Learn about no dig vegetable gardens on Lake Como, Italy

Details

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  Description

  After several years living abroad I have returned to my hometown on Lake Como where I am dedicating to horticulture.
  I have currently setup three gardens at different altitudes and climates, growing a wide range of crops.
  I follow principles of permaculture, no-dig/no-till, regenerative agriculture. These methods focus on improving the soil and the ecosystems around.
  
  I am fully dedicated to food self sufficiency, and for the last five years I have maintained complete independence with vegetable production.
  I really like cooking particularly traditional italian recipes and some asian cuisine, and one of the aspects I like the most of vegetable gardening is processing and storing the produce: canning, fermenting, drying, etc.
  
  Other than vegetables I have some fruit trees on the land and I enjoy foraging too (mushrooms, chestnuts and some wild herbs)
  With another family I share some laying hens and this year I will start growing rye for flour production.
  
  I welcome volunteers to help and learn about this kind of lifestyle, I prioritise someone who has a keen interest in gardening and at least some basic experience, to make this opportunity most valuable for both sides.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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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

  Apart from all things related to gardening, volunteers can learn about Italian traditional cuisine and culture.
  My background is in music and audio engineering, I build and repair audio electronics and I play guitar and synths.
  In my spare time in enjoy travelling, hiking, free camping, fishing, and generally spending time in nature.

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  Help

  Winter and early spring we prepare for the new growing season. Typical jobs include making and spreading compost, clearing ground, prune trees, cut firewood, build fences and trellis, sow first seedlings, set up irrigation systems.
  From spring until late summer we are constantly making new seedlings and transplanting them, keeping the ground well irrigated and free of weeds.
  Harvesting of new crops starts in March and throughout the whole summer until mid autumn we focus a lot on storage crops, and processing the harvests for preservation.
  We cook various recipes to be canned or frozen, make pickled vegetables, fruit jams, tomato sauce, sriracha chili sauce, ajvar, kimchi, vinegar, corn flour for polenta and dry fruits and vegetables with an electric dehydrator
  Autumn is a great time for foraging mushrooms and chestnuts.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent

  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

  I live alone in an independent house with garden.
  I can host a maximum of two volunteers, either in the same room, or in two separate ones.
  The garden, living room, kitchen and bathrooms are shared spaces.
  Meals can be shared together or not depending on individual preference. Either way volunteers are expected to help with food preparation and cleaning up.
  The food I can provide is a variety of seasonal vegetables from the garden, fruit, eggs, cheese, legumes. Meat is normally consumed once per week.

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  What else ...

  The areas where the fields are located offer a great mix of outdoor activities: hiking, swimming, skiing, climbing, mountain biking, fishing, mushroom foraging, wild camping, paragliding,...
  Bikes, kayaks, fishing gear will be available for the volunteers and I am keen to personally show around the area and share activities whenever time allows.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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