting fruits for the jams. Also moving the animals to the fields and back for the milking, cutting grass for the animals, making firewood, taking care of house and the farm in general. Apart from work, which takes up a few hours each day, with one or two days off a week, we like eating and cooking all together, enjoying beautiful moments like diving in the river, having bonfire at night, and going cycling during our free-time.

    The volunteers have their own bedroom in the house.

    We speak fluent Italian and French, and good English.

    See you soon on the mountain !
    Marco

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    Ciao,

    Mi chiamo Marco, ho 40 anni e vivo sull'Appennino Parmense con la mia compagna (28 anni). Condividiamo i lavori e i piaceri della nostra fattoria con un altra coppia, che vive insieme a noi e partecipa alla vita quotidiana dell'azienda. Abbiamo 5 mucche e una quindicina di capre da latte, che pascolano dalla primavera all'autunno. L'attività principale della fattoria è la produzione di formaggi, quindi la mungitura, la cura degli animali, e la vendità ai mercati locali. Inoltre ci occupiamo dell'orto per il nostro fabbisogno, dei piccoli frutti con i quali facciamo le marmelate, la legna per l'inverno, e la manutenzione generale della fattoria.

    Il nostro posto si trova in provincia di Parma nel comune di Bedonia, da cui distiamo 5 km, sul (850m slm). Siamo circondati dei nostri prati, dove facciamo il fieno e dove pascolano gli animali, ma anche dai boschi, dove è piacevole andare a passeggiare fino alla cima del Monte, per godersi una bella vista sulla valle. Per arrivare da noi, si può prendere il treno fino alla stazione di Borgo Val Di Taro dove possiamo venire a prendervi.

    Siamo tutti e due ex-woofer, siamo felici di dare l'opportunità ad altri volontari di vivere una bella esperienza in agricoltura contadina e di passare del tempo in mezzo alla natura.

    I lavori che condividiamo con i volontari sono vari secondo il periodo e le affinità. Sono soprattutto l'aiuto alla mungitura e in caseificio, nelle pulizie e la cura dell'orto secondo la stagione, la raccolta dei piccoli frutti per le marmellate. Portare gli animali al pascolo, tagliare l'erba fresca da portare in stalla, fare la legna, prendere cura della casa e del posto in generale. Oltre il lavoro, che occupa alcune ore al giorno con un giorno libero alla settimana (due se c'è la necessità), ci piace mangiare tutti insieme (fuori se il tempo lo permette) in bella compagnia, cucinare insieme e anche passare un bel momento la sera davanti a un bel falò (perché no?). Andare insieme a mangiare la pizza, tuffarsi nel fiume, o fare un bel giro in bici secondo il tempo libero che abbiamo.

    I volontari hanno la loro propìa camera in casa con noi (2-3 camere sono a diposizione).

    Parliamo Italiano e Francese fluentemente, e un buon inglese.

    A presto in montagna !

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We have had experience over the past 5 years hosting volunteers on the various farms we have worked at. We also have a least one volunteer living with us during the warmer months of the year. We try our best to make people who stay with us feel like part of the family, and the social and cultural aspect of volunteering is very important to us. For this reason we ask for people who are interested in integrating with our lifestyle and getting to know us.

    We are both fluent in Italian, English and French and are happy to help in any way with can with people who want to learn either of these languages.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    Agricultural tasks: Milking (goats by hand, cows by machine), feeding animals, hay-making, helping in the vegetable garden, maintanence of woodland and fields.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Private bedroom in our farmhouse, with the possibility of a private bathroom.

    -

    Una camera privata in casa, con la possibilità di un bagno privato.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are near the town of Bedonia, a short distance from Borgo val di Taro. We are conveniently located on the border between Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Liguria. This means that popular tourist destinations such as La Spezia, Bologna, and all the main Tuscan cities are a short train journey away. We live in a very beautiful and tranquil valley, which is perfect for anyone who loves to live in a natural setting and enjoys mountain scenery. We are also near Chiavari, a popular seaside destination for tourists.

    We prefer people to stay for a minimum of 1 month. Please contact us if you have any other questions.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 521851528216

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