Información de perfil
Evaluación del anfitrión
100 %
Last replied
25 abr 2024
Porcentaje de respuesta
100.0 %
Usually responds ≤ 2 dias
Comentarios
19
Correo verificado
Medallas (2)
Detalles
Descripción
Hello,
We are Alexandros and Claire. We live in the South Peloponnese in the village of Lagkada between mountain and sea. We moved to the beautiful area of Mani a few years ago with the will to create a village life and we quickly started working with olive trees.
Our olive groves are located in steep terrain and we are looking for volunteers to help with the harvest during the winter (November until January). We have been hosting volunteers since 2020 and the great experiences we have had mobilise us again every time. The olive harvest is a physical work - in a difficulty level similar to the grape harvest - that requires commitment, teamwork, and physical readiness.
The oil produced is for our own consumption and small-scale sales. Alexandros' main activity is the restoration of Byzantine churches and historical monuments, and Claire's main activity is being an office manager in an architect office. But olive production is a crucial part of our life as it allows us to be connected to our food consumption. While Claire is doing the logistics, Alexandros is in the fields and takes a break of 3 months during the winter to do the harvest.
During the rest of the year we need help to maintain the fields: it includes pruning the trees, burning branches and mowing the grass. There could be side projects such as painting, cutting wood, or constructing a dog house. During busy periods help is welcome for gardening, cooking, and looking after our two dogs.
We will do our best for you to have a holistic experience of the local life in Mani!
Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje
Práctica de idiomas
Jardinería
Construcción y bricolaje
Cuidado de animales
Ayuda en una granja
Cocinar para toda la familia
Ayuda doméstica
Mantenimiento general
Objetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión
Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje
You will have the opportunity to learn about land regeneration and maintenance, olive farming, and how to distinguish a good quality olive oil from another.
We both speak English and Claire, being originally from France, speaks French as well. We will be happy to share all about the local food, culture and ways of life - foraging, preserving food, history of the area, etc.
Mani is a peninsula that gathers charming villages on the coastline and the mountain. With its beautiful beaches, hiking paths, and a community of Europeans who live here permanently, it has the perks of being both wild and dynamic and you are of course free to go and discover it by yourself! We will make sure to recommend our favorite spots!
Lagkada is located 1h15 by car from Kalamata, where there is an International airport and bus connection between Athens and Lagkada.
In Lagkada, you will find a cafe that gathers villagers at multiple times of the day. In the next village, 15 mins from walking distance, is a good local taverna (our personal favorite).
The closest beach is 11km away by car. On this coastline, you will find other beaches but also the main villages (Agios Nikolaos, Stoupa and Kardamyli) where the local community congregates. There is public transport every day but we will gladly drive you ourselves whenever it is possible.
We look forward to host people that take initiative and can make the most of the opportunities provided. Together we can co-create a wonderful experience for both you and us!
Ayuda
Volunteers help 5 hours per day and 5 days per week with days off in exchange for meals and accommodation. The days off will not necessarily fall on the weekend (or on sunny days), the help in the fields being a dynamic activity that depends from the weather.
Although the fields are not certified organic due to the small scale of our activity, we produce exclusively organic extra virgin olive oil. Most of the fields have been abandoned by the owners and I work to bring these fields back to life, first by clearing the jungles of high weeds, then by pruning the trees, and finally by harvesting the olives, which is the only way to ensure that the trees will keep on producing. After a period of 5 years without being harvested, the tree stops producing and it is a part of our gastronomic heritage that we lose because it is a very high quality olive specific to the micro-climate of Mani.
The olive harvest includes the following tasks: pick olives / lay and move nets on the bottom / put olives in bags / burn branches and collect wood / prepare lunch & dinner.
The team spirit is a crucial part of this project : when an individual person joins into one team work, the daily effort becomes easier and more joyful.
Idiomas hablados
Greek: Fluido
Inglés: Fluido
Alojamiento
We offer accommodation in a cozy studio located under our house. It is fully equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and double bed and has a courtyard outside. It is suitable for couples, friends or individuals. We ask everybody to be responsible for the good running of the house and keep it a clean and livable space.
Food will be provided for breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as for days off and will be cooked by team members. Breakfast includes bread, butter, jam, oats, and fruits. Extra beverages (soda, beer, others) and special requests are not included.
Algo más...
- We ask people not to smoke in the house or while working.
- Social drinking is accepted but not drug or alcohol habits.
- If you have any mental or physical health issues please let us know so we can assess if this is the right place for you (including allergies, special dietary requirements etc.)
- The minimum length of stay requirement is 1 week.
