Join us in creating a magical garden in the countryside near Tivoli, central Italy

Infos

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  Description

  We invite you to become part of our small world 🏡 🫒 🌳 🦋 🐕🐈 🐭 🐍.
  
  We host one helper at a time for stays not shorter than one month, better if longer, and we value continuity and reliability in shared daily life and work.
  
  We live in a quiet rural area near Tivoli, surrounded by nature, where daily routines are simple, practical, and closely connected to the land.
  
  We are looking for people who enjoy hands-on outdoor work, can follow instructions carefully, and are able to work independently once shown. This is a practical environment where attention, responsibility, and a basic level of consistency are important.
  
  At the same time, we appreciate a calm and respectful human presence in daily shared moments, where openness and natural interaction are part of life here.
  
  We are currently looking for helpers starting from August 2026.
  
  Please read our profile before contacting us to be sure you might feel comfortable with what we ask and offer, and share your WhatsApp number so we can send you more details and proactively chat 🙂✍. We value open communication and would like you to send a brief message about your expectations for your stay. Please include the 'secret sentence' you'll find ahead.
  
  Our ongoing mission is to transform a piece of land into a magical garden, filled with vibrant flowers, lush greenery, and peaceful spaces. We welcome helpers who are willing to learn, help, and pay attention to detail. Only vaccinated guests also willing to provide a last-moment professional COVID test, are accepted (no DIY tests, please).
  
  About Us
  
  Hi, I’m Carlotta (62), and I live with Marco (69), our two dogs and now Tobia, a new cute cat. We are in the countryside, 7 km from Tivoli and 30 km from Rome. Our home is a small country house with 4,000 square metres of land. We maintain a balance between caring for our home, plants, dogs, the new cat, and ourselves.
  
  Our property is organized into three main areas.
  
  The central area includes the house, the main garden around it, the courtyard, lawn, workshop, and patio. This is the core living and working space, and you will help keeping it tidy and well maintained on a daily basis.
  
  Above the house there is an olive grove, where seasonal and maintenance work takes place.
  
  Below the house, between the garden and a small living stream with fish, frogs, land crabs, and other local wildlife, there are fruit trees and developing flowerbeds. This is a biodiverse and natural area where you will assist with both regular gardening tasks and, at times, more creative or project-based work as the garden evolves.
  
  Fifty to fifteen years ago, this land was abandoned. Since then, I’ve worked patiently and mostly by hand to restore it, like a "Little Turtle" 🐢 (Tartarughina), slowly making progress. The terrain is steep, so all the work is manual.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien

  Garde de maison et d'animaux
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Écriture

  

  Langues

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Ferme

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Musique

  

  Jardinage

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Livres

  

  Animaux

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Nature

  

  Danse
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  You’ll have the opportunity to learn about Italian culture, food, and language. I’m reasonably good at cooking, so you’ll pick up some tips on Italian cuisine along the way. We speak both English and Italian and will be happy to help you improve your Italian if you’re keen to learn.
  
  While we’re happy to share our knowledge and experience, we are unable to provide a paid position or help you find one.
  
  We are looking for quiet, independent helpers who are comfortable working on their own, but who also show basic openness, curiosity and some initiative in daily interactions and shared moments.
  
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  Work Hours
  
  In exchange for 25 in the garden or organising and cleaning projects, plus household and courtyard chores, we offer accommodation, meals, and a chance to be part of a rewarding project. Your free time will vary depending on the weather, and rainy days will likely be your rest days. Helpers are free to manage personal activities between 4:30/5 pm and 7:30/8 pm daily. Your days off may change depending on the weather, your help is needed on those days when it doesn't rain, or rains less. In Italy, it gets very hot around midday during the summer. For this reason, helpers could be asked to wake up early and work during the cooler morning hours — a common practice for those working outdoors and with the land.
  
  Meals
  
  Meals will be shared, and we enjoy cooking with fresh, local ingredients. Breakfast is around 8:00 am, lunch around 3:30/4 pm, and dinner around 8:30/9 pm. You’ll be expected to help with meal preparation and cleaning up afterward. We appreciate guests who are flexible with food and enjoy a varied diet, as we share everything, including meat. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate vegetarian or vegan diets.
  
  What to Bring
  
  • Shoes: It’s essential to bring sturdy shoes with non-slip soles for working in the countryside. We recommend bringing two pairs in case one gets wet or damaged. Please bring indoor clean slippers - perhaps a little more effective and less noisy than flip-flops.
  • Clothing: Please pack at least two long-sleeved t-shirts, and long trousers that are easy to wash. They will help protect you while working outdoors.
  • Personal Products: You should bring any personal care products you prefer, such as soap, shampoo, and anything you need for your skin. If you’re sensitive to insects, don’t forget to bring your preferred mosquito repellent.
  
  Language Requirements
  
  It’s important that guests are able to communicate reasonably well in either English or Italian. We will than be happy to help you improve your Italian, but you must already be able to interact independently.
  
  Location & Lifestyle
  
  We live in a quiet, remote area, 7 km from Tivoli and 30 km from Rome. The nearest train station is 6 km away, and buses to the station are unreliable. The closest village, about 2 km away, has a bus stop, bar, pizzeria, and a small square where you eventually can meet locals. This is an ideal spot for those who enjoy solitude, nature, and a peaceful environment away from city life.
  
