📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Porto di Terra is a community project run by eight young people. The project is based on the principles of permaculture and agro-ecology, sustainability and non-violence. In particular Porto di Terra aims to create a self-sufficient community. We are a small productive reality (we produce olive oil, natural soaps and cosmetics, jams, food from the kitchen garden). The community settled in the mountains of Sicily and it is established in a beautiful pot of land in the wood since 2016. At the moment, members of the organisation are working for recovering the sourrunding land (6 hectares) and for restructuring the farmhouse that is where they are settled. Activities include the management and care of the kitchen garden and the opening of new horticultural spaces, cleaning and management of the forest, opening paths, creating firebreak lines, restructuring of 9 haystacks following the principles of bio architecture, seasonal collections (olives, hazelnuts and summer fruit), preparation of soaps, oleoliths and ointments, organization of reception activities related to eco-tourism, environmental education and organization of courses, retreats and training (yoga, deep ecology, education, bio-architecture, regenerative agriculture, etc.).For more information check the fb page: portoditerraproject or www.portoditerra.com (mostly to see some pictures, web site is in Italian).
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will be involved in the daily activities of the community which include taking care of the internal public spaces and outdoor space, the seasonal work in the garden, the harvesting and / or transformation of the fruit (for example jam or preparation of the fruit for drying) , bread making.The volunteers will also be involved in the restructuring of a haystack, a traditional structure of the Sicilian mountains that was once used as a shelter mainly for shepherds during transhumance. Porto di Terra wants to renovate the 9 haystacks in its land to spread the knowledge of this art together with the ancient workers, for later, host volunteers and guests participating in their activities.Study Part: Every activity will be introduced by a member of Porto di Terra. We will dedicate time to explain why we are doing what we are doing and the principles and ethics behind the work.
🏠 Accommodation on site
This accommodation is camp like in tents outdoor. The group will share all together an Indian Tepee able to host for the night up to 20 persons. A coordinator will stay with the group. They will have inflatable mats to be placed inside the tepee. The accommodation is beautiful but basic. There is not electricity in the tepee or camping area. Volunteers are asked to bring torches.Volunteers will use common bathrooms and showers with hot water that are located inside the house.There is internet connection and electricity.Volunteers will cook together with member of Porto di Terra following shifts and will be involved in domestic chores. Volunteers can use the kitchen.
📍 About the location
Daily excursion to the seaside and hiking into the mountains will be organised during the free time.
⚠️ Requirements
Willing to live in mountain and discover sustainable life. Curiosity about Permaculture and homemade productions. ATTENTION No chemical soap are allowed, volunteers can bring ONLY organic soap. Volunteers are asked to pay an extra fee of 200 euros by bank transfer earlier in advance. In addition, volunteers will cover the costs of public transport from Palermo airport to Polizzi Generosa (and back) in total around euro31. Bus tickets airport-city can be purchased online. Detailed info will be sent within the infosheet.
ℹ️ Additional information
Willing to live in mountain and discover sustainable life. Curiosity about Permaculture and homemade productions. ATTENTION No chemical soap are allowed, volunteers can bring ONLY organic soap.