Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
26 Oct 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
18
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Details
Description
My name is Patrizio. I'm a semi-retired Brit, who realised a long-held dream to move to the Italian countryside in July 2015. I live on my one and a half acre smallholding, for roughly half the year, while my wife, Susan, spends one to two months a year with me in Italy. We are both former journalists, who have left the high pressure world of television news behind. Together we are trying to create an eco-friendly place to live, as well as to host friends and family. We are both native English speakers. Between us we can get by pretty well in French (me) and Malay (Susan), and have a basic knowledge of Spanish (me), Italian (me) and Cantonese (Susan).
The house has been dragged into the 21st century, with new plumbing, electrics and solar water heating. Outside, the land has 25 olive trees, as well as dozens of other fruit and nut trees. Both myself and Susan are keen edible gardeners, committed to organic, sustainable cultivation. Lack of water, heavy clay soil, and extremes of temperature, between baking hot summers, and sub-zero winters, makes farming without chemicals or mechanical tools a real challenge.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Pets
Movies & TV
Farming
Plant care
Writing
Photography
History
Gardening
Cooking & food
Books
Architecture
Animals
Nature
Mountain
Cycling
Beach
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We hope vulunteers will not only learn practical skills, particularly in terms of growing organic produce, but also an appreciation of the challenges and rewards of living on a rural property, with as light an environmental footprint as possible. I love cooking, so eating communal (vegetarian) meals, will form an important part of the experience of staying here. All help in the kitchen would be appreciated. We very much hope that staying here will be a rewarding experience for volunteers. And for us too.
Help
We need help mostly outside the house on the land. This could be anything from seasonal tasks, such as helping to create new vegetable beds, to harvesting olives, our most important crop. Seeding, transplanting, watering and weeding, are year-round activities. Volunteers must have an interest in sustainable edible gardening. Enthusiasm is far more important than past experience. We have two cats, Bella and KitKat, who have access to the house, apart from the guest bedroom.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Malay: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Chinese (Cantonese): Beginner
Accommodation
The main house has two bedrooms, a large living room, breakfast room, well-equipped kitchen, and modern bathroom. The guest bedroom has twin beds, which are usually pushed together to make a king size bed. Please bear in mind that this is a rustic country house. The electricity capacity is low compared to what most city dwellers are used too. For this reason all appliances are low energy, while the hot water is provided by solar power.
Water is a scarce resource in Puglia; we have to get it delivered by a water truck, as well as collecting rain water from the roof. Any sewerage goes into a basic septic tank on the land, meaning that all cleaning products, and preferably toiletries too, should be eco-friendly. Living as sustainably as possible is a requirement for any volunteers. The house has good internet, but it is not suitable for streaming, downloading or online gaming.
What else ...
Puglia is a beautiful region of Italy, with fantastic beaches, historic towns and cities galore, superb food, and a climate which tends towards the dry and sunny for much of the year. Public transport is reliable and cheap. The house itself is served by a very useful bus service from Brindisi, the most convenient airport for visitors. And the nearest town, Ostuni, is a pleasant thirty minute walk away along country lanes. Both Ostuni and Brindisi are on the main railway line from Rome. I am happy to go into much greater detail with prospective volunteers.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Secure parking for campervan. No space for motorhome, but could park on the lane behind house.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
KitKat
Bella
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (9)
I've spent 1 week with Patrizio in the Ostuni countryside and it's been nothing but positive !
Patrizio makes sure that everything runs smoothly. From the messages telling you how to get to Ostuni, to the cup of tea at 11am when you're picking olives. Not to mention his talent as a cook. Every… read more
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I've spent 1 week with Patrizio in the Ostuni countryside and it's been nothing but positive !
Patrizio makes sure that everything runs smoothly. From the messages telling you how to get to Ostuni, to the cup of tea at 11am when you're picking olives. Not to mention his talent as a cook. Every… read more
I very much enjoyed spending time with Patrizio. He is… read more
Tilly and Bella were the most relaxed pets that we ever met and were very welcoming. Sadly we… read more
Overall, we had a great experience, mostly, because Pat and Susan were… read more
