Experience WWOOFing in Italy: Life Between Florence and Arezzo

Are you looking for a meaningful cultural exchange in Italy? Would you like to dive deep into the rhythm of a working Tuscan farm? You are heartily welcome!

We offer a genuine WWOOFing experience in Tuscany (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). This global network connects volunteers with host farms, allowing you to exchange help for room and board. Whether you are looking for volunteer opportunities in organic farming or simply want to reconnect with nature, WWOOFing in Italy is an incredible way to learn about sustainable agriculture first-hand.

For detailed information on the program, please refer to www.wwoof.it. Below is what you can expect from your farm stay at our corner of Tuscany, Podere Poggerina.

Meet the Family & Our Organic Farm

We are Carlo (1993) and Giada (1995), and together with our parents, Armando and Karin, we run our small family farm nestled in the beautiful hills of the Upper Arno Valley, perfectly situated between Florence and Arezzo.

Our connection to this land runs deep: our fields have been cultivated by Armando’s family since 1939, when they first moved here.

Today, we dedicate ourselves to approximately 3 hectares of vineyard and 3 hectares of olive grove. We are proud to produce our extra virgin olive oil and our red and rosé wines, alongside other genuine products like seasonal fruits and vegetables, honey, legumes, and cereals. While we are a certified organic company, we focus on producing limited quantities for quality, mainly to support our families, selling any surplus at a local farmers’ market.

Cultural Exchange and Learning Opportunities

This is more than just work; it is a true cultural exchange. By staying at our farm, you will gain hands-on technical skills related to daily farm tasks, ranging from pruning and gardening to maintenance and harvesting. In addition, you have a wonderful chance to learn Italian while living with a local family!

We live in a strategic location, meaning there are endless possibilities for exploring this wonderful part of Tuscany during your days off.

Looking for Enthusiastic Helpers!

Since farm life is always varied, we are looking for people with an open mind, enthusiasm, and a willing body. No previous farming experience is required—just genuine curiosity about sustainable living!

We ask volunteers to stay for a minimum of one week, but we recommend a two-week stay to truly immerse yourself, learn some techniques, and pick up the language.

The Work: What to Expect

As you may know, there is always something to do on a farm: pruning, weeding, gardening, and general maintenance. The two peak harvest times—olive picking and grape harvesting—are crucial and require extra hands!

  • Work is mostly outdoors, manual, and can be physically demanding. In the summer, days can get hot, and while we try to adapt to the heat, some essential work still needs to be done. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation, this might not be the right experience. Expect to get dirty and tired!

  • Hours and Days: We expect our WWOOFers to help a maximum of 25 hours a week (approximately five hours for five days). We ask for a little flexibility as working hours might occasionally be split or moved to the afternoon.

  • Days Off: Days off will usually be Saturday and Sunday, with some exceptions during the demanding harvesting season. Any changes will always be communicated in advance, giving you the chance to explore the region.

Please Note: For safety and accommodation reasons, we do not accept children or pets.

Your Quarters & Provisions

We offer a comfortable, well-equipped double bed flat with a private bathroom and kitchen, located just a few minutes from the farm.

Inside, you will find plenty of space for your clothes and personal belongings. You can also make use of our garden, complete with an outside table and chairs, perfect for enjoying an evening meal or watching the beautiful Tuscan sunset after a day of work. The apartment also has a washing machine, so you can clean your working clothes and dry them outside.

We supply single beds with mattresses and provide linens, a towel, and blankets.

Meals & Eating Together

Food is a central part of the Italian experience.

  • Lunch (on weekdays): We eat together with our family, either on the terrace or directly in the field, depending on the work and the weather. This is a great time to chat and enjoy authentic home-cooked food.

  • Breakfast, Dinner, and Weekend Meals: These are prepared independently by the volunteers in their private kitchen. We provide a weekly budget to be used for groceries at the supermarket to cover these costs.

What to Bring for your Farm Stay?

Other than enthusiasm and energy, remember that we are in the countryside!

  • Clothing: Please pack old working clothes that can get dirty.

  • Footwear: Bring appropriate sturdy, non-flat shoes (e.g., hiking boots, not fashion sneakers).

  • Essentials: A hat for the summer and a reusable water bottle are highly recommended.

  • Personal Items: Remember to pack everything else you need, such as shampoo, sun screen, insect repellent, and medications, as the nearest large store and pharmacy are in town.

Location & Getting Here

Our farm is situated in the Upper Arno Valley (Valdarno), a truly peaceful and uncrowded spot between Florence and Arezzo. This is the perfect base for exploring Central Italy.

  • Travel: Both Florence and Arezzo are reachable by train, bus, or a 30-minute drive if you travel by car.

  • Nearby Attractions: Near the farm, you will find endless possibilities like trekking in Tuscany, visiting museums, and exploring shops and restaurants. We are happy to provide hints, maps, and general info during your stay.

  • Important Note on Transport: Keep in mind that we live deep in the countryside. A walk to the train station (7km) is generally not feasible. There are some local buses available in the afternoon and on Saturday. Sometimes we are able to offer lifts, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Just a short walk from the farm, you will find access to several trekking paths to explore the hills and a nearly flat road, perfect for running (the same one Giada uses for her marathon training). For a break, there is also a small river—perfect for a refreshing dip on hot summer days—a highly recommended small pizzeria, and a local bar open only in the late evening.

    Get in Touch!

    If this sounds like the kind of rewarding experience you are looking for, contact us ahead of time to see if we have room for volunteers during your desired dates!

    We believe that WWOOFing at Podere Poggerina can be summed up in four simple truths: “A beautiful place, wonderful people, hard work… and great food!” This blend of effort, learning, and genuine warmth is exactly what we aim to share.

    Once you have confirmed your dates with us, please consider it a firm commitment. We count on your extra hands, and last-minute cancellations can cause us problems. Thank you for being considerate!

    Our page on WWOOF Italy

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    Reviews by our Volunteers

    Rachel & Joshua

    This was our first Workaway experience and honestly, I don’t think we will ever find a host that will compare to this family! The farm is situated in the most beautiful Tuscan countryside within an easy train ride to Florence. We spent an amazing two weeks on the farm helping with the olive harvest, farm jobs, wine pressing and enjoying delicious lunches! 

    Tabea

    The time with Giada and Carlo was a wonderful experience. Staying with them was my first experience with Workaway, and it couldn’t have gone better!
    I am grateful for the insight into agricultural work and the warm and friendly togetherness.
    It was great to be able to speak a mix of English, German, and Italian and to work together for two weeks.

    Egor

    If you want to see from inside how to work a typical toscanian farm this is the place. Amazing place to be, with unforgettable views! There is always work to do, different and interesting, from working in the vineyard and helping in the veggie garden to helping with some renovations. 

    Eliza

    Beautiful family, place and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. I helped out Karin and the family in the build of her new ceramic studios and was happy to lend a small hand in the always busy lives of the family! The House is beautiful and although working in the heat was exhausting it was always satisfying and afterwards I got to come home to a beautiful dinner and my own room. 

    Katie & Marshall

    They were extremely hospitable, we ate absolutely delicious lunches with them every day, and the apartment they provided was nice and functional with a lovely view of the Tuscan countryside. They are genuinely lovely, funny and kind people. The grape harvest was really fun and we learnt a lot! We learnt a few Italian words along the way, they helped us with our pronunciation, and they taught us interesting things about Tuscan culture and history. I needed to see a dentist during my stay and they kindly booked me an appointment and drove me to my appointment. There was always plenty to do on the farm and we finished each day with a sense of accomplishment.