🌾 Lester Farms Homestead — Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our FAQ! We're so glad you're here. Below you'll find answers to the most common questions about ordering, shipping, sourdough, skincare, handmade goods, and local pickup. Everything is handcrafted with care on our small Iowa homestead, and we want your experience to feel just as warm and personal.

🛒 ORDERING & PAYMENTS

💳 What payment methods do you accept?

We accept major credit/debit cards and Google Pay for all online orders.

💵 Cash and Venmo are available for local pickup orders and in‑person markets only.
If you'd like to use cash or Venmo for pickup, please contact us before placing your order so we can give you a special discount code.
This discount only applies when paying at pickup with cash or Venmo — not for online or card payments.

🕑 Can I change or cancel my order?

Orders may be canceled within 2 hours of purchase. After that, items may already be in production and cancellations are no longer possible.

If you need to adjust an order, email support@lesterfarmshomestead.com as soon as possible. We'll help if production hasn't started yet.

📦 SHIPPING & DELIVERY

🚫 Do you ship to Alaska or Hawaii?

We do not ship to Alaska or Hawaii at this time. Orders placed with an Alaska or Hawaii shipping address will be cancelled and refunded. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to expand our shipping reach in the future!

📬 When will my order ship?

🍞 Sourdough bread ships on Mondays unless otherwise stated or arranged through a special order request. This avoids weekend delays and keeps your bread as fresh as possible.

🧴 Skincare and other handmade homestead items ship as soon as they are created — our goal is within 2–3 business days, depending on the item and whether it's a special‑order product.

⚠️ Ordering bread with other items? If your order includes sourdough bread along with other products, your entire order will ship together on Monday. If you'd like your other items sooner, please place a separate order — please be aware that separate orders will each have their own shipping cost.

☀️ Why is shipping sometimes higher during warm weather?

Warm weather can be tough on both baked goods and skincare. To protect your order, we may need to use faster shipping methods, which can increase the cost.

We know shipping isn't cheap — we're a small homestead, not Amazon — but we pour our hearts into every item and want it to reach you fresh, safe, and in the best condition possible. Faster shipping helps make that happen, and we appreciate your understanding and support.

🚚 What if my package is delayed or lost?

Once a package is accepted by the carrier, transit conditions are outside our control.
However — please still contact us if something goes wrong. We truly care and will always look at the situation with compassion and fairness. While we cannot guarantee replacements or refunds for carrier issues, we will do what we can to help based on the circumstances.

📸 What if my order arrives damaged?

Please contact us within 24 hours of delivery with photos. We want to make it right and will gladly assist you.

🌿 What if I'm unsure about a scent or texture?

Please read product descriptions carefully. If you're unsure about a scent, you can:

• Contact us with questions before ordering
• Smell the essential oils listed in the ingredients at a local store

Natural products vary — that's part of their charm.

🍞 SOURDOUGH BREAD FAQ

🌱 Is your bread made fresh?

Yes! Every loaf is made fresh after orders are placed. Orders close on Fridays, and our bread is baked over the weekend so it's as fresh as possible when it ships — usually on Monday.

⚠️ Ordering bread with other items? If your order includes sourdough bread along with other products, everything will ship together on Monday. If you need your other items sooner, please place a separate order — note that each order will have its own shipping cost.

🌾 What ingredients do you use in your bread?

The ingredients for each item are listed directly on the product page in our shop. If you have any questions about a specific ingredient or have an allergy concern, please email us at support@lesterfarmshomestead.com and we'll be happy to help!

🥖 How long does sourdough stay fresh?

Freshness varies based on temperature, humidity, transit conditions, and how quickly the package is retrieved. Most customers enjoy their bread for several days.

❄️ Can I freeze sourdough?

Yes! Sourdough freezes wonderfully.

• Freeze the whole loaf
• Freeze half a loaf
• Or pre‑slice it so you can pull out one slice at a time

🌾 Do you use commercial yeast?

No — our sourdough is naturally leavened using a wild starter grown from scratch right here on our homestead. Her name is Ethyl, and she's been lovingly nurtured from day one.

🧺 How should I store my sourdough?

Your bread will arrive in a plastic bread bag, inside a paper bread bag, inside the shipping box.

For best results:

• Keep it in the paper bag or a bread box at room temperature
• Avoid sealing it tightly in plastic unless freezing

About refrigeration:
Our bread is fully shelf‑stable and meets Iowa Cottage Food Law requirements. Some customers choose to refrigerate sourdough to extend its shelf life — this is a personal preference, not a safety requirement. Store your bread in the way that works best for your household.

🧴 TALLOW & SKINCARE FAQ

🐄 Where does your tallow come from?

Our beef tallow is sourced right here on our own Iowa homestead — we raise our own cattle and render the suet ourselves. When we need more than our herd provides, we source locally from trusted farming friends whose animals we know personally.

🌾 Are your cattle grass-fed?

Our cattle are pasture, hay, and grain-fed — not strictly grass-fed, and we're proud of that. Here's why: a varied diet of pasture, quality hay (we grow our own), and grain produces more suet, which means more tallow for you. More importantly, as a small family homestead — not a feedlot — our animals receive individual care and attention that no large-scale operation can match. Our animals are not stressed and not continuously moved. We know our animals so well they don't even need tags. The result is a rich, high-quality tallow from animals that lived well. We believe that matters just as much as what they ate.

🌼 Do your skincare products contain preservatives?

Our skincare products use carefully selected preservatives depending on the formulation — some naturally derived, like Leucidal Complete (made from radish root ferment and coconut), and some products that are thoughtfully chosen already contain synthetic preservatives, all free from parabens and formaldehyde releasers. You'll find the full ingredient list on each product page. Our basic whipped tallow contains no preservatives at all. Every ingredient is chosen with intention — and we would never put something on your skin that we wouldn't use on our own family's skin first. That's a promise.

🌸 What scents do you use?

We only use:

• Pure essential oils
• Herbal infusions
• Unscented options (available by special request)

No synthetic fragrances.

☀️ Will my whipped tallow melt in warm weather?

It may soften or melt during transit in hot months. This is normal and does not affect product quality. We ship as quickly as possible to minimize heat exposure.

💧 Is tallow safe for sensitive skin?

Many people with sensitive skin love tallow, but everyone's skin is unique. We recommend a patch test first.

⚕️ Are your skincare products medical treatments?

No. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions.

🧶 HANDMADE GOODS FAQ

🧵 Why does my handmade item look slightly different from the photos?

Handmade items naturally vary in color, texture, and appearance. These variations are normal and part of their charm.

🎁 Do you accept returns on crochet or custom items?

No. All handmade and custom items are final sale.

📍 LOCAL PICKUP

🧺 How does local pickup work?

Once your order is ready, we'll contact you directly to arrange a pickup time and location. Pickup details are not shown at checkout.

💵 Can I pay with cash or Venmo for pickup?

Yes! Cash and Venmo are available for pickup orders and in‑person markets only. If you want to use cash or Venmo for pickup, please contact us before placing your order so we can give you a special discount code. This discount only applies when paying at pickup with cash or Venmo — not for online or card payments.

⏰ How soon do I need to pick up my order?

Pickup orders must be collected within the agreed‑upon timeframe to ensure freshness and quality.

🧾 POLICIES & PRIVACY

📄 Where can I read your full policies?

All policies are linked in our website footer and in the website menu:

• Return, Cancellation & Shipping Policy
• Shipping Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions