Help in our orange garden in Paternò and explore Sicily, Italy

Details

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  Description

  ORGANIC ORANGE GARDEN IN SICILY (ITALY)
  
  Hi, I'm Francesco (52), i live in a organic orange garden in Paternò (CT) sometimes my sons Antonino (23) and Matteo (17) came to spend a couple of day with me. I work at catania airport and i spend my freetime in the garden.
  The garden is about 8000 m², mainly oranges, some olives and other fruit trees. It's located in the Simeto valley at the foot of the volcano Etna. Unfortunately the garden has been abandonend during the last two years. now i'm trying to resume it and i'm hopefull to succed. I manage it adhering to the principles of sustainability in a olistic view of nature elements and human being. It's not a big farm and basically we produce for personal use, only oranges production generate surplus that we sell directly to our friends and family, for me it's a way of life.
  
  It's about ten years i live in the garden, i would like to live a full garden life but i work at Catania Airport and i have 3 sons, i feel to live in the middle land between the system and a real country life where i can produce what i need, be indipendent and feel free but it's difficult to do that alone. Now for example every time i start a vegetable garden at the end i don't have time to manage it, i had hens but they need to be feed every day.......so i hope someone sharing this vision come help me to achieve a rate of self-sufficiency in the way that can enrich each other.
  Also i cooperate with my neighbors Jenny(31) and Luca(32) living within 10 minutes walk from me, we have a common project to mutual help and weekly we hepl each other so jobs will take place in their garden too.
  
  Other project are: achive a bio-lake( work is in progress), planting more trees, restore the vegetable garden, make orange jam and limoncello, build a chicken coop, experiment of natural building, prooning, spread fertilizer, general maintenance of the project structures,.........
  
  The garden is about 5 km far from Paternò and there is no public transport service connecting them, so we'll arrange to get you when arrive or leave you at the nearest bus or rail station when you want to go sightseeing during your freetime TAKE EVEN IN ACCOUNT THAT OFTEN I'M NOT IN THE GARDEN WHEN I GO TO WORK OR TO VISIT MY SONS
  
  ACCOMODATION will be in the wooden house where i live, there is also a carovan if you prefer but winter season is too cold to stay there.
  
  
  NO DOGS Five cats live in the farm so we are sorry but you can't bring any dog with you.
  
  we'll prepare meal together or we take turns, the same to keep enviroments clean
  
  Especially welcomed volunteers that have previous experience in farming, outdoor life, coocking. feels good when with plants, animals, and in a natural environement, being sociable and happy to share, building with wood or other materials.
  
  
  When you write us, please introduce yourself, tell us why you would like to come, tell us about your skills and knowledge and if you have a personal projects.
  please specify in your mail when you want to come and for how long you would like to stay.
  
  Excited to exchange experiences and share a little part of life path,, contact me for any question.
  Hope to see you soon.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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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

  language exchange, organic farming, gardering, how to harvest, prune and care of fruit trees and vegetables

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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

  The volunteers will help us in our everyday tasks, gardering, plant trees, , building, prooning

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Italian: Fluent
  English: Intermediate

  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

  ACCOMODATION will be in the wooden house where I live, or a caravan if they prefer
  we provide food as part of the exchange. we request volunteers to help in the kitchen tasks

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  What else ...

  Please be very carefull when you book your flight to arrive to "Catania Fontanarossa Airport" and not "Comiso Airport" wich is really far and poorly connected to catania.

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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

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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