La nostra fattoria si trova all'interno delle mura di un convento. Orticole e animali vari.

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La nostra fattoria si trova all'interno delle mura di un convento. Orticole e animali vari.
La nostra fattoria si trova all'interno delle mura di un convento. Orticole e animali vari. La nostra fattoria si trova all'interno delle mura di un convento. Orticole e animali vari.
39 Updated 2 months ago
Ciao, mi chiamo Riccardo Bernardini, ho 42 anni e vivo a Lonigo in provincia di Vicenza, Italia. Lavoro nella fattoria di un convento di frati minori. La fattoria si chiama Laudato Sì e promuove uno spirito francescano dove con i volontari si lavora, ma si cerca anche una relazione. Ad aiutarmi in fattoria ci sono persone di ogni tipo: dai piu giovani a piu anziani, da persone normo dotate a persone con qualche fatica psicologica o altre patologie. Non siamo un'azienda agricola, ma una semplice fattoria che, cerca di promuovere uno spazio "come una volta". Essendo all'interno di un convento in sinergia con la cooperativa Perfetta Letizia, non c'è "l'ansia della produzione". Si fa quel che si può. Io vivo in paese ma spesso risiedo in convento. Qui vivono i frati. I nostri animali sono: un bellissimo pastore maremmano abruzzese, una famiglia di tre asini, una vacca, una decina tra pecore e capre, galline, un paio di oche e qualche maiale. Le attività agricole si dividono tra animali e orticole: dar da mangiare e pulire il pascolo e le stalle, per le orticole dipende dal periodo. Dalla concimazione, alla fresatura, alla sistemazione dei teli da pachamatura passando per il trapianto delle piantine, il taglio dell'erba. C'è l'abbeveraggio di alcune zone non automatizzate, il muoversi in camion per andare a prendere mais, fieno e altre cose necessarie per la fattoria. Il lavoro è davvero vario. La verdura coltivata viene utilizzata dai frati, dal ristorante, dai poveri che bussano alla porta e durante il fine settimana vendiamo la verdura ad offerta libera fuori dalla chiesa. Oramai questo "mercatino della domenica" è diventato una tradizione conosciuta. Pensando ad una persona che soggiorna qui, la giornata tipo che propongo è quella di una mattinata di lavoro in fattoria e un pomeriggio di riposo. Di solito io sono presente anche al pomeriggio per fare qualche lavoretto ( periodo estivo) e per fare una passeggiata in paese con Obi, il cane. Chi viene, il pomeriggio, può aggregarsi a me o se preferisce può gestire il proprio tempo come desidera. Quando qualcuno decide di venire qui, salvo imprevisti, mi impegno a passare il tempo con l'ospite anche se penso sia importante che chi viene qua sia in grado di saper autogestire il proprio tempo libero. La sera non sono previste attività. Il WWOOFer sarà ospitato nei locali dell'ex seminario francescano dove ci sono delle stanze singole semplici ma pulite. I bagni sono condivisi. E' IMPORTANTE tenere a mente che non e' disponibile ne il riscaldamento ne l'aria condizionata nei mesi piu caldi! All'interno del convento, gestito dalla cooperativa, c'è il ristorante "La Porziuncola" Nel tempo libero mi piace passeggiare con il cane in paese o nei colli dietro il convento. Amo leggere libri e adoro i videogiochi. Dettagli piccoli ma importanti: 1. Di solito il giovedì è il mio giorno libero e sono a casa. In fattoria vengono i volontari alla mattina per assolvere alle mansioni necessarie per la cura degli animali. Si chiede, se possibile, un minimo di autosufficienza e autogestione al Woofer per tale giorno. 2. Abbiamo una cucina dedicata ai woofers quindi a turno e in base a quanti siamo, saremo chiamati a prepararci i pasti e ogni tanto saremo impegnati nella pulizia generale della comunità in cui vivremo. 3. Si chiede ai Woofer di essere autonomi negli orari del riposo pomeridiano (dopo pranzo e nelle ore più calde d'estate) così come dopo cena in quanto vado a letto molto presto. 4. Non sono accolti Woofer con animali: il nostro maremmano non ne sarebbe troppo felice. 5. Come su accennato, in fattoria è presente un cane di grandi dimensioni: un pastore maremmano abruzzese e tre Jack Russell che oltre a stare con noi in fattoria vivono con noi in comunità. Vari incarichi dei volontari ci sarà anche quello di prendersi cura dei cani, come per esempio fare delle passeggiate. 