  In your free time, you can explore the surrounding countryside, take walks among olive groves, or, if you can walk a lot, visit historical sites such as Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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  Aide

  What to Expect
  
  Tasks
  
  Tasks include a mix of gardening and outdoor work such as planting, weeding, maintaining flowerbeds, moving stones, compost handling, wood chipping, and small DIY or maintenance projects. Some household tasks are also part of daily life, such as setting and clearing the table and keeping shared spaces clean. It is essential that you already know how to sweep the floor quickly and effectively 🧹😜, and are able to understand and carry out basic instructions consistently.
  
  Work is practical and physically active, and we value helpers who are comfortable working outdoors, following instructions, and carrying tasks forward independently once shown. Attention to detail is important, especially in the final stages of completing a task.
  
  During the warmer months, work is organised around the weather, and we usually adjust the schedule to start earlier in the morning when needed.
  
  This is a hands-on environment and also a shared living experience. We work, eat, and spend parts of the day together, so a basic level of openness, respect, and natural interaction is part of daily life here. At the same time, we fully respect quiet moments and personal space, and we appreciate people who are comfortable with both independence and shared time.
  
  Helpers are expected to take part in simple daily routines and to contribute to a smooth and respectful household dynamic.
  
  • Animal Care: We have two friendly dogs, and part of your role will be helping to care for them, and to ensure they stay within the garden.
  
  • We need helpers who are comfortable helping outdoors and with their hands, who don’t mind getting dirty and enjoy the process of creating something special.
  
  • 📌 To show us you’ve carefully read the profile, please include the following exact sentence in your first message:
  
  “I’ve read and understood your full profile, I believe I match what you’re looking for, and I will read and listen carefully all future messages you send me via WhatsApp.”
  
  🙏 Applications without this sentence will not be considered.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant
  Italien: Courant

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  Hébergement

  You’ll stay on the top floor of our small cottage, with a private tiny room, studio, and bathroom. The space is cosy and comfortable, perfect for retreating after a day of work in the garden. Please note that we have air conditioning, so even though it can get quite hot in summer, your accommodation will remain cool and comfortable.
  
  We also ask that you bring indoor slippers, as we like to keep the space clean. Smoking is not allowed inside, and food is permitted only in the ground floor, no food is allowed in the private guest area.

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  Autres infos...

  What We’re Looking For:
  
  We live in a quiet countryside area surrounded by nature, about 7 km from Tivoli and 30 km from Rome. The nearest village is small but reachable, and the setting is ideal for people who enjoy a peaceful rhythm, outdoor life, and being close to nature.
  
  We host one helper at a time, which means the experience is quite close and personal. For this reason, we are looking for people who are comfortable with a calm, respectful, and cooperative shared living environment.
  
  It is important for us that helpers are able to communicate reasonably well in English or Italian, and feel comfortable following instructions and adapting to daily routines.
  
  This is not a “come and go” type of stay, but a shared project where consistency, reliability, and mutual respect are essential. We value people who are genuinely interested in the lifestyle here and who are willing to contribute positively to both the work and the daily atmosphere.
  
  We appreciate a friendly and balanced energy in the house, where everyone contributes to keeping a smooth and respectful environment.
  
  • Enthusiastic, reliable and agile individuals who love nature and enjoy working with their hands, willing to independently carry out the instructions given, and accepting corrections.
  • No prior gardening experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn.
  • Strong and responsible people who respect cleanliness and attention to detail.
  • Guests must be comfortable with dogs, as they’re part of our daily life.
  • You must be vaccinated against COVID and take a professional test before arriving.
  • We host one helper at a time, only for stays of one month or more. The longer you stay, the more you’ll become involved in the project!
  • For reasons related to the type of work and to previous experiences, we preferably host volunteers under 38 years of age.
  
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  Important Notes
  
  • Internet Access: We have Wi-Fi, but it’s not super fast. Streaming is possible, but there might be occasional breaks.
  • Insurance: Personal travel insurance is required.
  • Schengen Visas: We do not provide support for obtaining visas.
  • INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
  We ask all volunteers to have full insurance coverage (health, accident, repatriation, and personal liability) valid for their entire stay. Although we welcome volunteers as guests and friends, you will be participating in an organised project with daily activities and responsibilities. In the event of accidents, illness, or any problems, we cannot take responsability for medical cost, reparation, or damage of any kind. Workaway itself suggests and recommends obtaining adequate insurance before starting any placement. We strongly recommend that you take out adequate insurance because volunteers cannot make any claims or complaints against us in case of unforseen issues.
  Thank you for your understanding and seriousness.
  
  _____________________________
  
  We’re looking for positive, cheerful individuals who want to immerse themselves in nature and contribute to a meaningful project. If you’re ready to join us and help create something beautiful, we’d love to hear from you!

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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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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Un

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  Mes animaux

  Carlotta (62 ans)

  Gardener, handy-woman and artisan bricoleur.

  Marco (69 ans)

  Marco is a computer expert, a talented fixer (when he rarely feels like it), a motorcycle enthusiast, and a man who seems to know something about almost everything — although getting a clear explanation out of him can be quite a challenge.

  Nero (3 ans)

  Beautiful cross between a Springer Spaniel and her forbidden love, an Italian Hound. He is a cuddly dog ​​with a lab-like look, he is also black, he too with a few white bits. He weighs 23 kilos.

  Mirta (3 ans)

  Our gypsy mongrel. She has blood of chicken, frog, bat, Jedi Knight Yoda, Gillym and Dobby. She is black with a few tiny white bits, and weighs 8.5 kilos.

  Tobia (1 an)

  Tobia is the latest arrival. Strictly black too, when he was very super small he was saved and adopted by Nero during a storm.

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