Can I visit Honeydew?

Yes. We have a range of options. We have a rate to come and visit for the day, or stay overnight, or to spend a longer period with us volunteering. Our volunteers contribute five hours minimum per day, in exchange for food and board (most with private ensuite accommodation). It is also possible to stay at Honeydew as a ‘digital nomad’, working remotely at our guest rates full-time or by volunteering at a reduced guest rate part-time. If you would like to visit Honeydew, please contact us in advance to make an enquiry. As our schedule is often very busy, we prefer that people do not arrive at our home without contacting us to discuss and arrange a visit beforehand.

How does volunteering work at Honeydew?

We welcome volunteers from around the world. Daily activities such as gardening, cooking, cleaning, woodwork and decorating are routine, but there are many specific project jobs inside and outside too. Outside of our project jobs (usually done in the morning), we also greatly encourage volunteers to apply their own skills and knowledge, be those in baking, playing music, horticulture, crafts, yoga, or fundraising. Please contact us to enquire about dates. Should we have availability at that time and are looking for your skills, the next stage would be to organise a video call with you. Please note that we are unable to assist with visas or work permits and it is up to the volunteer to ensure that they have legal right to remain. It is also vital that all volunteers speak a reasonably fluent level of English and, as a bonus, ideally one of the other languages of the community. Volunteer site work insurance is also the responsibility of the volunteer so must be arranged in advance. Alternatively, to make this easier you may apply to us through WWOOF.

Are you looking for specific skills or people to volunteer?

Firstly we pride ourselves on being a friendly, open-minded, multi-generational international community, but due to being very driven by the priorities of our current projects at Honeydew and also by our remote rural locations, being fit, healthy and active, flexible, with lot of practical work experience and initiative, is very important. The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, on any task, is also essential. This is not an exhaustive list, but we are currently very interested in those with the following skills and experience: Tree Cutting/Surgery, Building, Labouring, Electrical, Plumbing, Site Maintenance, Growing/Farming, Carpentry, Masonry, Cooking & Catering, Cleaning & Housekeeping, Landscaping, Web Development (for translation).

Are children welcome?

Yes – we warmly welcome families with children of all ages. We find that, in addition to easing the responsibility on parents, children are enriched by the multilingual environment and, in turn, enrich the community by encouraging a spirit of play! We have plans to open a Forest School on the Maiolo site in 2024.

Which languages are spoken at Honeydew?

Our main day-to-day languages are Italian and English but we are a cosmopolitan community, speaking Portuguese, Spanish, French, Hebrew, and Farsi. We love language learning and try to offer optional daily lessons after lunch, if community members are interested.

Are there any dietary requirements?

No. We are a conscious but fairly omnivorous community. We usually cook a range of dishes, some of which are vegan or vegetarian and some of which may contain animal products.

How do you become a Honeydew resident?

We invite volunteers to spend up to three months at Honeydew before assessing their suitability to be a long-term resident. If we feel that you fit well with the project — and if you feel at home here — we can make arrangements for residency.

How does the community sustain itself?

The community is financially self-sustaining, with a programme of wellness retreats and guest stays that bring in income and allow us to cover running costs. We are also sustained by donations and are open to discussing sponsorship. All earnings generated by these retreats, stays and donations go back into supporting and growing the community. Additional investment in renovation to the Honeydew property is currently made personally by our founder in the short term.