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Description
This is a permaculture and holistic natural lifestyle project, born in 2021. We are located in the Simeto river valley, a few minutes away from the small town of Paternò. Our land is a 1,7 hectares citrus grove with blood oranges, mandarins, clementines, pomegranates, olives, aloe and vegetable gardens for home consumption.
We are a family of 3 people, 4 dogs and 1 cat. The humans are a young couple, Carlo and Federica and Lidia, Federicas mother.
We tend to our land with love and we try to live a simple life in contact with nature. We research ancient and new precious wisdom that teaches us how to value and transform all that nature has to offer. We dabble in the transformation of the fruits of our land in juices, jams, herbal medicine and cosmetics. We study the arts and techniques that help us build and embellish this place. And we research those practices and wisdom that lead us to rediscover our true being, uncontaminated by the folly our modern world.
Having settled here only two years ago we are still in a phase of design and transformation, with the intention of:
*Diversifying the crops and creating a food forest where now there are only citruses.
*Renovating existing structures and building new ones using natural construction
*Expand the activities held on site to include events, training courses, artistic and holistic activities.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Coming to visit us as volunteers you will be able to taste the daily atmosphere of a small family run organic farm and learn through direct experience on the field theories and practices of natural agriculture, permaculture, natural construction, recycling and conscious consumption, vegan cooking, natural diet and medicine, communal living and much more. All of this practised with a special attention to a harmonious interaction with nature and the elements.
We collaborate in various projects with other similar realities near us so you will have the opportunity to know other farming and communal projects.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Depending on the month of the year we will be busy picking and transforming our fruits, or in other management works like pruning and fertilizing but also in construction or for any other extraordinary jobs dictated by the necessities of the time.
Harvesting is from January to March for citruses, in October pomegranates, grapes and wine making, olives in November. The help we ask is for these tasks and the daily management of the house, communal areas and vegetable gardens.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
Guests will be accommodated in a camper, properly heated in the winter. And tents or dormitory when its not too cold. We can provide tents, mattresses and sleeping bags. The diet we offer is vegan/vegetarian but you are always free to eat whatever you like.
What else ...
In the winter we suggest you bring waterproof shoes and layered clothing because it can still be warm during the day but go below zero in the nights!
Nearby apart from the Simeto valley and the small town of Paternò there are many beautiful places to visit in your free time like Etna volcano, the city of Catania, etc.
Paternò station is reachable from Catania by train and bus even though the information isn't easily found online, please don't hesitate to ask us for help to plan your arrival!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have enough space for one medium large campervan, max 7mt long. can also be hooked up to electricity and running water to fill tanks.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
