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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
18 Oct 2025
Reply rate
65.4 %
Usually responds within 2 days
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Description
Etna's fruitful Slopes: Volunteer with us in Olive Harvesting from mid October-mid November
My name is Sara, my passions range from ecology, permaculture, agroforesting, self-sufficiency practices, ethno-anthropology and ethnomusicology. I speak Sicilian, Italian, English and Spanish. Since 10 years I am part of the regional Permaculture network in Sicily, after many experiences in various community and realities I settled and live on the southern slopes of Etna in Belpasso, in the old farmhouse of my grandparents that I renovated and turned into a B&B / convivial farmhouse. I also dedicate myself to the cultivation of olive trees and the production of extra virgin olive oil for me and my family. There is a small vegetable garden that I'm going to improve, and I am progressing in the design of the garden around the house to increase resilience and self-sufficiency. In addition, right next to the house, together with my cousins, we manage a vineyard and produce organic wine with ancient methods (pressing in stone tanks without using synthetic products). The production is rather small so it is enough just for me and for the family: the vineyard is a bit abandoned but this has created a good balance between wild and cultivated so the work will be a delicate reclamation. I live there with two dogs and two outside cats and one inside. Usually many friends visit me and I love conviviality. ANOTHER LARGER OLIVE GROVE IS LOCATED AT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE IN A TOWN FURTHER DOWN THAN WHERE I LIVE, AND IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER WE WILL STAY THERE FOR THE HARVEST
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Olive harvest in October and November.
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The trees in my mother's garden are very easy to harvest and safe to climb. Instead the trees in my mountain home (wich we harvest from mid-november to firsts december) are taller and the use of long sticks, ladders, or good climbers is required!
The olive harvest is a very important ritual moment in our area. The work consists of spreading large nets under the olive trees and dropping the fruits with the hands or with the help of small rakes. It is not a very heavy job, it takes patience, almost meditative, but also need to be active and reactive it's of course preferable to have the pleasure of being under the trees and in contact with nature. The olives are placed in boxes of about 20 kg and taken to the mill where they are transformed into oil. During the harvest season it is very nice to make bread at home and eat it hot with freshly squeezed oil!
We will share meals and take turns cooking, and my mother will obviously be there too: we will be guests at her house. She is a classical teacher who loves swing dancing, tango, and everything is danceable... and she cooks really well :) Her house is really beautiful and welcoming.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Culture
Farming
Sustainability
Events & social
Charity work
Carpentry
Plant care
Music
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Hiking
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
In all the works I do I always try to be inspired by permaculture so the knowledge I can share are mainly about permaculture, ecology, soil and community regeneration. Lately I feel very inspired by the social application of ecology and the creation of small communities. I strongly believe in the ethics of caring for the earth, caring for the person and equitable sharing.
Also I am passionate about traditional music, I have had experiences in research, and I have a large musical archive on Sicily and on the tradition of storytellers. I love the sacred conviviality and the exchange that is created by exploring territorial identities and traditions and for me is very important the genuineness of improvisation.
Help
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Olive harvest in October and November.
===================
The trees in my mother's garden are very easy to harvest and safe to climb. Instead the trees in my mountain home (wich we harvest from mid-november to firsts december) are taller and the use of long sticks, ladders, or good climbers is required!
The olive harvest is a very important ritual moment in our area. The work consists of spreading large nets under the olive trees and dropping the fruits with the hands or with the help of small rakes. It is not a very heavy job, it takes patience, almost meditative, and it is preferable to have the pleasure of being under the trees and in contact with nature. The olives are placed in boxes of about 20 kg and taken to the mill where they are transformed into oil. During the harvest season it is very nice to make bread at home and eat it hot with freshly squeezed oil!
During the harvest at my mother's house we have a private room for up to a couple and an attic with some mattresses for about 2/3 people.
Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Accommodation
During the harvest at my mother's house we have a private room for up to a couple and an attic with some mattresses for about 2/3 people.
What else ...
The house is located in a countryside area outside the town so it is better to have a vehicle available to visit the area. Reachable from Catania by AST or FCE bus (Borrello stop), the stop in the village is 3 km from the house: I will pick you up at the stop, on foot it's a bit tiring climb!
20 minutes from the Sapienza Refuge (cableway to the central craters), 35 min from Catania, 1h from Syracuse, 1h from Taormina, 40 min from the Riviera dei Ciclopi (Acireale), 20 min from the Simeto Valley, 25 min from the Serra la observatory Ship.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a 30M internet connection, of course if you have to work online in your free time it's possible! We can organize our days together!
Space for parking camper vans
We have enough space for the campervan!!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Rino
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (11)
What touched me most was her hospitality and the way she made me feel at… read more
And not to… read more
Working in the olive groves was very… read more
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
What touched me most was her hospitality and the way she made me feel at… read more
And not to… read more
Working in the olive groves was very… read more
I truly loved my time there and I definitely recommend… read more
It was so… read more
He is also a cheerful, smiling and very polite person. Recommended!