6. Provvediamo all’acquisto di tutto il necessario per i woofer chiedendo ai singoli di procurarsi a proprie spese beni specifici qualora ci siano necessità particolari nel cibo o altro ( esempio: spray antizanzare,). ---o----o-----0-----o----o--- Hello, my name is Riccardo Bernardini, I am 42 years old and live in Lonigo in the province of Vicenza, Italy. I work at a Minor Friars' Convent farm. The farm is called Laudato Sì and promotes a Franciscan spirit where you work with volunteers, but also seek a relationship. To help me on the farm, there are all kinds of people: from the youngest to the oldest, from the normally gifted to those with some psychological fatigue or other pathologies. We are not a business, but a simple farm that tries to promote a place 'like it used to be'. Being inside a convent in synergy with the "Perfect Letizia cooperative", there is no 'production anxiety'. One does what one can. I live in the village but often reside in the convent. The friars live here. Our animals are a beautiful Maremma shepherd from Abruzzo, a family of 3 donkeys, a cow, a dozen sheep and goats, chickens, rabbits, a couple of geese and a few pigs. Agricultural activities are split between animals and horticulture: the tasks for the animals are always more or less the same: feeding and cleaning the pasture and stables. Horticulture follows the seasons. There's fertilising, tilling, planting seedlings and cutting the grass. There is the watering of some non-automated areas, moving around in trucks to fetch corn, hay and other things needed for the farm. The work is really varied. The vegetables grown are used by the friars, the restaurant, the poor who knock on the door, and on weekends we sell the vegetables for donation outside the church. By now this 'Sunday market' has become a well-known tradition. When thinking of a person staying here, the typical day I propose is a morning of chores on the farm and an afternoon of rest. I am usually also present in the afternoon to do some work (summer time) and to take a walk in the village with Obi, the dog. Those who come in the afternoons can join me or if they prefer they can manage their time as they wish. When someone decides to come here, barring unforeseen circumstances, I commit myself to spending time with the guest, even though I think it is important that those who come here are able to self-manage their free time. No activities are planned in the evening. WWOOFers will be housed on the premises of the former Franciscan seminary where there are simple but clean single rooms. The bathrooms are shared. It is IMPORTANT to bear in mind that neither heating not air conditioning is available in the warmer months. Inside the convent, which is run by the cooperative, is the La Porziuncola restaurant. In my spare time I like to walk with my dog in the village or in the hills behind the convent. I love reading books and I adore video games. Small but important details: 1. Thursday is usually my day off and I am at home. Volunteers come to the farm in the mornings to take care of the animals. If possible, a minimum of self-sufficiency and self-management is asked of Woofers on that day. 2. Woofers have a kitchen: we will prepare our dishes and sometimes we will have to clean our community. 3. Woofers are asked to be self-sufficient in the afternoon and at rest times (after lunch and during the hottest hours of summer) as well as after dinner as I go to bed very early. 4. Woofers with animals are not welcome: our Maremmano would not be too happy about that. 5. As mentioned above, there is a large dog on the farm: a Maremmano abruzzese shepherd and 3 Jack Russell that are also living with us in The community. One of the tasks Is take care of the dogs for example taking them out for a walk. 6. We will provider to buy all woofers need, but if there are special needs we ask to the Volunteers to provide personally for that.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Poultry farming
Pig farming
Cattle farming
Horse or donkey farming
Sheep or goat farming
Raising of other farm animals
Bakery
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
0.9 Hectares | 2.2 Acres
Accommodation
3 WWOOFers
Bedroom
Children accepted
Pets not accepted
Meals
Omnivore
Length of stay
Over a month
Riccardo
Riccardo
Member since 2024
Languages spoken: English, French, Italian, Spanish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 1 day
Vicenza
La stazione piu vicina è Locara a 6 km. Aereoporto vicino: Verona
Feedback
Peter
Peter
United States • August 2026
