It's been three weeks since I've left Santa Fiora, and I don't think I'll ever be able to sum up my incredible experience with George, Sophie, Caio, & India in the hills of Tuscany, but the time has come that I try!
The Practical: I came in mid-September for a plan to stay two weeks for their late summer work camp, with two other volunteers there at the time. I was welcomed immediately with a delicious dinner, wine, and great company as we got to know one another. As is everyone who first arrives to Santa Fiora, I was blown away by the surrounding area, the calm and quiet being in the middle of a national forest, and of course all of the animals. We quickly fell into a comfortable routine: breakfast around 8am (museli, fruit, and fresh goat milk!), work starting around 8:30/9am, a tea break mid-morning, 1-2 more hours of work, and then lunch with many of the vegetables coming from their beautiful garden! We had the afternoons off to enjoy as we wished. Me & Uma, another of the volunteers, spent the first week tearing down an old fence around the garden. The two of us also shared a spacious and cozy room and got along great. The weather was still warm in late September, so in the afternoons we would walk to the local waterfalls to cool off. We all pitched in making lunch, dinner, and cleaning up. There were lots of games with the whole family every night, and many lovely conversations had between the group. We even had a pizza party with the pizza oven and a bakeoff sharing delicious desserts!
The Personal: Well, two weeks turned into two months because I just couldn't leave (and thankfully they didn't want me to leave either!) I truly feel like I became a part of this family, and I couldn't have asked for a better first Workaway experience. After the two week work camp, it was just me for next 1.5 months. The schedule changed slightly, as it felt more like I merged into their daily life, rather than the hosting energy of the work camp. I enjoyed an earlier breakfast with the kids before they went to school. India & Caio are two of the smartest, wittiest, silliest, most independent kids I've ever met. I learned SO much from them and building a relationship with each of them was a highlight of my time there. From many games of Uno, Catan, Gin Rummy, Quirkle, & The Mind, to dance parties, knitting, hide and seek, making potions, to showing the whole family Wicked(!!!), it really was the best time. I felt like an adopted sister to them all and I truly learned so much in regards to communicating and living with children, something that was sort of different for me in my adult life, but something I deeply enjoyed!
George is a wealth of knowledge in off-grid living, as he’s been pouring his heart into this land for 20 years, and I learned so much even just doing simple tasks like sanding metal or skinning wood trunks. He also has one of the most genuine laughs that I loved! I shared so many wonderful conversations and heart to hearts with Sophie while we would be out in the garden or making big batches of tomato chutney. They taught me how to bake bread, and I taught them about Taylor Swift ;) I learned how to milk the goats which became one of my daily responsibilities - a dream come true for me, even though it was challenging at times. I helped with odd tasks all around Santa Fiora, and I even helped them with a little bit of wedding prep for their upcoming wedding celebration next summer! We went out on weekend adventures like picking chestnuts, a wool museum, or just a low key hike to lunch. They made me feel incredibly comfortable merging into their family and lifestyle, and at the same time giving me the freedom to enjoy my solo time as well.
And I can’t not mention the cats, especially little Weasel, who I got to snuggle with every night - I miss them all the animals terribly!
I really don't know how to sum up ALL that we did and shared together in this one review, so I hope this gives even a small glimpse into how meaningful my time was. Thank you, George, Sophie, Caio, and India, for welcoming me so fully into your home and your lives. I left Santa Fiora with new skills, new confidence, and a second family. I couldn’t imagine a better first Workaway, and I will carry these memories with me always. I can’t wait to come back.