Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Jul 2025
Reply rate
98.6 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
15
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Details
Description
Hello folks, I’m Mattia, and I’m from Varazze (SV), in the northwest region of Liguria, Italy.
In 2021, I began taking care of what was once my grandfather’s land. The entire field covers about 1.5 hectares, and a large part of it has recently been restored after years of neglect. The land includes around 300 olive trees, a saffron field, and seasonal vegetable production.
I’m looking for people who are interested in helping with this project. Workawayers will help me with my general farm tasks for my food self sufficiency that include:
Olive tree care – pruning, harvesting
Saffron cultivation – picking and cleaning the delicate flowers
Workawayers won't help with produce being sold/for business purposes, the olive help is purely for personal use.
My garden follows a no-dig gardening approach — compost-based, using self-produced heirloom seed varieties. Tasks here may include planting, transplanting, harvesting, mulching, and general gardening duties. Related tasks include:
Gardening – transplanting, harvesting, mulching, and other hands-on work in a no-dig garden, enriched with compost and nurtured with heirloom seeds
Finally:
Occasional tasks – general maintenance, small renovations, and housekeeping.
Tips for good practice: It’s very important to be mindful of water and electricity consumption. I use phytoremediation water system, which has limited filtering capacity. Additionally, the water is heated using electricity, so it’s important to remember to switch the system off when not in use. I welcome first-timers and beginners, but I have a strong preference for those with some experience who can bring valuable insights to the project.
Help is needed for 5 hours per day.
Accommodation: There is a private bedroom available in the house. Additionally, there is space in front of the house to pitch a tent or park your camper van.
I live alone in a house with my two dogs (Dafne and Zeus) and my cats (Marilù and Pistillo), near a chicken coop. 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."
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Van life
Sustainability
Self development
Pets
Farming
Performing arts
Plant care
Photography
Music
Languages
Hitchhiking
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Astronomy
Art & design
Architecture
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Camping
Beach
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
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.
Help
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
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
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.
What else ...
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.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host 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.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a private parking
Can possibly accept pets
We have half hectar surrounded by 2 meters tall fans against wild pigs
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Dafne (7 years)
Feedback (9)
matti is the embodiment of what he values - natural living to the deepest level. it was inspiring to see his deep love for the land of his… read more
We also share in the end of the days interesting… read more
Working in the farm… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.7)
matti is the embodiment of what he values - natural living to the deepest level. it was inspiring to see his deep love for the land of his… read more
We also share in the end of the days interesting… read more
Working in the farm… read more
Hanna is a fast learner and warm-hearted person who… read more
We didn’t spend so much time together cause of my lifeguard work and our disagreements. Maybe we just didn’t find… read more
She gave me a great help with a permaculture garden and looking to the animals. Every task was a new opportunity for her to learn and get closer with sostenibile way to leave and a real pleasure for me share this… read more
The work wasn't that hard, we cooked a lot of good food and always felt comfortable and welcomed around him and his amazing dogs.
You can reach Varazze and the beach by walking and… read more
