Stay in a characteristic small village and experience the Italian culture in Genicciola, Italy

Details

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  Description

  We are Mathilde and Jacopo, a couple in their 30s passionate about permaculture, crafts, music and much more who is aiming to be as self-sufficient as possible. We speak italian, spanish, english and french. A few years ago, we renovated a small studio which is part of a big stone house dating 1700, located in a small village on the hills of northern Tuscany at 30 minutes driving distance from La Spezia where you can easily reach Cinque Terre and other breath taking seaside locations by train. There are many secret spots in the woods too which we will be happy to tell you about if you prefer quieter, fresher river baths, which are the highlight of Lunigiana's wonders in summer, as well as the Apuan Alps and of course all of the delicious traditional food the popular culture and restaurants around can offer! We suggest you travel on wheels as the area is not very well served by public transport.
  Hope to see you soon and feel free to get in touch if you have questions!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Camping

  

  Winter sports

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Writing

  

  Plant care

  

  Performing arts

  

  Music

  

  Languages

  

  History

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Art & design

  

  Animals

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Dancing
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  What we can offer is an immersive experience on the vibrant Italian culture, and specifically the subculture which is animated by the love of nature, the rediscovery of our national identity through the love of quality lifestyle and good food, hard work, and beauty.
  Our skills are permaculture applied to agriculture, macramè crafts, cooking, woodcrafts, and even some taxidermy and bones cleaning too if you don't mind the odd and metal music related aesthetics ;)
  Of you are interested in learning macramé there might be times when you can partecipate to the classes I sometimes teach, or just ask and we could find a good time at home.

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  Help

  We are looking for a person or couple to help us with some simple tasks like watering the vegetable plot, making sure the chickens are locked in in the evening (we have 7 hens and a cock) and feeding the cats (3) when we will end work too late to do it ourselves. You will be shown everything in detail and have access to our garden for you meals. Help might involve some woodwork, masonry and cutting Bush too if you feel confident with it.
  The amount of helping time we'll expect from you will be maximum 4 hours, but we ask you to be present 5 days a week, or make up for the days you might be absent if you decide to leave for more days and then return.
  We will be happy to share at least one meal a day together most of the time, but as we work long days we sometimes appreciate our own space too.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Depending on situation, you will stay in our medieval-looking studio located in the centre of Genicciola, or on a flat above it. The studio used to be the village's butchery (hence the name il macello) but we completely transformed it and gained some room by taking the tiles and concrete away and taking its walls back to their original charm. You can still see the rusted hooks on the arched ceiling thou, which actually came quite handy. There is a pull out queen-size bed, above it a cosy wooden platform, you can make it your chill time space. There is everything you need to cook and shower, it is rustic and minimal but you will especially enjoy and appreciate the freshness that thick stone walls can offer in the summer heat, and the shade of the park nearby where you can spend some time reading/doing your thing or socialise with our lovely neighbours.
  The flat upstairs is a two bedroom one and it is on the process of being renovated, but it’s clean annd functional and there is a camping gas for your coffee, tea or simple meals. The main bathroom is shared with another person (mum) at the first floor but the one of the flat is also already working for toilet and sink, not the shower yet. This would suit better two people as you can be more independent and have your own space, other than a bedroom each.

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  What else ...

  House rules: please be careful when cooking of handling materials that could stain the floor as it is in stone too, then very difficult to clean.
  We suggest you travel by car or similar as public transports here aren't the best. Signal isn’t always good but we have Wi-Fi, working well in some rooms and less in other parts of the house. Roads are very steep and narrow so if you plan on coming by bike be ready and brave.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  if you have a motorhome, please still use our house for bathroom and washing up in respect of our neighbours and nature, as there aren't dump stations nearby.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Marcello (1 year)

  Our hero, he has an harem of 7 beautiful hens

  

  Meme (6 years)

  Very sweet, a bit shy with people, sometimes she’s away for days and then comes back

  

  The Black Dahlia Murderer

  Sister of Ktulu, very funny and independent, a bit shy with new people but some food will help.

  

  Ktulu

  Very social tabby cat

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