Stay in a vibrant village on a peaceful lake at the doors of Rome, Italy

Details

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  Description

  Hi there, I am a single mom of a beautiful 9 years old little girl, a dog and two cats, with a deeply convivial and self sufficient lifestyle.
  
  I am invested in my permacultural project (big fruit orchard, farmers' market and ecological house) and in my work as a university lecturer on food culture. I also teach foraging classes, being the author of a bestseller on the subject. But my aim altogether is just to live, farm, and write.
  
  I am restoring the original Garden of Eden on a plot facing a huge beach on a major lake with the clearest of waters (the reserve of drinkable water for Rome), in a vibrant little village with plenty of lovely restaurants and aperitivo cafés, 50 min away from Rome but immersed in unbelievalble peacefulness.
  
  The name I use since 15 years now is Dafne, the tree-woman. I teach Food Culture to american university students, I am a journalist and the author of 4 books on natural living and specifically food, I have been woofing long ago and kept studying the practicalities of ecology since 20 years now. I live here since 2019 with my daughter Isabella. I was reborn when I moved here and decided to push my roots into this land! I bought a plot of 5000sqm facing the lake at walking distance from the center of this little town, Trevignano Romano.
  
  I have already planted 150 fruit trees, exotic and autoctonous and started a forest garden. I need to finish plastering the sheep shelter and I am waiting for 2 black dwarf female sheep to arrive very soon. I plan to host a farmers' market since september. I am a cook, expert of wild edible greens and sourdough and lover of prime quality ingredients, and believe in the importance of animals as part of a farm's ecology. The construction of the straw bale house is in it's final sprint, it needs all my attention and care.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Animal Care

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Mountain

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Cycling

  

  Camping

  

  Photography

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Writing

  

  Performing arts

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Pets

  

  Van life

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Self development

  

  Sustainability
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We live in a truly vibrant Italian village right on the lakeside and 1h away from Rome, with a good cultural life. The village is nested on the northern bank of the lake so with south exposition, a stunning microclimate suited for citrus and exotic fruit, extremely clean waters (the reserve of drinkable water for the city of Rome) and a sandy soil so the lake is cristal clear. We are also inside a natural park which is preserved from all polluting activities. The place is well suited for bike lovers, and whoever wants to take a good breath of real Italian lifestyle on an everyday basis, indulging at a cafe with a view on the sunset to write some verses, or attending an unexpected open air jam session, strolling at the craftmans market etc.
  
  I am extremely knowledgeable myself on sourdough in all it's aspects, eco-building, permaculture, wild food etc. Living with us will be a way to naturally absorb this knowledge. I teach at university level, appear on TV, wrote 5 books, and practice A LOT.
  
  Me and my daughter are opened persons, willing to exchange and to put you in touch with the right people around. I am eager to learn form you and to expose my daughter to english and frenchspeaking people!

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  Au Pair Help

  Further details can be found here

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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

  I need help with my daughter Isabella over the summer from a workawayer who gets along with her. Isabella is a capricorn ascendent gemini, both determined and super communicative, extremely sociable, easily bored. She truly appreciates those who will convince her to focus longer, on some yoga or studying or creative project, ideally with friends.
  
  I need you to be a nanny to my daughter and animals about 4 days a week, on medium-long term. Other tasks involve early morning routine like walking our dog and preparing breakfast. You will also be welcome to cook for us if you wish and receive produce tools and guidance. Otherwise, you will be in charge to cook for yourself or anyway contribute proportionally to house keeping and meal prep as a community member. French or English mothertongue are appreciated.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Greek: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Isa needs a French or English mothertongue auntie, and she will be delighted to become a teacher and teach you Italian! My daughter understands french pretty well (I talked only french to her as a newborn and for about 2 years) but never got into the active phase and needs to study writing, reading and grammar!!!! I'd love to level her up. In english she is a little more stubborn so there is a lot of work needed too.
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  Accommodation

  You will enjoy a private room and the use of a shared bathroom, and of the kitchen of course, in a nice and cozy house in the village. Upon moving to the new house on the plot, you might get even more private space. You will get a bike to move around.

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  What else ...

  We will be co-habiting closely, so it is extremely important to get along especially with the little one that will be the chore. So I suggest that both parts are free to decline the agreement letting each other know a week before, if things do not work out. I think it is important for both to feel free! I need a volounteer who makes his/her way to what he/she wants: public transportation is available and there are plenty of lovely little towns to visit around, Rome is not hard to reach either. I am open to sharing the plot for farming projects.

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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

  The plot is perfectly organized to host campers.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  

  Otto (1 year)

  Sweet and playful, gets along with everyone!

  

  Federica and Carletto

  Two lovely black cats

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