Description

In order to know what to expect from this volunteer program (volunteer programs are all so different from each other and we need to exchange information before) read very carefully what follows. Feel free to ask questions.

We give a lot of importance to this initial information and keeping on improving using feedback from volunteers who experienced our farms first-hand. Thank you for reading it carefully and thoroughly.

We have been hosting volunteers on our farm since 2004, we will start hosting volunteers on other farms as well. The farm is a 20 minutes walk from where we live, there is a wood trail from one place to the other. There will only volunteers staying there (if you wish to work with us as well, to practice/learn Italian, it is often possible to work at our farm from time to time with my father Giuseppe. He only speaks Italian and is very patient and kind and people enjoyed to work with him). This place is only suitable for highly-independent people. It is a different program from the one we offer on our farm. The work of the volunteers is in farm, woods etc. It varies a lot according to the season. It can be working in the vegetable garden or picking fruit or olives, building trails and dry stonewalls or cutting vines etc. Be also prepared for physical work since you will get that for sure. You will have lots of free time but when it is time to work, we expect you to be focused and take the work very seriously. If you are looking for a place to have a free holiday, this place is definitely not for you.

Bear in mind that if you come with specific expectations for example, getting involved with the wine making or picking olives or working in the vegetable garden, this is highly seasonal work. For example wine is made around the end of September or olive picking is usually the end of October. It can vary since it depends on when they are ripe so every season is a bit different. The time that we are active in the vegetable garden is late spring, summer fall. Fruit picking happens mostly in summer and fall. Again if you have very specific expectations on the work you want to do, let us know and we will let us know if it will happen during the time you want to come. Remember that in general on the farm volunteers need to be able to adjust to different works depending on what needs to be done on the farm.

Volunteers work 2 hours per day, but you only get accommodation (we will start making the ruin livable in a near future, but right now it is only camping) although you can get vegetables and fruit available on the farm (according to the season) you will be responsible for your meals. You will also need to buy toilet paper, dish soap ( everything biodegradable) and whatever you may need for you to live there (again the exchange program is two hours of work for accommodation only, some vegetables and fruit according to the season). There are a few plates, pats and pots that you can use on the farm. If you need something you will need to buy it.

The grocery store is at walking distance (30 minutes walking) it is open everyday but Sunday and Thursday, they close for siesta from 12:30 until 4:30. It is much cheaper compared to bigger cities or touristy places in Italy. You can get a sandwich starting from Euro 1, pasta, rice and lots of stuff. There are also many bigger grocery store in Sora. It is difficult to determine how much money you can spend per day, since it depends so much on what you eat. Though you should be okay with around euro 5 per day on average.

That is going to grocery store and buy food to cook, not going to restaurants and pizzeria, of course. The town of Sora is only 50 minutes walking distance and it is 35 thousands inhabitants. We let you know that most of the farms in the world are really isolated and there are nothing around. This farm is different and at only walking distance there is everything you may need. But be aware that there is obviously walking involved since you are on a farm and you will need to reach the towns to use the internet or make a phone call or go to the grocery store etc. If you do not like walking, please do not come here.

The farm has no electricity, compost toilet, the volunteers will take care of it) and solar-heated water for the shower. It is a very rustic house that has been neglected for over 40 years and we are slowly bringing it back to life. It is not still possible to live in the ruin and all the people that will stay there will need to camp.

To cook food you can use a wood-burning stove and you will need to collect the wood. The time to collect the wood does not fall in the two hours per day work. You will be showed how to use the tools to cut the firewood such as ax and other dangerous pointed or sharp tools so that you use it in the proper way reducing the risk of hurting yourself.

The place has no electricity since the goal of the project is to be as much sustainable as possible since we cannot still afford solar power in the meanwhile we will not have electricity at all. You can only use biodegradable soap, shampoos etc. Since we do not have a sewer. You can buy these products before or in Sora. (It is better that you buy it in bigger cities since it may be cheaper. There are no many places in Sora where you can buy it and it may be more expensive.)

The schedule is flexible and you are able to decide (to be prearranged with us) to work one day four hours and the next day you do not work.

Since volunteers live in very different circumstances from the normal western society ( no electricity, compost toilet and solar-heated shower etc.). If you think it is not for you, you are under no obligation to stay and are free to leave whenever you feel like. We encourage to come with this awareness that it may not fit this program, if you do not have a back-up plan we can help you to find another farm-project that may be more suitable for you. We will still be glad that you decided to give it a try and visit us.

Please think carefully before coming! Can you cook for yourself? We think this skill is needed to enjoy the experience. Can you make a fire? Have you ever made a fire with firewood? You will need to make fire to cook if you cannot, this will be a problem. Have you ever camped in the wilderness? Even though in the near future, we will be able to let people stay in the ruin. That will be after we have fixed it a bit. It needs a new roof, for example. Right now, the experience is like camping in the wilderness expect you will have drinking water, compost toilet and shower in a shack. Are you sure you want to give it a try ? For sure, this farm excels in beauty surrounded by beautiful mountains, woods, olive groves, fruit trees all around the farm. But we are so aware that the experience is definitely for a selected few. All few people can highly enjoy it. You need to be in these sort of things.

What to bring: sleeping bag, comfortable clothes and shoes to work, bring your own towel (if you do not have one you can buy it in Sora), flashlight, toilet paper and very important biodegradable products to wash yourself.

How do I come to the farm: make sure you arrives in Sora not later than 5:00pm. You will need to consider at least three hours from Rome and four hours from Naples. (it normally takes two hours from Rome and three hours from Naples but there could be a delay with transportation). If you do not plan it well and leave early from Rome or Naples you may easily end up sleeping at the station in Sora. It may be better to try to come the next day rather than arriving late.

To Leave the Farm: you can either catch the bus in the morning. The bus stop is only 700 meters away and it takes you straight to the station in Sora (the bus from Pescosolido to Sora station does not run on Sunday/holiday). You can also walk to Sora, that is 50 minutes.

How many volunteers per time: We thought to have manageable group of maximum 4 volunteers per time and two to three normally. Sometimes volunteers are scheduled to come but they have to change their plan the last minute. You could end up staying at the farm by yourself. You can always come to our farm where there will be other volunteers and the international guests of the farmstay - there are normally many people, you can hang out with them. But if you find it unbearable the idea of living in a farm by yourself, please let us know so that we can keep in touch and we can keep you updated on how many people there are closer to the time that you are coming. You can always decide to join the other volunteers on our farm, if there is availability if you like the program on our farm. If that does not work out, you are free to leave whenever you feel like.

The challenge is also to make the relationship with the other volunteers work. You will need to consider all cultural, linguistic, background differences that may exist. We can also try to help in case there are problems but everyone has to make a genuine mature attempt to make relations work. Normally volunteers get on very well, and good solid friendships starts but we are also aware that sometime things may get complicated.

Where can I find internet ? Internet is available in town. Either at Bar Pizzeria L'arrivo in front of the train station (euro 3 per hour, 1,50 half and hour) or at the public library (euro 1 per hour, 0,50 euro half and hour)

Laundry: In Sora you can find a self-service laundry (4 euro for a load of 8 kilos).

Feel free to ask me more questions.

Qualifications

* It is necessary to be highly-independent. To be able to work with people from different countries.
* Skills on organic farm are highly appreciated but not necessary.
* If you apply for this program it is because you like to camp, you do not need the normal western-countries comforts such as electricity, a roof on your head but are happy to be surrounded by nature.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Free

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Environment
• Gardening
• Organic Farming

Age Range

20-50

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Other

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Other

Year Founded

2006