Join our family and help with the olive harvest in south Crete, Greece

Greece

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Host rating
Feedback
25
Last activity
24/09/2022
Nº of Facebook friends
258
Reply rate
100.0 %
Average reply time:
within 8 days
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Availability

2022

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are olive farmers in south Crete. Our small family is me, Catia from Switzerland, and my husband Dimitris from Crete. During the summer we rent four rooms in our house for guests from all over the world. In the wintertime we are working with the olives.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
...
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What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Travellers will be fully integrated in our family. They can learn the cretan way of life: Today is life, tomorrow never comes. Dimitris is a professional cook and will prepare for you typical greek food with fresh ingredients from our garden and our animals.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We need some help for the picking of the olives and for cultivating the trees, during the months of November, December and January. It is really hard work. You need to be in very good physical condition and you should love to be outside in the nature. We are highly depending on the weather conditions, because we can harvest only on sunny days. This means that your free days are irregular and will sometimes be on rainy days. There can be also some small tasks for the maintenance of our garden, the feeding of our animals and the household. But mainly we are looking for someone, who supports us with the olives.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
Greek: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Serbian: Fluent
Accommodation
You will have your own room in our house with heater and a shared bathroom.
What else ...
In your off-time you can go to see and cuddle the goats, sheep, rabbits and poultry. Pick some oranges and mandarins directly from our fruit trees, fresh eggs from the stable and vegetables from our garden. Take our dog Hermes for a walk through the olive groves around our village.

We also recommend you a hiking tour in the Asterousia mountains that you can see from our balcony. Near our home there are four famous archaeological sides, that you can visit. Explore the beautiful beaches of south Crete for example Matala (distance from our house: 30 Minutes by car) and enjoy winter swimming or make a tour in the wonderful Messara valley with our bicycle.

If you have enough of the quiet village life you can go to the city of Heraklion. There is no bus connection from our village to Heraklion. But if you want to use public transport, we can bring you to Agii Deka with our car and there are hourly bus connections to Heraklion or Mires.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

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Feedback left by and about host (25)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

09/07/2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Marko)

Marko is a very strong and keen workawayer and he was always happy and motivated to harvest our olive trees. He had a lot of fun driving our truck, he volunteered to cook some tasty German meals for the whole team and he repaired our bicycle. With all of the other workawayers he was very friendly, always ready to help and he organised team… read more

(Excellent )

04/07/2022

Left by Workawayer (Marko) for host

I visited Catia and Dimitri in November and December 2021 and helped with the olive harvest. It was an indescribably beautiful time, an ideal mixture of pleasant work, conversations, good Greek cuisine and a lot of warmth. I look back on it fondly and am very grateful for it. My first workaway... a great experience.

(Excellent )

13/01/2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Charlotte & Guillaume)

The olive harvest 2021 was so easy and funny because of Charlotte and Guillaume. Charlotte had so much energy and ran in the olive fields like a Duracell bunny and Guillaume was strong enough to work for a long time with the heavy tool and to lift big bags full of olives. Both of them learned the different tasks very quickly and have been able to… read more

(Excellent )

12/01/2022

Left by Workawayer (Charlotte & Guillaume) for host

Do not hesitate for a second to come and harvest the olives with Catia and Dimitris. Our stay of just over a month was perfect. We discovered a new passion:) Thanks for everything. The rooms are top, Dimitris' cuisine is excellent and galore, and Catia's enthusiasm is present every day. We can't wait to come back to Vagionia one day! Especially… read more

(Excellent )

21/12/2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Madita)

Meeting wonderful people like Madita is our motivation for being a workaway host. Madita is like the sun, with a warm personality, always shining and smiling. She was a good and social companion for us and every single volunteer which came to our home during her stay. No matter the nationality, age or attitude, Madita was friendly and helpful to… read more

(Excellent )

21/12/2021

Left by Workawayer (Madita) for host

Thank you Catia and Dimitris for opening your home and hearts and allowing us to be part of your world for a while! It’s been a truly wonderful experience from beginning to end and I can only recommend you as hosts to future workawayers. I was greeted with kindness and openness and felt welcome from the first moment. The accommodation is super… read more

(Excellent )

08/01/2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Sebastian)

Sebastian was ready to jump in for a last minute workaway effort and joined us for the last days of the olive harvest. He arrived at 9 a.m. and half an hour later he started working in the field. We appreciated very much his physical strength and his passion to work with the heavy harvest tool for hours without getting tired, especially after… read more

(Excellent )

08/01/2021

Left by Workawayer (Sebastian) for host

I was very happy and thankful to have been invited to this place to stay for a bit more than two weeks in December. I arrived towards the finish of the olive harvest and stayed nearly until the last tree. At arrival the family made me feel the most welcome and immediately integrated in their life, cozy home and everyday structure – and I was ready… read more to start!

