Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on Rare Leafy are affiliate links. This page explains exactly what that means, which programs we participate in, and how we keep affiliate relationships from bending our editorial judgment.
1. What an affiliate link is
An affiliate link is a URL with a small tracking parameter that credits us if you click it and later buy something from that seller. The seller pays a small commission (typically a few percent of the sale) out of their own margin. Your price is the same either way. You do not pay a cent more for using an affiliate link.
If we ever include a link like this in an article, you will notice a small note next to it, or a paragraph at the top of the article, disclosing the relationship.
2. The programs we participate in
We keep the list small on purpose. As of the last update:
- Amazon Associates. Some tool and book recommendations link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Occasional independent nurseries and grow-light manufacturers. We only sign up with a seller after we have already bought and used their product for at least three months.
We are not part of large affiliate networks that push us to promote whatever pays best. We do not add affiliate links to unrelated third-party stores, and we never receive payment for placing a link inside an article.
3. How we decide what to recommend
The editorial rule is simple: we only link to a tool, book, or plant if we would recommend it just as strongly without the affiliate relationship. Practically:
- We use the product in our own home for at least three months before writing about it.
- If a product turns out to be flawed, we say so plainly in the article, whether the link earns us anything or not.
- We do not update older articles to add affiliate links to products we did not originally recommend.
- We refuse gifts and paid-for reviews. If a brand sends us something unsolicited, we either return it or note it clearly in any article that mentions it.
4. What the money covers
Affiliate income (usually a few cents to a few dollars per click that converts) helps cover the boring costs of running an independent editorial: web hosting, domain renewal, an occasional stock photo license, and the tools we use to keep the site fast. It is not a full-time income. It is not enough to change what we recommend. It is enough to keep the site online without stuffing it with ads or paywalls.
5. How to identify an affiliate link
You can hover any link on Rare Leafy to see its destination in your browser status bar. Amazon affiliate links contain the tag= parameter. Nursery and manufacturer affiliate links contain a partner identifier such as ref=, aff=, or partner=. If you would rather not use the affiliate link, simply copy the product name into the seller’s own search box and buy that way. No hard feelings.
6. The FTC bit, plainly
We follow the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s endorsement disclosure guidance. If an article contains any affiliate link, the article discloses that fact plainly, above the fold. This page covers the sitewide relationship.
7. Questions
If you ever wonder whether a particular link on Rare Leafy is an affiliate link, or you would like us to describe a specific affiliate relationship, write to us at [email protected]. We answer honestly.