A bicycle rests in tall, golden grass by a fence, while the sun sets over distant hills and a house, casting warm, dramatic light.
A vibrant rainbow arches across a cloudy sky above rolling hills. A dirt path, sparse grass, scattered pallets, and trees define this peaceful rural landscape.
This image shows a rural landscape with scattered farm buildings, grassy fields, a dirt road, some machinery, and rolling hills in the background under a clear sky.
Four young lambs with white wool and brown heads are lying on straw, marked with blue and red paint, next to a metal fence; another lamb rests above.
A smiling man in a colorful cycling jersey takes a selfie inside a stone cellar, with steel fermentation tanks and another person working in the background.
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Help bringing an abandoned farm back to life in the hearth of Tuscany, Italy

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi this is Roberto, 61, 2 grown up children, a fair amount of partners during my past life, currently single.
    I’ve was born in Milan, where I spent most of my life as an entrepreneur in the digital transformation business. Roughly one year ago I decided to change my life to follow my authentic interests and passions: nature, ecology, horses and big animals, beauty.
    So I bought a farm abandoned since yers in a stunning place in Tuscany and recently moved there to make it living again. Buildings are literally decaying, fields are wild and around the building is full of debris and rubbish, dropped there for years by the previous owners, who run a earthmoving company.
    My long term goal is developing an agro-ecological farm which will cater a country hotel specializing in horse riding holidays. My hope is one day guests will come to experience a total immersion from the back of a horse in ethic food production, practices that give to the soil instead of depredating it, close contact with the territory, its incredible beauty, its history and witty people, its fantastic food and wines.

    It will take huge time and money and frankly speaking, I don’t know if I’ll live enough to see everything done!

    There’s so much to do. Recently I refurbished the only building that didn’t need a complete reconstruction - along with a stable - where I leave in a tiny, very simple flat. Then I started with the activity by planting a little olive grove and the first breeding activity with around 40 sheep. Animals are the key to regenerate a very tired soil.

    During the next months my priority will be building around 5 kilometers of fences as quick as I can, needed to free the sheep and starting pigs and chicken breeding.

    Of course I need help to do that. Your help will be paid at the current tarif for agriculture workers which is around 6-7 euros per hour plus taxes and insurance. But I'm quite flexible in defining your wages: Let's talk about it.

    Disclaimer: I didn’t use AI to generate or translate the text above. If it is coarse or there are mistakes, they reflect authentically me and my level of English.
    Btw I can survive in French, too.

    My search is open to all the marvelous people out there, any sex or sexual identity, any religion (as long as don’t try to make me religious), any country, any age.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
  • Interests

    Interests

    Technology
    Politics / Social justice
    Sustainability
    Culture
    Farming
    Cooking & food
    Languages
    Art & design
    Books
    Winter sports
    Outdoor activities
    Cycling
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Staying with us you'll get many many opportunities to learn, grow, enrich your soul.
    First of all we are trying to run an agroecological farm, based on th eprinciples of regenerative agriculture. One of the most prominent experts in Italy is helping and supporting us, and you'll meet him and, most likely, visit is farm (30 kilometers far from us).
    You're then will be soaked in the history of one the most historical places in the world, where monuments of different ages tell you about the development of Western civilization until XVII century: Etruscan cities 2800 years old, medieval towns and villages with thei church and paintings, diamond of the early renaissance like Pienza or the later Montepulciano.
    I'll be happy to share with you what I know and to address you to the most interesting visits.

    And if you're interested, I bring with me the legacy of my working life. I was an Internet pioneer in Italy, still am the CEO (I'm leaving, in any case) of a litlle holding investing in early stage AI Italian companies and have a degree in Italia literature at University. Let's say I can be entertaining.

    Add that I would love to share my interests, if we'll have time: biking, motorbiking, restaurant and, of course visiting world famous vineyards in the surroundings...

  • Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

    Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

    This host offers accommodation and payment.

  • Help

    Help

    I look somebody to help me in daily chores, but mainly in building fences. You don’t need any particular skill but hands (better 2 of them), legs (also 2) and to be willing to work.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate
    German: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    I’d be happy to practice my English which is quickly fading out

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    I can provide food and accommodation. You’ll live with me in my flat: one bedroom, one bathroom, one living room with a sofa bed, one tiny kitchen and one little room with no windows (just the door, but I'm planning to install a skylight as soon as I find a builder) and a single bed. It’s up to you choosing between the sofa bed or the no windows room.
    Definitely not suitable for sophisticated high demanding people!

    I’m a more than decent cook and I think I can handle a vegetarian diet, if needed. If you are vegan I’m afraid you’ll have to make it on your own.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Why should you come? We are in the heart of the most worldwide renowned part of Tuscany. Places like Montepulciano, Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia are minutes away from us. We have unforgettable landscapes, ethernal monuments and architectures, art masterpieces, not to say about food, wines thermal pools and Spa.
    If you have a car, motorbike or are a trained biker, it’ll be simpler for you, otherwise we’ll manage to do something nice during our spare time.
    And of course I hope you’ll be proud to help my beautiful project to become reality.

    In any case it will be fun.
    And every single day you’ll be here, you won’t avoid to be moved by the supreme beauty of the sight towards Mount Amiata at sunset or smile at the show of lambs chasing an unlucky chicken…

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    WiFi is just enough for office activities and meetings. Not suitable to wide bandwidth needs. With bad weather and wind can become unstable.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    There’s a lot of room to park and I can provide water and power.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 884885469148

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Photos

A vibrant rainbow arches across a cloudy sky above rolling hills. A dirt path, sparse grass, scattered pallets, and trees define this peaceful rural landscape.
This image shows a rural landscape with scattered farm buildings, grassy fields, a dirt road, some machinery, and rolling hills in the background under a clear sky.
Four young lambs with white wool and brown heads are lying on straw, marked with blue and red paint, next to a metal fence; another lamb rests above.
A bicycle rests in tall, golden grass by a fence, while the sun sets over distant hills and a house, casting warm, dramatic light.
A smiling man in a colorful cycling jersey takes a selfie inside a stone cellar, with steel fermentation tanks and another person working in the background.

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