The harvest was extraordinarily well and efficiently organized and we did not work on rainy or possibly rainy days. It felt like doing the harvest on a professional level, a worthwhile experience, in good atmosphere and with tasty lunchbreak-picnic in the fields. Although the work is physically demanding, we always knew there would be a reward at the end of the day: Dimitris cooked outstanding evening meals, traditional Cretan cuisine, but the sort of menue you usually don’t get to order in restaurants when just travelling as a tourist on Crete. We spent memorable evenings along with interesting talks, good wine and sometimes rakí.

It was kinda hard for me to start writing this review knowing that Kostas did pass away a few days after I left the place. All the more I am happy to have met him while the possibility was still there because he was an extraordinary character for whom I felt instant sympathy and esteem. He has always been with us in the olive fields and acted like a truly old stager in the best sense of the word, knowing the fields very well, having the strategy and overview of the whole work process. It felt like having a patron with us.

Regarding their home and all it involves, it’s truly amazing and inspiring what Catia’s vision created out of this place, in the middle of an otherwise quite traditional non-touristic Cretan village. I have the highest respect for Catia‘s attitude, ambitions, open-mindedness and hospitality – all that while working hard every year for several months in the olive fields and having to organize a lot concerning their house, animals, guests and customer relations.
Dimitris‘ and Catia’s ‚Villa Elefthería‘ has become an open inviting place for workawayers as well as for travellers who like to stay in a comfy temporary home with possibilities to hike in the surroundings, with several beaches in easily reachable distance by car – while having the chance to experience a typical Cretan village life at the same time.

In addition to all, it was a huge bonus to get to know Elisa and Davide, two other workawayers staying at the time spreading good vibes, who impressed and inspired us all with their approach towards life as literally one big journey, their talents as photographers, some wonderful Italian dishes and their loosening Italian humour.

I’m very grateful for this experience, thanks a lot for everything!

(Excellent )

28/12/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Davide & Elisa)

Davide and Elisa have been sent to us from heaven, when we have been in the middle of the olive harvest, all of us a bit tired and burned out. With their fresh and funny spirits they have brought new energy and motivation to the team and we have worked one months together in a happy and pleasant atmosphere. Elisa was working a lot with the heavy… read more

(Excellent )

28/12/2020

Left by Workawayer (Davide & Elisa) for host

Our Experience in this workaway was a fully immersion in the Cretan Culture. It was very pretty organized and we enjoy a lot the team that worked every day with us. When you are in contact every day with nature and amazing people everything gone more easy and simple. We were welcomed by Catia, Dimitri, Kostas like family , the room was great and… read more

(Excellent )

11/09/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Jacob)

Jacob stayed with us for one month and helped us with the olive harvest. We have known him as a funny and uncomplicated person. Although the work was very hard, he cut his teeth and wasn't absent even for one day. We remember Jacob especially for his entertaining skills, singing and playing guitar after dinner and for his funny jokes and comments.… read more

(Excellent )

18/01/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Calypso & Shoshana)

Calypso and Shoshana have gifted us with their presence for five weeks. Two weeks they have worked very hard for the olive harvest and the rest of the time we have spent with cooking, weeding the garden, clean out the stables, cutting weed and feeding the animals, cutting and collecting wood and preparing manure to fertilize the olive trees. All… read more

(Excellent )

16/01/2020

Left by Workawayer (Calypso & Shoshana) for host

Our stay on Crete was magical. It felt like home when we left! We already miss Catia, Kostos, Dimitris, Hermis, Zorro, and Eleni. The olive picking is fun (and hard work!) but if you have ever worked outside before or worked on a farm then it will be no problem. There was always a beautiful picnic halfway through, and at the end of the day… read more

(Excellent )

10/02/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Anna)

Anna is a very young and courageous woman and she was a great help for the olive picking. She was never to tired to work or to learn new things. With big joy she helped in the kitchen and prepared the breakfast for the whole workaway team. Her cheesecake was a dream. The Cretan country side is a complete different world from Annas home, she… read more

(Excellent )

10/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Anna) for host

Oh, I loved so much being at this project and one month was absolutely not enough. The work is interesting to learn and while working you have the most amazing view on the mountains around. Picking period is the most beautiful one, everything is so fresh and green. We went for some hiking trips all together there is so much to see.
We had lot of… read more

(Excellent )

15/01/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Andre)

Andre is a high motivated and hard working man and the keenest workawayer that we've ever had. He was most happy outside in the nature gathering and burning branches and harvesting olives. Even to grab and deliver dung was a fun for him. He is a warm and friendly person who got incredibly quick into the family and the Cretan way of life. We have… read more

(Excellent )

12/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (Andre) for host

Ich war bei Catia, Dimitri und Costas über Weihnachten /Silvester als Volontär. D. H. Ich habe bei der Olivenernte und im Garten geholfen, alles was so an Arbeit angefallen ist.
Es war eine wunderbare total entschleunigende Zeit.
Perfekt zum runterkommen.
Kein Konsumgedanke trotz Feiertage, total schöne sonnige Arbeitstage, genauso wie Dauerregen… read more

(Excellent )

07/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Lauren & Pierre)

Lauren and Pierre are vagabonds from the French country side and they fit perfectly in our family. They helped us with the olive harvest and came back to paint a giant olive tree on the walls of our studio and to lay floorboards on our patio. We love Lauren's painting and cooking skills and Pierre is a strong and professional handyman who assisted… read more

(Excellent )

27/02/2018

Left by Workawayer (Lauren & Pierre) for host

We went there the first time to harvest olives and we had a really good time so we almost fell in love with the vagionia village and for sure with Catia, Dimitris and Costa. The work is hard but not so much and they know how to make it not so hard ( siga siga ;) ), at the end of the day Dimitri cooked every time à nice meal. We kind of found a new… read more

(Excellent )

03/02/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Andrea)

Having Andrea with us during the olive harvest was a big joy. She was a very hard-working helper and most of all a wonderful companion. She arrived in the morning and we did a awesome hinking tour with her and in the evening she was a part of the family. Because of her kindliness and her openness, Andrea gets very fast in a good relationship with… read more

(Excellent )

02/02/2018

Left by Workawayer (Andrea) for host

I can't describe how much I enjoyed my stay with these lovely people!
From the first moment I knew I am in a good place, Catia is a very warm person, interested in a wide range of topics, so its a pleasure talking with her. Dimitris' cooking skills are amazing, always delicious, never missing anything. Kostas is a fun, cosmopolitan man, speaking… read more

(Excellent )

11/01/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Nadya)

We have been very lucky having Nadya with us for the olive harvest. Nadya was not only very bright and motivated for working, she was also a great entertainer. During the breaks, the whole harvesting team enjoyed her spontaneous jokes and her entertainment program, which she prepared the evening before. She was always the first who wanted to start… read more

(Excellent )

08/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Nadya) for host

i worked at catia for a week. at this time we have read olives. I learned a lot about this work. I was really happy to work with catia. she manages to make the work a joyous experience and create a positive mood! the work seems almost secondary. Catia is an open, humorous and sensitive person. During her free time she did great trips with us… read more

(Excellent )

22/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Stella)

Stella is a wonderful young person. She is physically and mentally strong and ready to jump into new adventures with enthusiasm and self confidence. During the three weeks that she lived in our home and helped us with the olive harvest we have seen her always happy. She was a big help and understood very quickly, how she should pick the olives.… read more

(Excellent )

22/12/2017

Left by Workawayer (Stella) for host

I had an amazing time with Catia, Dimitris and Kostas this month in south-Crete!
The olive picking is really nice to do: working all day in the beatiful olive fields and with a delicious picknick everyday.
Although the work itself can be hard, it was never too much: we took many breaks and didn't need to hurry, because "it's not necessary, don't… read more

(Excellent )

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