Organic and permaculture farm in front of the sea is looking for help in the northwest region of Liguria, in Italy

Infos

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  Description

  Hello folks, I’m Mattia, and I’m from Varazze (SV), in the northwest region of Liguria, Italy.
  
  About the place
  
  In 2021, I took stewardship of my grandfather's land, a 1.5-hectare field that had fallen into neglect over the years. Since then, much of the property has been brought back to life. Today, the land is home to around 300 olive trees and seasonal vegetable gardens that provide fresh produce throughout the year. My garden follows a no-dig gardening approach — compost-based, using self-produced heirloom seed varieties
  
  My life project
  
  I am developing a food forest based on permaculture and agroforestry principles. The heart of this project involves creating a network of interconnected ponds across the terraced fields. Some will serve as natural swimming oases for relaxation and recreation; others will support cultivation and irrigation. Together, these water features will form a living system that enhances biodiversity and transforms the landscape into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.
  
  About me
  
  My connection to this land runs deep, I spent my childhood in close contact with nature. Before taking on this project, I spent my summers working as a lifeguard at the local lido, and since 2013, I have been traveling extensively through Australia, Asia, South America, and the US. Along the way, I trained as an holistic operator, studying crystal therapy, Reiki (second level), dowsing, Culinary Therapy, and yoga. Having been a Workaway volunteer myself, I understand firsthand what makes the experience rewarding—and what makes it challenging—so I am committed to creating a welcoming, balanced environment for those who come to help bring this land to life.
  
  About you
  
  I am looking for volunteers who are genuinely interested in land stewardship and want to contribute to a living, evolving project. Your help will focus on daily tasks that support my food self-sufficiency—not commercial production, but personal use only.
  
  What you'll help with:
  
  Olive grove & land care – seasonal pruning, harvesting, and general maintenance
  Gardening- planting, transplanting, harvesting, and mulching using compost-based methods and self-saved heirloom seeds
  General upkeep – housekeeping, small renovations, and possibly light construction projects
  
  This is a hands-on experience with varied work depending on the season. No prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to learn and a genuine interest in sustainable living.
  
  Tips for good practice
  
  Please be mindful of water and electricity use. I rely on a phyto-remediation water system with limited filtering capacity, and water is heated electrically—so it is important to switch the system off when not in use. Please also take care of the house, plants, and tools.
  
  I welcome first-timers and beginners, though I have a strong preference for those with some experience who can bring valuable insights. I believe dialogue is the foundation of good relationships, so I am looking for people willing to build a genuine connection and exchange.
  
  Phone rule: This experience is not suited for people heavily dependent on phones and technology. I keep my own use to a minimum to foster a deeper connection with the land and the people around me, and I invite workawayers to do the same—keeping devices in a phone box and checking them only when necessary. I am looking for people who would rather walk in the fields than scroll on their phones.
  
  Be serious: Please contact me only if you are motivated, interested, and serious. This means maintaining clear communication, replying to messages in a timely and serious manner, and working together to arrange the best possible experience for both of us. When someone contacts me, I reply as soon as possible to arrange a video call so we can get to know each other better.
  
  Meals: I generally share one main meal per day (in the evening), but workawayers are welcome to use the kitchen and prepare any additional meals on their own.
  
  Hours: Help is needed for 5 hours per day.
  
  Accommodation: There is space in front of the house to pitch a tent, park a camper van, or sleep in my van parked on the property. Alternatively, there is a bedroom in my parents' house (second floor with private bathroom) within the property.
  
  I live alone in a house with my two dogs (Dafne and Zeus) and my cats (Marilù and Pistillo),.The house is located at the top of a hill, just a 10–15-minute walk from Varazze, and offers a beautiful sea view. My parents live in a separate house on the same property.
  
  Great! If you've read this far, I'm sure you're very interested in my project—so please reply with the message: Hakuna Matata."

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Culture

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Ferme

  

  Arts du spectacle

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Photographie

  

  Musique

  

  Langues

  

  Auto-stop

  

  Histoire

  

  Jardinage

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Livres

  

  Astronomie

  

  Art et design

  

  Architecture

  

  Animaux

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Randonnée

  

  Camping

  

  Plage

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  I can offer a staying in a beautiful place with a marvellous view of the sea. The area is characterised by many small costal towns with nice beaches and blue water, as well as trekking on the surrounding mountains.
  
  Travellers will have the possibility to work close-contact with nature, mainly by working with olive trees, saffron fields and garden. They will be exposed to permaculture farming principles, that I have learned in specialised trainings.
  
  I am also an open-minded person who likes to share experiences with new people, and acquire new points of view bout the world. As I love cooking and yoga, travellers can exchange their knowledge, ideas and interests in such activities too.

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  Aide

  Tasks may vary depending on the needs of the season. Travellers should be prepared to work in warm temperatures during summer and colder conditions in winter.
  
  Olive tree care – pruning, harvesting
  
  Saffron cultivation – picking and cleaning the delicate flowers
  
  Gardening – transplanting, harvesting, mulching, and other hands-on work.
  
  Occasional tasks – general maintenance, small renovations, and housekeeping

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Courant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
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  Hébergement

  Accommodation consists in a queen bed in a private room in my house. Otherwise it is possible to set a tent outside the house. The place consists of a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom, while outside there is a lovely dining area. From everywhere you have an amazing view on the sea and the town.

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  Autres infos...

  The area is part of the UNESCO site "parco del Beigua" characterised by typical Mediterranean wild plants and wild animals like foxes, wild pigs, and more rarely wolfs.
  The place is 45 minutes by train from Genova, the major city in Liguria, and 15 minutes from the city of Savona. By train you can easily reach the world famous cost of the "cinque terre".
  There are beaches all along the cost, some of which are in 10-15 minutes walking dinstance from the accommodation.
  The region is well-known for its mountains, with many trekkings, walks, montain bike routes and climbing walls.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  You can set up a laptop either on a desk in the private bedroom or outside on the patio. The Wi-Fi is accessible and works well.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  We have a private parking

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Un

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  Mes animaux

  Dafne (8 ans)

Sécurité du site

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