Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: April 10, 2025

Welcome to Step Garden (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using stepgarden.com (the “Site”), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you disagree with any part of these terms, please refrain from using the Site.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By using the Site, you confirm that:

  • You are at least 13 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction).
  • You agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any other applicable policies.

2. Use of the Site

  • Permitted Use: You may access and use the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes related to gardening education and community engagement.
  • Prohibited Activities:
  • Posting spam, harmful content, or violating intellectual property rights.
  • Using automated tools (e.g., bots, scrapers) to extract data without permission.
  • Engaging in illegal or disruptive behavior.

3. Intellectual Property

  • Ownership: All content on the Site (e.g., text, images, graphics) is owned by Step Garden or licensed to us and protected by copyright laws.
  • Limited License: You may share or print content for personal use, provided you credit Step Garden and link back to the original post. Commercial use requires written permission.

4. User-Generated Content

  • Comments and Contributions: By posting comments, photos, or other content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, or modify it on the Site.
  • Moderation: We reserve the right to remove content that violates our guidelines or is deemed inappropriate.

5. Affiliate Links and Sponsorships

  • Disclosure: Some posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Purchases made through these links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.
  • Transparency: Sponsored content will always be clearly marked.

6. Third-Party Links

The Site may link to external websites or services. We are not responsible for their content, privacy practices, or accuracy. Use them at your own risk.

7. Disclaimers

  • Informational Purpose: Gardening tips and advice are provided “as is” for educational purposes. Results may vary based on individual circumstances.
  • No Guarantees: We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the Site’s content.
  • Health/Safety: Always exercise caution when using tools, plants, or chemicals mentioned on the Site. Consult professionals as needed.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Step Garden and its founder, Angela, are not liable for:

  • Damages or losses arising from your use of the Site.
  • Errors, omissions, or interruptions in Site availability.
  • Actions of third parties (e.g., advertisers, linked sites).

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Step Garden from any claims, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) resulting from your misuse of the Site or violation of these Terms.

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of California, USA, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to the Site for users who violate these Terms.

13. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms, visit our Contact Page or email [legal@stepgarden.com].

This document balances legal protection with readability, maintaining Step Garden’s friendly and trustworthy tone.