Permaculture and bioregionalism in our small farmstay on the edge of the Cinque Terre national park, north Italy

Details

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  Description

  My name is Peter (35), I'm from UK, and live with my Italian partner Laura (31), our baby boy Arno, and our little dog Indi on our small farmstay on the edge of the Cinque Terre national park, north Italy. We are 3 years into building a permaculture farmstay (a small, sustainable organic farm with accommodation for guests and helpers).
  We are working to restore long abandoned vineyard and olive grove, and we also grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. Our aim is to live as off-grid as reasonably possible, to lessen our impact on the environment, provide for ourselves, and to live closer with nature and our community. Our project is spread across 3 sites (differing microclimates, different crops!) all on the beautiful mountain we call home. We are surrounded with diverse forest and stunning sea views.
  After meeting, Laura and I travelled around Oceania and Asia for 4 years, before settling here with the idea of building a sustainable paradise to host travellers and start a family of our own 😁

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house
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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

  Permaculture principles and operations (sustainably and efficiently growing organic fruit and veg), Bioregionalism (living from the resources available locally), Water capture/storage systems/irrigation. Sustainable/off-grid living practices. Local nature and wildlife. Sustainable construction and DIY. Local cuisine and cooking. Language practice (Laura is a language teacher, we both speak English and Italian, Laura also speaks Spanish and Russian).

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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

  We go to great lengths to leave as small an impact as possible on our environment, with the aim of being a carbon negative project in the near future. Please be prepared to walk up to 30 mins (of steep but beautiful mountain trails) to and from work sites, rather than driving, also where we live is around 500m of mostly steps from the nearest road/parking/bus stops.
  We also strive to avoid using petrol-powered/electric tools (wherever reasonably possible) so expect to see and use a variety of traditional hand tools and techniques in our daily lives!
  We offer 3 meals a day during your stay, sometimes you will have to cook for yourselves, but a choice of food will always be provided. Bonus points if you can cook for us once in a while 😉. We ask 20 hrs max a week (typically only 16 hrs) of help, over 4 days a week max. Good weather weeks we can be more flexible with working hours, wet weeks we have to get stuff done while it's dry. We typically don't work in the rain.
  We are ideally looking for a couple or single travellers, to live with us, eat with us and be part of our family. Tasks vary widely depending on month, season and year! Get in touch near the time for a better idea of exact jobs needing doing. Responsibilities may include: planting/harvesting fruits/vegetables, harvesting/processing lumber, vineyard/veg garden maintenance, housekeeping.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We offer the spare room in our beautiful house. We have indoor and outdoor kitchens, veg gardens and a pool available during summer months. We also have 2 other basic farmstays available for use.

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  What else ...

  We are situated <10 minute bus or car journey from the famous Cinque Terre villages and national park, our vineyard is inside the national park 10 mins drive or 30 mins walk from home. The area is a hikers paradise, well known for lush, diverse forests and stunning mountain/sea views everywhere. Many beaches are accessible nearby. The area is also a great place for rock climbing, mountain biking, island sightseeing, sailing/kayaking, canyoning, cliff diving, and snorkelling in summer, and also skiing/snowboarding in winter.
  We are also 15 mins bus/drive from La Spezia city, boasting numerous markets and a huge selection of bars and restaurants.
  We are also on edge of Tuscany, 1 hours drive/train from Genoa and Pisa. 2 hrs from Parma, 2.5 hrs from Florence and 3 hrs from Milan.
  Please don't expect an immediate response to messages. I typically reply after a week or two, sometimes sooner sometimes later but I will always respond. There are so many factors that make organising our project (and the help we need) so very difficult in the long term. Thank you for your patience.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  We have reliable wireless broadband connection and a small office space for working. We recently hosted a remote worker who said the space was ideal.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Free parking is available to smaller vans in the village where we live. Larger vans can park in one of 2 clearings in the forest nearby, regularly used by campervans without issues.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 4 days a week

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