Welcome to our Italian olive paradise in Umbria, Italy

Infos

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  Description

  Welcome to my villa in Umbria - with a panorama you'll never forget!
  We're all about 'place'...genius loci that's what I fell in love with some +20 years ago when I bought and rebuilt this historic stone farmhouse 1 hour from Rome and 20 min from Orvieto, Umbria. I rebuilt this historic stone farmhouse and restored the abandoned olive groves and planted more to have a 1 ha. organic olive farm from which we produce excellent EEVO .
  
  From my farmhouse you will wake up every morning to breathtaking views over the Tiber River and the WWF Oasis natural park- a paradise for nature lovers, bird watchers & photographers and anyone who wants to reconnect with peace and Nature. The villa has a private pool, antique trees , a garden and a calm, welcoming atmosphere. The property sits on a 'mesa' surrounded by olive groves, wheat fields, green hills (macchia mediterranea) and a castle and you can walk just 1 km to the nearby town of Guardea where there's everything (except shopping malls) and public transport to Orvieto & Rome.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide dans une ferme

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Culture

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Ferme

  

  Livres

  

  Randonnée

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Danse

  

  Sports nautiques

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Histoire

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Musique

  

  Photographie

  

  Langues

  

  Jardinage

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Art et design

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Architecture

  

  Nature

  

  Voile / bateau
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Local Connections
  We are in walking distance from Guardea where you can find just about everything and like all small towns, everyone knows everyone, including me. There are people of all ages who frequent the town center pizza/pastry/coffee shops and the sagras in the piazza.
  Below is the WWF Oasis of Alviano, well known for migratory birds it is frequented by numerous wildlife photographers as they have special observatory cabins.
  Our local guide Elena Venturi organizes Trekking Monti Amerini outings which are full of local history in Italian.
  
  Meal Preparing and Sharing Italian Style
  BBQ's and pot luck dinners are the way I keep in touch with our numerous nearby hilltop town friends. Some come to even play our piano or we have a round of billiards. This year we will also be visiting (here and there) with my friend and her lovely helpers at a nearby winemaker near Todi.
  
  Knowledge
  I have a B.Arch (Architecture) from SCI-ARC, Santa Monica & Ticino CH, studying further in Uni's in Venezia and Milano.
  My passion for design (problem solving) and building have given me vast experience with different techniques & materials in many countries.
  After many years of a hectic career in the metro/city life (in Italy & elsewhere), I transferred to the rural Umbria in 2013.
  Having traveled all my life for work I've learned; Italian, French, Portughese however I'm no longer fluent in German (second language) .
  
  ...and Skills
  -Design, construction & coordination, drawing, sketching, photography,
  -In my 'past life' I have learned sailing and have sailed extensively the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas
  so I have lived and worked the (galley) kitchen, the sails and timone so I understand working together as an 'equipe',
  -Embroidery, quilting
  -Canning and making jams,
  -Gardening and learning about herbs
  I love to cook, especially for appreciative people (if I'm not too tired).
  
  Olives...Since 2013 I have been learning and maintaining our property first hand.
  I have taken several courses of pruning olive trees since 2004.
  A few years ago I lately took a year long course to become a sommelier of extra virgin olive oil.
  
  
  Sharing others' stories, experiences, language, even recipes is a way of learning their culture while making new friends who might even enjoy returning.

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  Aide

  It's wonderful living in this little paradise - but keeping up with everything can be a challenge!
  I'm looking for someone who is not afraid of manual work by helping me :
  January-February-March
  we will be cleaning the olive groves down below:
  -carrying & cutting (sawing) the olive&apple wood,
  - loading then stacking the wood for drying,
  -cutting briars & unwanted vegetation,
  -moving and burning diseased branches.
  March-April-May
  we will be pruning olive trees:
  - gathering the wood & sawing/cutting
  -loading, moving then stacking any wood/branches for firewood,
  -moving and burning diseased branches.
  and cleaning & maintaining the grounds,
  June-July-August-
  we will be checking the health of the olives:
  -hanging plaques in trees for olive fly capture
  -pruning unwanted vegetation from olives
  -general cleaning & maintenance of grounds
  September
  preparing the grounds for the nets:
  -cutting grass
  -cutting briars & burning
  September-October
  you could be harvesting olives ,
  - moving large nets & baskets under trees,
  -taking them to the frantoio (olive mill) in the evening,
  -seeing how olives are milled,
  - tasting fresh cold pressed olive oil.
  ALL of this above can only be performed outside rainy weather and before dark
  Our schedule varies depending on the weather and the maturity of our olives, flexibility is required.
  
  Then there is:
  -Light garden care - I need to upgrade my composting and prepare future garden so permaculture knowledge is highly appreciated
  -Pool upkeep (I'll show you how, no worries if you've never done it before)
  - Occasional General house maintenance and cleaning
  
  Nothing too heavy or challenging - I just need a willing hand and someone who appreciates a calm, nature rich lifestyle.
  
  What you'll experience here:
  Staying here is not just about helping - it's about living. We're in the heart of Umbria, surrounded by small Etruscan & medieval towns, historic villages and stunning landscapes. In your free time you can explore places like Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, Todi, Assisi, Spoleto, Viterbo, Bomarzo...the list is long.
  I also like to spend time with my friends and often organize little dinners, sunset aperitifs or weekend outings - you'd be more than welcome to join! Whether it's a BBQ under the stars, a wine tasting with local friends or a visit to a sheep cheese maker, there's always something going on.
  You'll have the chance to immerse yourself in the pool, in non tourist/rural Italian life, slow down, enjoy the rythm of the countryside and be surrounded by beauty - natural, cultural and culinary.
  You WILL have a more rich experience if you speak basic Italian as most locals/visitors do not speak English.
  
  What I offer:
  -A comfortable room in a villa with a private bathroom
  -Delicious meals, (I love cooking if not too tired and we could cook together if you like!)
  -If you are here for the olive harvest you will also be going with me to the frantoio and learning about how EVOO is made, and the best part...tasting!
  -A peaceful and inspiring environment
  -Free time to explore our three regions which we border (Umbria, Lazio, Tuscany) or simply relax by the pool
  -Warm company and real cultural exchange.
  
  If you are friendly, open and respectful and you enjoy both solitude and good company, I think you'd feel right at home here.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Italien: Courant
  Français: Intermédiaire
  Portugais: Intermédiaire
  Allemand: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  I can help you with your English and Italian
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  Hébergement

  For the past twenty years I have been renting out our place as a summer vacation rental, receiving 5 stars for our hospitality.
  This summer we will remain closed and you will be staying in one of the available suites on the first floor or second floor (above the 'public' ground floor). You will have a bedroom with antique armoir and an ensuite bathroom adjacent to a shared living space. We provide bedding and towels however you will be responsible for washing them and keeping your area clean.
  Our utilities in Italy are very expensive so we are very aware of our consumption of electricty, gas and water which is scarce and a blessing. We do not have air conditiioning.
  I provide meals made of simple, healthy , km0/local grown food. If you have allergies or a special diet please let me know beforehand.

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  Autres infos...

  Utilities in Italy, water, gas & electricity have become very expensive so we pay attention not to waste them.
  We also pay attention to our plastic and food waste, while we have a kitchen compost (separate from our grass compost) we do appreciate attention to these values.
  Please take off shoes to go upstairs into the living spaces as they are hardwood floors.
  No smoking inside the house.
  Realize if you have the basic knowledge of Italian you will get more out of your experience since many locals (and visiting guests) do not speak english.

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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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  Mes animaux

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