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SUMMER 2026 — WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU! MID-JUNE TO EARLY AUGUST
Hello! We are a family of five: Gea, Lauro, and three young children (7, 5, and almost 2). We live on our small farm on the Pratomagno mountain, in a wild and less-visited corner of Tuscany. Our main activity is beekeeping — Lauro has been an organic beekeeper for over ten years — and we also keep chickens, tend a small berry plantation, and grow our own vegetables. I work from home in the field of organic agriculture and agrobiodiversity, for national and international organisations. I'm bilingual Italian/English (my mother is South African), and so are the kids — though they always appreciate more English practice beyond what they get from me!
Lauro works on the farm/homestead project 100%, he has been an organic beekeeper for 10 years, and is a talented handyman, with special skills in carpentry. He is always busy with some building, fixing or renovation work inside and outside the house. In addition to taking care of the children and helping out in our farm project, I work from home for national and international research and development organization in the field of organic agriculture and agrobiodiversity. I am bilingual Italian/English (my mother is South African), and the kids are too but we’d love them to get more English practice beyond what they get with me.
We have two cats and a lovely dog, Timo, who lives outdoors and can’t wait for someone to go on walks with him.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Interests
Sustainability
Farming
Music
Plant care
Carpentry
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Mountain
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
By spending some time with us you could be immersed in a very different experience from that of post-card Tuscany, but possibly very rewarding in terms of contact with nature and small-scale farming as well as with a small but vibrant community of other young families (some of which are fellow farmers or artisans).
Au Pair Help
Further details can be found here
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
This summer (2026) we are looking for one person to join our family life for at least one month — ideally someone who genuinely enjoys being around young children and doesn't mind the beautiful chaos that comes with three of them.
The core of what we need is someone to look after our youngest while I work from home in the mornings, and more generally to be a present, playful and caring figure for all three kids — joining them for outdoor time, creative play, meals, and whatever the day brings. The older two are curious, energetic and great company; the little one is at that wonderful age where everything is new and exciting.
In exchange for around 5 hours of help per day, Monday to Friday, we offer free board and lodging, shared family meals, and a small pocket money contribution. Afternoons and weekends are entirely yours to explore the mountain, the river, the surrounding villages — or simply to be part of whatever we're doing, if you feel like it.
We're not looking for a babysitter who counts the hours. We're looking for someone who wants to feel at home with us and is curious about our farming life and settings.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Accommodation
We have two options, depending on what suits you best.
The first is a private room with a bunk bed on the top floor of the house — the same floor where we live. Just a few steps down, on the ground floor, there's a fully equipped bathroom for your exclusive use.
The second option is for those who like a bit more independence and don't mind a touch of adventure: a small wooden cabin mounted on a farming cart, right next to the house on our land. It has a window, a door, and a futon bed and small table and storage space.
We like cooking but we are also very happy to taste new recipes if you also enjoy sharing your cooking skills! We have no dietary restrictions and prefer to host volunteers who are willing/able to eat a varied diet (ours is not rich in meat and mostly based on local/seasonal products) with not too many limitations. While we fully respect personal choices and needs, we wish to be able to share meals as easily as possible! We don't routinely drink alcohol but enjoy a beer or glass of wine every now and again or when we have friends visiting. We would prefer not to host smokers, even if they would be smoking out of the house.
What else ...
Summer on the Pratomagno is wonderful. July and August up here are warm and breezy, while the valley below swelters — and the mountain has plenty to offer. A fifteen-minute walk downhill through the woods brings you to the Ciuffenna river, with clear water, natural pools and quiet spots to swim or simply sit. The surrounding area is full of small hilltop villages and unhurried Tuscan life.
If you do want to venture further, we're happy to give you a lift down to Loro Ciuffenna to catch the bus, or to Montevarchi for the train — just with a bit of advance planning on both sides, as we coordinate around family and farm life. Bear in mind that July and August are peak tourist season in Florence, Siena and Arezzo, so the mountain itself is often the best choice!
Depending on the season and what's happening on the farm, there may also be opportunities to join Lauro with the bees, help with the vegetable garden, or take part in whatever project he has on the go — always with something to learn if you're curious.
One thing that surprises most people who come to stay with us in the summer is the social life. We have a constant flow of friends, fellow farmers, wwoofers and visitors from all over Italy and beyond — impromptu dinners, weekend pizzas in our oven, neighbours dropping by. Our au pair last summer told us she had never expected to find so much company in a mountain home. If you're someone who thrives on genuine human connection alongside quiet mountain mornings, you'll feel at home.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We are happy to find a good spot for your van around the house.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Timo
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