Community Guidelines

Our Vision and Purpose

Steader is a marketplace platform specifically designed for homesteaders, small-scale producers, and local food providers. We connect sellers with buyers in their communities and provide tools to facilitate these transactions. Our mission is to empower homesteaders and strengthen communities by making local food accessible, personal, and built on trust.

These community guidelines are designed to foster a positive, supportive, and ethical marketplace that reflects our core values and helps create resilient local food systems.

General Principles

1. Authenticity and Transparency

• Be truthful about your products and practices. Provide accurate descriptions of your growing methods, inputs used, and animal husbandry practices.
• Use authentic photos. Share real images of your homestead, products, and operations rather than stock photography.
• Share your story. Help buyers understand who you are and why you do what you do.
• Disclose relationships. If you're reviewing or recommending something where you have a personal or financial connection, be transparent about it.

2. Respect and Community Support

• Communicate respectfully. Treat all community members with courtesy, even in disagreements.
• Respond promptly. Answer questions and messages from buyers and other community members in a timely manner.
• Honor commitments. Follow through on arrangements for pickups, deliveries, and sales as promised.
• Support fellow homesteaders. Offer encouragement, advice, and collaboration rather than viewing others only as competition.

3. Quality and Safety Standards

• Prioritize food safety. Follow appropriate handling, storage, and sanitation practices for all food products.
• Maintain quality control. Offer only products that meet your highest standards.
• Comply with regulations. Follow all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding cottage food production, animal husbandry, and business operations.
• Label accurately. Provide clear information about ingredients, potential allergens, and handling instructions when applicable.

4. Sustainable and Ethical Practices

• Employ sustainable methods. Prioritize farming and production practices that support soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, and ecological balance.
• Practice humane animal treatment. Ensure animals have adequate space, appropriate nutrition, access to the outdoors, and minimal stress.
• Minimize harmful inputs. Reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic chemicals, growth hormones, routine antibiotics, and other inputs that may harm the environment or human health.
• Focus locally. Emphasize products grown or produced by you or sourced within a reasonable local radius to support the platform's mission of strengthening local food systems.

Marketplace Conduct

For Sellers

• Provide accurate listings. Include clear descriptions, pricing, and availability information.
• Set fair prices. Charge what reflects your true costs and labor while remaining reasonably accessible to your community.
• Maintain current inventory. Update your listings promptly when items are sold out.
• Follow through on sales. Honor all transactions initiated on the Platform and deliver products as described within the timeframe specified.
• Address concerns professionally. Handle customer questions, complaints, and issues with integrity and a genuine desire to resolve them.
• Respect platform policies. Adhere to Steader's commission structure and avoid attempts to circumvent platform fees.

For Buyers

• Honor purchase commitments. Follow through on orders placed and pickup arrangements made.
• Communicate clearly. Provide necessary information for order fulfillment and respond to seller questions promptly.
• Understand natural variation. Recognize that homegrown and homemade products may have natural variations in appearance and taste compared to mass-produced alternatives.
• Provide constructive feedback. When leaving reviews or offering suggestions, do so respectfully and constructively.
• Report concerns appropriately. If you encounter a serious issue with a product or seller, report it through proper channels rather than making public accusations.

Communication Guidelines

Messaging

• Stay relevant. Keep conversations focused on topics related to homesteading and marketplace activities.
• Be constructive. Offer helpful information and supportive feedback.
• Respect privacy. Don't share others' personal information without permission.
• Keep it civil. Avoid harsh language, personal attacks, or inflammatory comments.
• Solve problems directly. Address issues with other users through private messaging before escalating to platform support.

Content Sharing

• Share educational content. Contribute knowledge about homesteading practices, seasonal information, and food preparation in your profile and messages.
• Respect intellectual property. Don't post content that belongs to others without proper attribution or permission.
• Focus on quality. Share well-composed photos and clearly written information that provides value to the community.
• Maintain appropriateness. All content should be suitable for a general audience interested in homesteading and local food.

Prohibited Activities and Content

The following are not permitted on Steader:

Prohibited Activities

• Circumventing platform fees for cart items. Redirecting buyers to external websites or payment methods for products listed as cart items. Note: This applies only to marketplace listings that can be added to cart and paid for through the Steader platform. It does not apply to specialty listings (livestock, equipment, services, and hay), which by design are handled through off-platform transactions and require a subscription.
• Misrepresenting products or practices. Posting false, misleading, or deceptive listings.
• Spamming. Repeatedly posting the same content or sending unwanted messages.
• Harassment or bullying. Targeting other users with unwanted attention or intimidation.
• Selling prohibited items. Offering items that violate our terms or applicable laws.
• Creating multiple accounts. Using multiple accounts to circumvent guidelines or restrictions.
• Manipulating reviews. Offering incentives for positive reviews or posting fake reviews.
• Engaging in discriminatory practices. Refusing service based on protected characteristics.

Prohibited Content

• Offensive material. Content that is hateful, discriminatory, or promotes violence.
• Adult content. Sexually explicit or suggestive material.
• Misinformation. False claims about farming practices, food safety, or health benefits.
• Political campaigning. While discussions of food policy and regulation are welcome, explicit partisan political content is not appropriate.
• Unrelated promotions. Marketing for products or services unrelated to homesteading and local food.
• Graphic content. While educational content about livestock processing is permitted, unnecessarily graphic or sensationalized imagery is not.

Specific Guidelines for Different Areas

Profiles and Listings

• Complete your profile. Provide comprehensive information about your homestead and practices.
• Use clear, representative photos. Images should accurately show your products and operations.
• Categorize listings accurately. Select the appropriate category for your listing (e.g., produce, eggs, dairy, meat, etc.). Listings must match their selected category - for example, equipment should not be listed under food categories, and non-homestead items should not be listed on the platform at all.
• Be specific about pickup and delivery. Clearly state your availability and logistics for transactions.
• Price transparently. Avoid hidden fees or surprise charges.

Reviews and Ratings

• Base reviews on actual transactions. Only review products you've actually purchased or services you've experienced.
• Be honest but fair. Provide truthful feedback while considering the unique challenges of small-scale production.
• Focus on relevant factors. Comment on product quality, communication, and transaction experience rather than unrelated personal matters.
• Allow for resolution. Consider giving sellers a chance to address concerns before leaving negative reviews.

Enforcement and Reporting

Steader is committed to maintaining these community standards through:

• Community monitoring. Users can report content or behavior that violates these guidelines.
• Staff review. Steader staff will evaluate reports and take appropriate action.
• Progressive enforcement. Depending on the severity and frequency of violations, actions may include:
  • Educational notices
  • Content removal
  • Temporary restrictions
  • Account suspension or termination

How to Report Violations

If you encounter content or behavior that violates these guidelines:

1. Use the reporting feature within the platform or email hello@steader.com
2. Provide specific details about the violation
3. Include any relevant evidence or context
4. Await review by Steader staff

Appeal Process

If you believe your content was removed or your account was restricted in error:

1. Contact support at hello@steader.com
2. Provide your account information and details about the situation
3. Explain why you believe the action was taken in error
4. Be prepared to provide additional information if requested

Updates and Changes

These Community Guidelines may be updated periodically to reflect changes in platform features, user needs, or regulatory requirements. Users will be notified of significant changes, and the current version will always be available on the Steader website.

Questions and Feedback

We welcome your thoughts on these guidelines. If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns, please contact us at hello@steader.com.

By participating in the Steader community, you agree to abide by these guidelines as well as our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Together, we can build a thriving marketplace that strengthens local food systems and supports sustainable homesteading practices.

Last Updated: May 12, 2025