Caring humans welcome at the foothills of Western Alps, Italy

Details

• 

  Description

  Hello everyone!
  It's Sonai speaking (writing) here. Please know I'll do my best to engage with messages, however my online presence is inconsistent. Find the secret word and include it in your message if you are seriously intended to come!
  Also, before you proceed... *CAT ALLERGY ALERT!*
  You musn't be alergic to cats, nor uncomfortable having cats ruling your space.
  
  THE EXCHANGE IN A NUTSHELL
  You lend me a hand with small-scale DIY and gardening projects, and you share with me the care of the house and the cats.
  You get in return a temporary home, my friendship and support, the abundant cuddles of the cats, a space to slow down, to reconnect, to heal, to create.
  
  LENGTH OF STAY
  To be determined together.
  
  WHO ARE WE?
  
  *Sonai*
  Hi! I've been a host on Workaway for a couple of other projects in the past, and I'm a seasoned Workawayer myself: I've been traveling and volunteering on and off for 10 years! I can empathize with your needs. And I can empathize with the struggle of getting answers from people. I'll do my best in that sense, even if it may take longer.
  I just entered my thirties, and feeling proud about it. To me, it means entering an era of unprecedented slowness and awareness. I'm a non-binary transgender person, and I feel solidal toward all minoritarian identities.
  I'm very curious about the unknown, and you my friend are unknown to me right now!
  Here follow my feline family members:
  
  *Miso*
  Hi! I'm a precious cat soul. Patience and observation are the keys to my heart.
  I'm sensitive to rapid movements, and I don't like it when giant human beings swoop down from above and try to capture me in their embrace... I am not Moro! I prefer when they bow to me, and we touch noses.
  Once I trust you, you won't get rid of me. When I say it's love time, it's love time! Luckily for you, though, I have other interests as well. If I see a fluffy object, I'll run to make buiscuits on it!!
  
  *Moro*
  Hello, Moro here! In this life I am often slightly confused. I cope with it through exploration in the woods or cuddling. When I come back from my adventures in the outter world, I need to spend some time to meow to you about it and connect with you. Feeling comfort and love is important to me as I enjoy completely melting and snoring when I fall asleep. Boundaries are still a mystery to me and something I explore, because honestly I still like to suck like a baby and to invade the private space between humans and pillows.
  
  *João*
  I was found semi-dead on the road, and rescued. I'm severely malnourished and I spend my time sleeping and trying to survive and to revive. I have the cutest meows and I pur as soon as I see you approaching me. I may look angry, and instead I'm very peaceful. I'm just going through a lot of hardship. Just let me be, scratch me on the head once per week, feed me daily and we will be friends.
  
  *Biru**temporary family member*
  I'm the smallest adult cat in the world! I fit into one hand. A little less ever since I've grown a belly after my pregnancy. I'm a mom on vacation. My kids are grown ups, and I do great on my own. I get by with little cat/human love. My greatest source of fulfillment comes from food. I love food. Food loves me. Eating is my hobby and greatest passion. Cat food, human food, bread and butter, I love it all! Food food food food. I rarely leave the house, just in case food is coming. My sleeping spots are all strategically placed at visible distance from the food bowl. Don't pet me... feed me instead!!
  I must have swallowed a rubber duck when I was little, because every movement of mine comes with a squeak.
  I'm as fragrant and soft as a bread loaf, and this is how I earned my nickname "pagnotta".
  
  *Special Mention*
  You won't meet my partner Fruu, and she still deserves to be mentioned as she's a pillar of this family and this house.
  None of this would be possible without her. She'll be gone for most of spring and summer, so you likely won't meet her.
  
  
  WHAT TYPE OF HELP AM I LOOKING FOR?
  Please see the "Help" section below.
  
  WHO AM I LOOKING FOR?
  One person is more than enough for the help I need.
  I have the space and willingness to host more people, but not the financial means. If you don't mind chipping in for the expenses, than feel free to contact me.
  Speaking of expenses: if you don't mind chipping in for the expenses, be alone or not, you are also free to take extra days off.... the work exchange is very flexible. Or you can leave for multiple-day trips and return later (no expenses to cover in that case, obviously). I also welcome short-term stays Couchsurfing-style: no work exchange, just hospitality (and again, you chip in for the expenses or provide for yourself).
  
  INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT
  If you identify as queer, as neurodivergent, as shy, as disabled,as outcast, or other labels... please know I am here to do my best to support you.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
• 

  Interests

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  Carpentry

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Gardening

  

  Languages

  

  Photography

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We're situated halfway between the highly urbanized plane and the secluded mountains.
  Therefore you can still access some (limited) businesses and services, while you'll need to rely on yourself for many other needs (I'll help you out of course!).
  Make sure you mention the word 'molinera' in the subject line of your application. It's in your best interest to read till the end, as we share details that might or might not be deal-breakers for you.
  The opportunities to connect with the local culture are mostly connected to sharing the typical daily life of the villagers: a coffee at the pastry shop, a glass of wine at the bar, a visit to the market, a hike to a mountain shelter, and the participation to rural events and gatherings.

• 

  Help

  We seek caring human beings who will love in equal amount the cats, the humans, the plants, the house, and the environment.
  
  Other than that, the projects for 2025 are:
  
  WOOD (springtime)
  -cutting, collecting and taking home wood from the nearby land
  -building a wood shed
  -chopping the wood
  -stacking the wood in the newly built wood shed
  
  GARDENING (all seasons)
  -fencing the area
  -building a greenhouse with old windows
  -seeding, sprouting, planting, growing vegetables and herbs (indoor and outdoor)
  
  Both projects are at ground zero.
  Woodwork is the priority.
  That being said, if you dream of creating an organic vegetable garden of your own, here is your playground!
  You are welcome to take charge for the project (in consultation with me). You can even stay for the long term and really develop it, if that's a dream of yours and all you've been missing is the space to make it happen. Hit me up to discuss about that!
  
  Life here isn't idyllic, and we often feel challenged by its limitations.
  What I ask for is not an unrealistic dedication to caring for someone else's life project; at the end of the day, this place would be nothing but a temporary home to you; what I ask for is the commitment to navigate the pleasant and unpleasant facets of the exchange with an open heart and an open communication: you're encouraged to share boldy the unease you may experience while being here: I prefer to foster a host-guest relationship that feels equal rather than hierarchical, and I understand things are flowing constantly.

• 

  Languages

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

  This host offers a language exchange
  I've worked as a language tutor and I'm patient and methodic when it comes to teaching my native language, Italian. I appreciate the same in return, but I don't mind if it's just a one-way exchange!
• 

  Accommodation

  Our house is sweet and cozy, yet rustic. You'll stay in a guest apartment with basic amenities. Our spaces will be fairly private.
  I am highly sensitive to smells, so unfortunately I can't stand smoke, perfume, and other strong scents. Please respect this while you are in my space.

• 

  What else ...

  Hiking trails available at the doorstep.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: in the little valley where the house is situated, a noisy factory is located as well. It's a steel factory that uses presses to shape steel components destined to other industries. The factory represent an essential economical and historical piece in the area, and it still provides for many families these days. We try to remember this when we feel challenged by the noise. The noise of the presses may come at any time of the day during weekdays; it's random and unpredictable; there are days that go by without any sound, while others are strongly affected by the production noise. It'll require some days to get used to, and we promise you will get used to it. Nevertheless, if you're sensitive to noise you need to be prepared.
  
  TRANSPORTS
  The most convenient way to move in and out is the car.
  The most environmental-friendly and fun way to move in and out is the bike.
  From our town -called Corio- you can catch a bus (only few per day) and head to the nearest town served by the railway. From there, you're a quick train ride away from the city of Torino.
  The surrounding peaks and valleys can be explored by foot, bike or car.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  Decent signal, it works most days. I've worked as a digital nomad myself, and when at home I hosted online meetings daily. However, please beware there is NO WI-FI per se: we us either the phone's hotspot or a portable router.

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  However tight, the parking space can accomodate a small van.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

Website Safety