📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Semi di Comunità is a collective farm, the first CSA (Community that Supports Agriculture) in Rome. Is a cooperative with more than 200 members. They own 5 hectares, half of which is forest, within the protected and natural area of the Park of Veio at the gates of Rome.
They self-produce the food in their large garden, deciding beforehand what, how and how much to plant. Every week they divide in equal parts between the members, this practice allows them to minimize any food waste. The participation of the members to the agricultural activities on the fields is between the fundamental practices of their plan, allows them to transmit knowledge and work side by side, and forge bonds of friendship. Theirs is a small but significant step towards the food sovereignty of local communities.
💼 What the programme involves
Typically Roman summers are hot and rainy and to avoid the hottest hours the activities in the fields will be divided between the morning (7:00 - 11:00) and the afternoon (16:00 -18:00). (Sunday Rest).
Among the main activities:
- Planting and seeding
- Weeding from spontaneous herbs
- Harvesting of vegetables, preparation and division between distribution points
- Manual irrigation of plants (not connected to the irrigation system).
- Sporadic need to carry out manual space maintenance activities, DIY.
All activities will be carried out alongside the members of the cooperative who participate weekly, in a spirit of sharing and conviviality exchange of knowledge and joy. Work in the fields requires physical effort, the ground is low and you have to bend to reach it.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation will be in a tent. Volunteers are invited to bring their own tent, max size 2 people, sleeping bag, mattress, front light, comfortable shoes and clothing, sun cream, hat and a towel.
The area dedicated to tents is at the gates of the forest,protected from the heat of the day and dedicated to volunteers only. For the afternoon rest we have a hammock area under the pear trees. There are 3 solar showers, made by hand.
It is important to use only bio-degradable and environmentally friendly soaps. There is a shared compost toilet with the rest of the members.
📍 About the location
Via Prato della Corte, 1602, Roma, Lazio, Italia
⚠️ Requirements
It is mainly necessary to be adaptable and open in wanting to leave one’s comfort zone. As said, summer work in the fields is particularly tiring, but the working rhythms can be adapted to the needs of everyone :)
ℹ️ Additional information
In a separate area there is also a gas kitchen with pantry and dining area, shared with members of the cooperative. Lunches are always shared and prepared by turns by the members, while the preparation of breakfast and dinner is managed by the SCI volunteers. It is important to note that all the spaces are outdoor, except the compost toilet (obviously covered). There is telephone coverage, but depending on the operators works better or worse. There is no wifi network.
Sunday is the day of rest when there will be no activities on the fields. For those who want you can visit the ancient Etruscan city of Veio, walk along the Via Francigena, which passes a few kilometers from our fields or organize a trip to the nearby lake of Bracciano.
Here is our website: https://www.semidicomunita.