Un poco más de información
Acceso a Internet
Acceso a Internet limitado
Tenemos animales
Somos fumadores
Puede alojar familias
Puede acoger a nómadas digitales
The house having WIFI, we can host digital nomads but only if you can follow the same schedule as the rest of the team. Please note also that the house does not have separate rooms to offer you full privacy.
Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas
You are more than welcome to come in your campervan but please note there are no parking on the premises. You will find parking spots at the square of the village, 100m from the house.
Podría aceptar mascotas
Este anfitrión dice que acepta a viajeros con mascotas.
¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?
Dos
Horas esperadas
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Comentarios (9)
Great to to learn every step of making Olive Oil!
We really enjoyed the time in the fields helping together with other workawayers and our great Host and the Dog!
We can highly recommend to stay with our now friends Claire and Alexandros!
They brought a fantastic range of skills to the table - carpentry, organizing, cooking, painting, etc, - and were ready to tackle any task with enthusiasm. Whether it was picking olives… read more
They are an enthusiastic young couple with who it was easy to communicate and coordinate. They integrated seamlessly to the team and contributed majorly in creating a team spirit.
We were happy to… read more
It was an incredible experience. We are very thankfull for Alex and Claire's welcoming.
The work in the fields can be hard sometimes, but always interesting, and the mood of the team was motivating. The area and the view from the house help us to rest after work,… read more
Comentarios
Son opciones de calificación adicionales para cuando los miembros dejan sus comentarios. Se muestra la calificación media dejada en cada opción.
Precisión del perfil:
(5.0)
Intercambio cultural:
(5.0)
Comunicación:
(5.0)
Great to to learn every step of making Olive Oil!
We really enjoyed the time in the fields helping together with other workawayers and our great Host and the Dog!
We can highly recommend to stay with our now friends Claire and Alexandros!
They brought a fantastic range of skills to the table - carpentry, organizing, cooking, painting, etc, - and were ready to tackle any task with enthusiasm. Whether it was picking olives… read more
They are an enthusiastic young couple with who it was easy to communicate and coordinate. They integrated seamlessly to the team and contributed majorly in creating a team spirit.
We were happy to… read more
It was an incredible experience. We are very thankfull for Alex and Claire's welcoming.
The work in the fields can be hard sometimes, but always interesting, and the mood of the team was motivating. The area and the view from the house help us to rest after work,… read more
Saray is a hard worker, constant and reliable in the tasks she does. Not only she quickly understood how the nets worked and developed an efficient approach but she also took on the… read more
The landscape is beautiful, the work is fulfilling, people are friendly even if they can't speak English and the food is amazing!
But what really stands out to me and makes this place such an incredible experience are Alex and Claire… read more
They proved to be reliable and brought an enthusiastic energy to our olive harvesting project. We could communicate and coordinate with them effortlessly and it was amazing to see how quickly they connected with the other volunteers. Their positivity and ability to help… read more
When we were in the fields, it was always hard work, but with plenty of breaks and very tasty food, the days passed very quickly.
With small excursions after the harvest and event suggestions for the weekend, there is also time to explore the area and get to know it… read more
In short-… read more
Tom's laid-back yet hardworking attitude was a consistent source of reliability. We could count on him for crucial tasks like working the ''lanara'' (a 2.5m long machine that puts down the olives and… read more
Beyond her hard work, Fie's sociable nature added a beautiful spirit to our team dynamic. Her openness… read more
Their impact went beyond the physical help; the atmosphere they created helped make each day a… read more
I had a lot of fun with them and the other volunteers, sharing good times and good memories.
Pruning is difficult, but Alexandros is very good at involving and helping you, this makes everything less tiring.
We had long and… read more
They reached out to help and they very fast became part of the team. Fast learners and hard workers, they fulfilled each day of harvest with strong dedication and enthusiasm.
Their drive to immerse themselves in the local culture amazed me particularly. With their sense… read more
Alex and Claire welcomed us warmly and we had a great time with them and the other volunteers.
Alex taught us so many things about greek history and culture (we loved our conversations during coffee… read more
Due to personal reasons I was only able to stay with them for one week but even during that short period of time I could feel their great hospitality and kind natures.
The work itself was hard physical work but Alexandros always tried to keep everyone in a good mood and… read more
We had the opportunity to help in different jobs and discover most of the olive process!
We also had time to visit this beautiful area, thanks to them, their help and tips !
Wr met beautiful people, shared a very nice volunteer house with a beautiful terrasse and amazing view !
Thank you… read more
They are both dynamic and easy-going people, curious and eager to give a hand. Their help was precious as we introduced them to different works, from sorting out olives and oregano to harvesting olives. Their capacity to adapt and learn made the transition from one… read more
