Editorial Policy

How we research, write, fact-check and update everything we publish.

Our promise

Every guide on Farmora Living is written by a human being who actually grows, builds or uses what they are writing about. We do not publish content generated by AI tools. We do not aggregate other writers’ articles. And we do not publish anything we have not personally tested or reviewed against the lived experience of one of our writers.

Where ideas come from

Story ideas are drawn from three sources: reader questions sent through the contact form, the practical work our writers are doing each season, and patterns we notice in beginner mistakes. We do not chase search trends and we do not commission articles to fit a content calendar.

Research process

Each guide goes through a similar workflow:

1. Lived practice. The writer is using the technique, tool or system in their own garden or home.
2. First draft. Written in plain language with specific numbers where they matter (sizes, costs, timings).
3. Cross-reference. Checked against established sources such as agricultural extension services, manufacturer documentation, and at least one other working grower.
4. Internal review. Reviewed by the editor for accuracy, claims, tone and unnecessary jargon.
5. Photography. Photographs are either taken on-site by our team or carefully selected from royalty-free stock libraries that match the equipment or technique being discussed.

Editorial independence

Our writing is funded by a combination of newsletter sponsorships disclosed at the foot of each newsletter, modest affiliate commissions, and direct reader support. No commercial relationship grants editorial influence. We have refused brand-sponsored articles where a positive review was a condition.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we want to know. Email [email protected]. When we update an article in a meaningful way, we add a note to the top of the piece with the date and reason for the change.

Updates

Guides on long-life topics (raised beds, compost, tools) are revisited at least once a year. Seasonal guides are reviewed before the relevant season returns. If a piece of equipment we recommended has been discontinued or significantly changed, we update or retire the recommendation rather than letting it sit untouched.

Use of stock photography

Photographs are credited where applicable. Stock images from Pexels and Unsplash are chosen carefully to match the actual technique or equipment discussed. Where we couldn’t find a faithful stock image, we use one of our own photographs taken on-site.

No AI-generated content

We do not use AI tools to write, paraphrase or generate any part of our editorial content. We do not use AI image generators. We use a spell-checker, basic grammar tools, and a writer’s own judgment, which is the same set of tools editorial publications have used for decades.

Sources we consult

• Cooperative Extension Services (United States) and equivalents elsewhere
• Royal Horticultural Society (United Kingdom)
• University agriculture and food science departments
• Practising growers we know personally
• Manufacturer documentation, read critically

Anonymous sourcing

We do not use anonymous sources in our editorial. Writers and editors are named on every article.

Reader trust

If you ever feel that something we have published has crossed a line, said too much, said too little, or missed an obvious truth, please write to us. The journal is small enough that every message is read by a human being.