PRE ORDER FAQ FOR 2025

ORDERING
We accept PreOrders from December 15th to February 15th.

HARVEST DATES
For more efficient time management on our part, we will be harvesting and fulfilling each crop for fresh orders on 1 or 2 dates only. We will continue to try and ship multiple small orders together, but this may not always be possible.

With limited harvest dates, it is important to keep us updated with any dates you are unavailable to process fresh herbs such as vacations, etc. We will try to work around them, but if you don’t notify us, we may miss the opportunity to fulfill your order! Estimated harvest times are available on the price list on our website at any time and variable with our changing climate.

SHIPPING
We ship FRESH herbs on Mondays and Tuesdays only so herbs will not get stuck somewhere over the weekend. We will contact you with a harvest/ship date 2-7 days beforehand. We will not harvest or ship unless we receive your confirmation from you so please respond promptly as poor communication could lead to loss of opportunity to get your goods!

Fresh Flowers and Leafy Herbs are shipped via FedEx.

  • Ground service for NC, SC, VA – 1 day or RI, CT, NJ, MD, DE, PA,WV, OH, IN, KY, TN, AL, GA, FL – 2 days

  • FedEx 2 day for all other states.   

  • There is a handling fee of $7 + carrier costs for all orders shipped FedEx. Fresh herbs are shipped with cold packs (# dependent on where they are shipping and # of lbs of herbs in the box).

  • You may request FedEx Overnight; note that it can be 1-5x the cost of your herbs.

Dry Herbs, Fresh Roots and Hydrosols are shipped via USPS.  There is a packing fee of $4 + carrier costs for all orders shipped USPS. Large orders over 20lbs may be sent via FedEx at our discretion.

We recycle and reuse all packaging (except the bags your herbs are packed in). Please recycle or re-use whatever you receive from us! The water bottles we use as ice packs are unopened and ok to water your plants with.

LOCAL PICKUP
We offer the following options ONLY for pick up

  • Durham Farmers Market - Saturdays, Feb-December

  • Hillsborough meet up after 5pm

  • On farm pick up after 12pm

PAYMENTS
Orders under $500 – Pre Payment for herbs in full due by Feb 16th. 
Orders over $500 - 50% deposit due by Feb 16th.

When applicable, shipping & handling fees will be invoiced with each shipment. Payment will be deducted from your pre-payment balance. When your balance reaches $0, we will invoice you for the remainder of your herbs. Once this balance reaches $0, you will be invoiced for individual shipments plus applicable shipping fees. Invoices must be paid within 15 days of receipt.
Convenience fees of 10% will be added for each reminder sent every 7 days after an invoice is overdue.

Due to increasing processing fees, invoices may be paid by ACH online, by check via mail or at pick up. If you prefer to pay by Debit/Credit we will split the fee with you 50/50 so 1.50% will be added to each invoice. Please let us know if you would like this option.

ORDER ADDITIONS & CANCELLATIONS

You may request additions to your Order at any time during the season of herbs “Available Now” listed in our newsletter by sending us an email with detailed info on HERB NAME, FRESH or DRY, SIZE and QUANTITY.

We understand that your needs may change during the season.  Please let us know immediately if you would like to request a cancellation of any herbs.  Cancellations will not be accepted once we have begun harvesting, distilling or filling your order.

RETURNS & REFUNDS

We do not accept returns on herb orders. If an order arrives damaged you must let us know within 24 hours of delivery time, with pictures of the damage. Quality is guaranteed for 48hrs from 4pm on the confirmed harvest date. If there is any error on our part, we will replace the herb or refund you for the damaged parts.

As farmers we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.  We strive to make reasonable projections on our harvests.  However, there may be unpredictable situations that can result in crop failures or reduced yields.  If we are unable to fulfill any confirmed orders, we will let you know as soon as we can so you can look elsewhere. