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Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
Italy - from Oct 2025 until Nov 2025 View all
Description
I enjoy outdoor life, both working outdoors (garden, agriculture, forest, maintenance of hiking trails etc) and hiking, bicycling & skiing. I enjoy working with others while I am independent with my tasks and happy to work on my own. I am also ready to work indoors as you can see from the list of my volunteering jobs below. Cooking - and eating - and learning about local cuisine and use of local ingredients is one of my interests. I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction, in particular history and contemporary society, I like seeing theatre and films, and love discussion on a wide range of topics.
Over the last three years, since I retired, I have been doing diverse volunteering jobs. A list below, I am happy to provide more information
- Kitchen work in the hut of the Finnish outdoor association, Suomen Latu ry, in Kiilopää, Lapland, 2 weeks in March and 2 weeks in September 2025.
- Garden work and diverse tasks in Sardinia at two places, 2 and 3 weeks in April-May 2025 via Workaway, reviews avaiable
- Helping with renovation of a flat in Valle d'Aosta and removal (painting, cleaning, packing, preparing the garden etc), 2 weeks in September 2024, organised myself
- Maintenance of hiking trails in Thorsmörk, Iceland. 3 weeks in June 2024, organiser: Icelandic Forest Service
- Helping in an organic farm, Sicily. 3.5 weeks in April 2024 via Workaway, review available
- Olive harvest, garden work and helping in the kitchen of an agriturismo, Puglia. 4 weeks in October -November 2023 via WWOOF Italy
- helping in renovation and reopening of an old camping site in Bretagne as well as closing down after the first season, in total three times, each 4-5 weeks in 2022-2023. Gardening, renovation, cleaning, maintenance. Reference letter available
Volunteering has proven to be a good way to me to learn new skils and more about a country and its habits and culture.
The main reason for retiring early was to stay abroad for longer time periods, enjoy outdoor life and learn new things by volunteering while I am still in good physical condition. I loved my work for the European administration and the possibility to contribute to the protection of the environment and human health while working with great colleagues from all EU Countries.
Interests
Writing
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Plant care
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Nature
History
Hiking
Gardening
Farming
Cycling
Culture
Cooking & food
Charity work
Camping
Books
Art & design
Architecture
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Swedish: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Italian: BeginnerMore details about my language interests
I would like to learn Italian by using my basic, beginner knoweldge. I am able to support others learning English (and Finnish and Swedish) e.g. via discussing, however, I have no formal teaching experience.
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Charity Work
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
DIY and building projects
Art Projects
More details about your skills
My working history of 40 years, and in particular the last 20 years in the international environment, has taught me a lot on how to ensure good common understanding on the goals of the work and on how to organise the work in practice. I am able to adapt to the different working cultures and to the needs of the situation. My university degree is on engineering.
In my free time I have been helping with setting up and maintaining vegetable gardens. I have been doing forest work (planting trees, cutting trees for fire work) at my cottage in Finland. I also like picking berries and mushrooms as well as fishing.
My mother tongue is Finnish and I am fluent in English and Swedish. In addition I speak some German and French. I would very much like to improve my basic Italian.
Age
63
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Special dietary requirements
Feedback
Tori and Gian Luca have a very nice way of planning the tasks and providing instructions and guidance. I learned a lot about pruning and gardening and also cooking.
It was… read more
The place is beautiful both due to its location in a lush valley and due to the way Angela has developed and manages… read more
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Friends
Feedback
Tori and Gian Luca have a very nice way of planning the tasks and providing instructions and guidance. I learned a lot about pruning and gardening and also cooking.
It was… read more
The place is beautiful both due to its location in a lush valley and due to the way Angela has developed and manages… read more