Fattoria Laudato Si was my first WWOOF program, but I am confident that it is the best available. The farm is non-profit and is worked by many other volunteers in the area, allowing for a rich community to help with every day tasks. The work on the farm in the morning is variable, with animals, vegetable gardens, and a farmers market for churchgoers during the weekend. At around or before noon, we had a shared lunch and then free time for the rest of the evening with the occasional dog walk. Getting to the city is super easy, and I loved walking / biking down there for gelato. [As of Summer 2026, make sure you have a plan / enough time to get a bus or taxi from the train station to the monastery. ] Riccardo is a wonderful business man and a fantastic room mate! I have greatly enjoyed getting to know him, and there was a strong mutual respect within the community. I have loved witnessing the care that he shows the farm and his workers, and feel as though he has a good way of balancing life and responsibility. Getting to explore the dynamics of the monastery, the restaurant (that you live above!), the farm, and the afterschool program has been a wonderful community to spend time exploring, and I implore new volunteers to go to this farm with a curious mind and a readiness to be a part of this community. (And Obi and the Jack Russels also make for fantastic friends!)
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Alicja
Alicja
Germany • July 2026
We’ve had such a beautiful time, filled with laughter, amazing fresh garden salads, deep talk & loads of learnings. Riccardo, thank you for your kindness, authenticity and generosity!
Alessandra
Alessandra
Brazil • June 2026
The best first WWOOFing experience! My mom and I had such a great time here; we already miss it 😊. We loved the farm, with all the cute animals and a great variety of vegetables and fruits. We helped with watering, planting, harvesting, and taking care of the animals. The work was enjoyable, and the town is within walking distance. It was also easy to visit Verona, Venice, and Lake Garda by car with the other WWOOFers, who became our friends. We had comfortable single rooms, and everything we needed was provided within the community. Ricardo is friendly; he was always very attentive to our needs, very understanding, and simply the perfect host. We are very thankful for our time at Laudato Si and hope to visit again in the future 🤍
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Juanita
Juanita
Australia • May 2026
I spent 10 days with Riccardo and the farm which he manages so well and always with a smile and friendly gesture. As a volunteer from another country I felt welcomed and included immediately into the daily life. Riccardo’s organisational and communication skills were exceptional and allowed me to truly enjoy contributing to all aspects of the farm including the garden, the animals, the Sunday market and supporting the school visits as well as preparing meals for the volunteer group. My room was spacious and comfortable and the local village was in an easy walking distance from the farm. Also the surrounding area was beautiful and the walks in the hills offered views and a place for reflection. I am very grateful to Riccardo and his faithful canine buddy, Obi, for providing such a memorable and gratifying experience and building a truly special place and community.
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Ivy
Ivy
United States • April 2026
This farm was absolutely fantastic!! Such an incredible time! Riccardo is the most gracious and accomodating host ever. He truly makes you feel welcome and will help with anything. It felt like a home away from home🫶. The whole farm and community is such a kind and hospitable environment. The local volunteers are all so friendly and pleasant to work with and be around! I could not recommend this place enough!! The city is incredibly beautiful and you'll have plenty of time to walk around and explore. The convent and accomodations are so large, private rooms, and truly a beautiful space. We all took turns cooking and it was a lovely experience! Overall, 11/10 experience! If I'm ever in Italy again I'll definitely be back!!
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Gerhard
Gerhard
Switzerland • April 2026
I spent a week on this farm and felt welcome from the very first moment. Riccardo runs the farm with a lot of passion. It’s very important to him that everyone who helps out feels comfortable. He has a great sense of humor and treats both animals and people with a lot of respect. I really liked that, in addition to the other WWOOFers, people from the local area also volunteered. That way, I got to meet a wide variety of people. Work hours are mostly limited to the morning, so you can explore the area in the afternoon. I highly recommend this farm to anyone who enjoys working with people and animals!
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