Salamander Springs is an off-grid homestead, community, and teaching and learning space consisting of 50 acres of reclaimed forest with sleeping shelters, communal outdoor kitchen, library,  and organic garden all built and sustained by Debbie Waugh and hundreds of volunteers for over 20 years. We need your help to make vital repairs to our shelters, which house those who come to volunteer and learn.

What Needs to Be Done:
We have a critical need for two things to keep our learning community efforts moving forward - both of which will provide safe, viable shelters for those who come to stay and learn about off-grid, organic farming. First, as an off-grid educational center, our heat comes from cast iron wood stoves. We are getting ready to bring volunteers into two new shelters, both of which need new stoves and installation materials. Two wood stoves and the installation materials will cost roughly $1000. Second, we need to repair roofs and walls on existing structures because of accumulated leaks and rotting over the years. The remainder of the money will be used to purchase roofing and building materials to repair shelters (and hopefully the communal outdoor kitchen as well).


Young people come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) and stay anywhere from two weeks to two years. Many are part of the huge Salamander Springs extended family and will return in early 2021 to repair structures. 

Our Mission:
Debbie Waugh is a public school teacher and avid environmentalist; her major goal is to educate young people to build relationships with (and love for) the land, and to find empowerment and joy through work and service.  Salamander Springs grows people as they learn gardening, live joyously in community, discover what they can do, enjoy work and accomplishment, and sit around the fire with nourishing food plus wonderful music and stories. 

Debbie instills in each volunteer that through learning and teaching sustainable (permaculture) practices, sharing and acquiring skills, and building community, a love of nature will develop which is the only way we will be able to combat climate destruction. 


Thank you!
We have so much gratitude for the amount of support we have received through virtual contributions, in-person volunteering, and everything in-between. For over 20 years we have been able to collaborate with local markets, other farms, and Georgia College professors and programs. We are so excited to see what the future brings as we continue to inspire young people, who, in turn, give so much of themselves to make Salamander Springs thrive (https://www.facebook.com/salamandersprings/  ). We would really appreciate if you can contribute to, and spread the word about, this gofundme!

Testimonial from Drew, former volunteer and extended family member:

"Salamander Springs changed my life for the better. The space Debbie holds amongst those trees let me truly find myself for the first time."