Mandali's Lighthouse, restoring and reconnecting ourselves together.

Verbano-Cusio-Ossola

27 • Updated 29 days ago

The Light House With Mandali Retreat Center, is a point of light on our ever changing planet, for those interested in being part of something wonderful if not just for a short period. we work on 3 acres land surrounding a 5 bedroom house, where the woofers will stay. This is our fourth year hosting and starting to get the hang of it ;) Woofers will join us on a journey to better understand this life, experiencing together first hand the patterns it has, in order to then implement them into our own lives and with each other, practically and spiritually. Together we will work on maintaining existing projects and helping create together new ones, an ideal opportunity for passionate people to express themselves. All food is Vegetarian and provided by us. This area is ideal for nature lovers: there are plenty of hikes on the mountain or swimming in the lake . The language used in the house is English ish. -------------------------- The Light House With Mandali Retreat Center, è un punto di luce in questo pianeta in continua evoluzione, per coloro che sono interessati a far parte di qualcosa di meraviglioso. Lavoriamo su 3 acri di terreno che circondano una casa con 5 camere da letto, dove risideranno i woofer. Questo è il nostro quarto anno di hosting e stiamo iniziando a prenderci la mano ;) Woofer si uniranno a noi in un viaggio per comprendere meglio questa vita, sperimentando insieme in prima persona gli schemi che ha, per poi implementarli nella vita quotidiana e tra di noi, praticamente e spiritualmente. Insieme lavoreremo per mantenere progetti esistenti e contribuire a crearne insieme di nuovi, un'opportunità ideale per esprimere se stessi. Tutto il cibo è vegetariano e fornito da noi. Quest'area e ideale per amanti della natura, ci sono molte passeggiate nel bosco e il lago dove nuotare. Il linguaggio parlato nella casa e inglese.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Wild foraging

Flower farming

Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Bakery

Traditional crafts

Methods or systems

Holistic management

No-till farming

Permaculture

Regenerative agriculture

Host type

Nonprofit / Community

Former WWOOFer

3 Hectares | 7.4 Acres

Accommodation

4+ WWOOFers

Bedroom

Children accepted

Pets accepted

Meals

Vegetarian

Vegan

Length of stay

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Lisa

Member since 2022

Languages spoken: English, Italian

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Mon

Tue

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Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 3 days

Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Verbano-Cusio-Ossola

Stazione di Verbania Pallanza - Areoporto di Milano Malpensa

My past WWOOFers

Max

June 2026 • Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Madelyn

June 2026 • Texas, United States

Clare

June 2026 • Wisconsin, United States

Emma

May 2026 • Groningen, Netherlands

Lina

May 2026 • Austria

1 - 5 / 30

Feedback

Lina

Austria • June 2026

The 4 weeks I got to spend at the Lighthouse were simply wonderful and are filled with many beautiful memories. George and Lisa are such amazing and caring hosts from who you can learn so so much. Together with her, Mara and fellow wwoofers Emma, Manel, Stefano, Cas and Sem we did some work around the Lighthouse, like building stairs, walls or a fence and painting as well as planting. All the tasks were very interesting, exciting and I really liked how we worked together as a group. Also the surroundings of the house are so full of life with a stream and a forest this close. With George we all looked after the garden and green spaces at Mandali which was just as fun and interesting! I loved having lunch together and the conversations that arose. Lisa’s and George’s approach towards gardening as well as life is truly inspiring and created a very wholesome and welcoming atmosphere. Thank you for this enriching time! I’ll happily return and hope to see you soon! ✨🌱

Johanna

Germany • May 2026

I had such a wonderful time at the Lighthouse! I was there in April, and looking back, I couldn't have found a better place for that particular time in my life. That month was all about sowing and planting. The work was split between projects at the Lighthouse and the Retreat Center. It felt deeply intentional and in line with the rhythms of the garden and the values of both places. We built garden beds, paths, planted and created space for future projects. Some days the work was light and quiet, others full of energy. It's remarkable how many stones you can move with the right people by your side - literally! You can truly feel that Lisa and George lead this project with heart. Both provide structure and give you context around the garden and the vision of the places you work in while also leaving room for expansion, creativity and the always the invitation to bring in your ideas and plant your own seeds. I felt like the house and the life in the beautiful mountains naturally drew me into connection - with the community, with nature, and with myself. We baked our own bread, made yogurt and kefir, shared meals, stories and laughter that stayed with me long after I left. There's a quiet kind of magic there that creates space for trust, real encounter, growth and a sense of possibility. Thank you for everything. Can’t wait to be back!

Daniela

Israel • April 2026

I had an amazing experience at the lighthouse with George and Lisa. There were 6 of us volunteers at the lighthouse, and together we set up beds for a new vegetable garden. At the retreat center in the neighboring village, we worked in the center's gardening. I really liked the variety of work and that every day was something different and interesting. And George and Lisa, who worked with us, also took care of everything for us and were very involved in our work. We connected with them and their children and felt like we were part of the family. I highly recommend coming, it's truly an amazing experience. Thank you George and Lisa!

Douglas

Sweden • March 2026

I stayed at the Lighthouse for about 2.5 months last year, and it became one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Before arriving, I was going through a very difficult period and felt quite lost. Being there gave me the space, calm, and perspective I needed. The environment, the work, and especially the people helped me slow down and reconnect with myself. During my time there, I gained many insights about who I am, how I want to live, and how I relate to the world around me. It’s much more than just a volunteering place. You don’t only work. you grow, reflect, and share daily life in a very human way. Living close to nature and being part of a small community creates a special atmosphere where real change can happen. Lisa and George put a an enormous of care and intention into what they are creating. I felt welcomed, supported, and trusted from the beginning. Over time, the place and the nature truly started to feel like a magical place. Of course, like any intense experience, it can also challenge you and it did, but for me those challenges were exactly what I needed to grow. I am deeply grateful for the time I spent there and for everything I learned. It changed me in ways I am still discovering. If you come with an open mind and heart, this place can offer something truly special.

Jaya

Switzerland • February 2026

It’s so difficult for me to put this place into words because it gave me so much and words can only say so little. I was here in Oktober and it was my last destination before going back home, back into a super unknown and stressful situation; figuring out how I want to live my life. And this place was the perfect place to give me insights, inspiration and a real life example on what is possible if you have a vision and people with the same mindset. It really is so much more than a woofing place, I think the lighthouse project really embodies what woofing is actually about and you can really feel in every little detail how much thought Lisa and George put into this project. From the way they chose the group, the facilities you get, how they communicate and the tasks they give you. It doesn’t feel like you are working when you are here but you get the possibility to learn, learn about life, about life skills, about yourself and on how you as an individual in your very unique way can give back, give back to nature, to your community, to yourself all of which are skills that are in my opinion some of the most important and that really make you feel alive. Thank you guys so so much for everything that you do and the way that you do it and I’m sooo much looking forward to seeing you again soon!!!

Anna

Italy • January 2026

Our experience at the Lighthouse and Mandali was very beautiful and engaging from the beginning! It was wonderful to meet and share our time with Lisa, George and the other woofers. The place and the people make you feel very free to explore and give what you have to offer, it doesn't matter how apparently big or small. It was a very hands-on experience, very creative and in such a beautiful setting. Lisa and George complement each other so well and where energy, enthusiasm and inventiveness were needed there was Lisa, and where a subtle eye and a caring and observative presence (both for the people and the place) were needed there was George. We really loved working both at the Lighthouse and at Mandali and we can see the potential for the two places to keep on growing, exchanging and working together to be a centre of attraction and expansion! Thank you Lisa and George!