Daufuskie Community Farm

We have something to admit... We have always promised our products and services to be "Farm Fresh" but that may have been omitting a very important component- our volunteers. For many years now many dedicated WWOOFers, managers and daily commuters have accepted this single toilet outhouse is 'as good as it's going to get'. There is no sink , bidet, shower, heat, cooling or anything else most people would consider to be part of a standard issue bathroom. To top it off, the muck, dirt, slime and sweat we encounter on any typical day might qualify us for the dirtiest bunch on the island.

It works well and we are grateful for it thus far, but for large events, visitors and long term volunteers (of whom this bathroom is their only choice), the amenities in this genre are a little.... subpar. Currently our bathroom sees a steady rotation of active volunteers on a daily basis. If the farm is growing, logically, so should the bathroom. AND a nice bathroom makes this place somewhere you want to be!

We are pioneering this infrastructure project not only for our own comfort but for the future of the farm. We are passionate about putting your funds in places that lead to a greater ability for us to grow. A REAL bathroom house means more volunteers, better hosting ability and better amenities for employees who spend their days here.

Plus- at a glance you can see the degradation of our little shack... no bathroom means no volunteers and no general manager. If our aging structure fails (as it is very close to doing) The farm very well might be following behind.

Our request is a humble one- an ADA compliant bathroom house with a shower, and heating and cooling to replace our little shack and all weather outdoor shower.

Your donation is a statement of appreciation towards those of us who work many hours for this community with no pay, a cold shower in the rain and 5 minute walk to the outhouse in the middle of the night because we believe in the farm that much.

Hello Everyone,

It's Elijah. I have been volunteering my time at the Daufuskie Community Farm. In the morning, I get up early and bike straight to the farm and feed and let out 10 ducks, 60 chickens, 2 geese, and 8 goats. Hopefully soon we will have a jersey cow and a Great Pyrenees to help protect the chickens and ducks from hawks because 2 were killed this week by the same hawk. I have been here for 34 days and it has been a great experience. I have learned so many new things and met so many new people. Miss Pat lives on the farm has run the farm with the help of volunteers for almost 14 years. I would love to give to back to the farm and people who have helped me grow and thrive in a new environment on this island. I am wondering if you would make a donation to help pay for things like feed, vet bills, farming supplies, the new miniature jersey cow, and more. The farm almost closed right before we got here. Please help me keep it running for many years to come so more people can get the experience I have. Thank you, Elijah Ewers

A note from Matt and Gretchen:

This farm has been a true gift in Elijah's life at the right time. We have witnessed him show consistent responsibility by waking early and biking to the farm alone to feed and let out the animals for over 30 days now. But more importantly the connection he has made with not only the animals but the regular volunteers that have all taken him under their wings with open arms mentoring him in all their various areas of expertise. Miss Pat who lives on the farm (and current farm manager) is 84 years young. She is a Jackie of all trades from sewing to building her own house years ago. She has been a great influence on Elijah with her wealth of knowledge and cool stories from her life's journeys. It is amazing what the farm is able to produce aside from the usual things like eggs including a flower garden and even milling logs donated from around the island into lumber used to sure up fencing and other farm buildings. Elijah has also taken on hatching his own ducklings and chicks in our condo lol with the help of Miss Pat and volunteer Kathy.

The farm is a fully donation based volunteer run non-profit that every dime donated will go toward sustaining and growing the farm. We are looking for property on the island to lay roots here and plan to be on the island and hopefully a part of the farm for years to come. Thank you for your help in helping Elijah give back to these wonderful people and animals. And if you ever visit Daufuskie Island, be sure and take a tour of the farm and tell them Elijah sent you!

Matt and Gretchen