Experience rural Sicily among fruit trees and the Hyblaean mountains near Siracusa, Italy

Infos

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  Description

  Ciao! I'm Islam — Palestinian, splitting my time between London and a small piece of land I bought three years ago near the village of Cassaro, in the Hyblaean Mountains west of Siracusa. After years of city life I came here to build something closer to nature and to myself: a place for crafts, building, music, and slow living.
  
  I built my stone house almost entirely by hand, learning stonemasonry from a local craftsman — it's now finished, with a few last details to add, and I'd love to pass on what I learned to anyone curious. I'm a jack of all trades more than a master of one, so whatever your skillset, there's likely a project here for it.
  
  What's going on right now:
  
  Daily tasks — weeding, watering, collecting firewood, tending fruit trees
  Bigger builds — fencing, a polytunnel/plastic greenhouse, a wood store and a Pizza oven :)
  
  What you get in return:
  Accommodation in a tiny house/caravan on-site, a working compost toilet and running water, home-grown food where possible, and a genuine window into off-grid, low-cost land life — happy to talk through how I got here and how affordable it can be, especially if you're young and thinking about a similar move.
  
  Downtime:
  Clean air, zero light pollution (proper stargazing), and warm-weather sea nearby. I highline, climb, and freedive — you're very welcome to join. Adventurous types will probably get first pick of the good jobs. Maybe.
  
  Let's jump on a video call first so we can get a feel for each other before you book anything in.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Langues

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Musique

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Life here is a real mix of hands, hobbies, and cultures. On the outdoor side, I slackline and climb regularly and I'm always up for company — no experience needed, I'm happy to teach. If you play an instrument, bring it: I play ney and darbuka and would love to jam, whatever your style or background.
  
  You'll also get stuck into proper Sicilian village life — the rhythms of a small mountain community, local produce, and Sicilian cooking, which I'm still learning myself and always keen to cook alongside someone. I'm Palestinian, so there's also a strand of Middle Eastern food and culture in the mix if that interests you — think za'atar, home cooking, maybe some Arabic poetry over dinner. And since I'm working on my Italian, if you're learning too, we can practice together.
  
  On the skills side: , sustainable/low-input gardening, and the practical realities of off-grid, communal living — all wrapped around a place that values self-sufficiency and doing things simply and intentionally.

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  Aide

  A day on the land
  
  We usually start the day together, have breakfast together, and figure out what needs doing based on the season and what's most pressing.
  
  The kind of things we might do together
  
  The regulars — daily things that keep the place running: watering, weeding, cooking, cleaning, emptying the compost.
  Keep-busy tasks — lighter, flexible tasks if you want to stay active without a big commitment: clearing ivy off the oak trees, pruning, collecting firewood, tilling under the olive trees.
  Bigger projects, if you're curious — I split my own longer-term work into things like solar electricity, digging a well, building a greenhouse, fencing, and firewood storage. These aren't things I expect volunteers to take on or deliver — they're just what I happen to be working on, and if you're interested in lending a hand or learning how it's done , you're welcome to join in.
  Seasonal tasks — tied to the calendar: grafting, planting, and harvesting.
  
  You'll usually end up doing a mix of all of these depending on the time of year — but if something particularly interests you (say you love the idea of well-digging, or you'd rather just potter with pruning and firewood), tell me and I'll factor that in.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Arabe: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Italien: Intermédiaire

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Still improving on my Italian but if you speak any other languages i am sure we'll enjoy some exchanges as i am a lover of languages and it was my field of study at University.
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  Hébergement

  The accommodation I offer is a cozy camper that I lived in before moving into the stone house. It comfortably hosts two people and provides a simple, off-grid experience. You'll have access to an outdoor compost toilet and a shower, though I should mention there's no hot water just yet—something I’m working on figuring out before winter arrives. The setup is basic but peaceful, ideal for those who enjoy a close connection to nature and are looking for an authentic, rustic lifestyle experience in the beautiful Sicilian countryside.
  
  I provide all the food, and we cook together. You'll get three meals a day plus snacks. Breakfast is usually granola, peanut butter, and other sweet/sugary things; dinner tends to be heartier and fattier; lunch and snacks are covered too. Everyone's dietary requirements are different, so we'll always talk that through before you arrive and adjust as needed.

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  Autres infos...

  I'm based near Cassaro, in the Hyblaean Mountains west of Siracusa. Heads up on transport: there's only one bus a day from the airport straight to Cassaro, and it doesn't run on Sundays — so timing your arrival around that can be tricky. Easier option: fly in and get yourself to Palazzolo Acreide or Canicattini Bagni, both of which have much more frequent connections, and I'll come pick you up from there.
  
  On your time off:
  
  This is proper Hyblaean plateau country, so there's a lot within easy reach:
  
  Pantalica Nature Reserve — right on the doorstep (it stretches across Cassaro, Ferla, Sortino, Buscemi and Palazzolo Acreide), with canyon trails, an ancient rock-cut necropolis, and good cycling routes through the Anapo Valley.
  Cavagrande del Cassibile — a striking gorge with natural swimming pools, a bit further out but well worth the trip in warm weather.
  Palazzolo Acreide — a small Baroque UNESCO town nearby, good for a slower afternoon: piazzas, local food, an old Greek theatre.
  Siracusa & Ortigia — the historic centre and old town, plus the coast if you're up for a swim or, if it's warm enough, joining me for a freedive.
  
  Beyond that — evenings are usually slow and social: cooking together, music if you play something, maybe a slackline session or a climb if you're around long enough to make a plan of it. It's not a packed schedule kind of place; downtime here mostly means actual downtime.

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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

  There's good mobile service in the area and i worked remotely from here, (Off-Grid but On-Net)

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  If your Camper is wider the 3m. it might not fit through my front gate

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Cet hôte a dit qu’il acceptait les personnes voyageant avec un animal.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

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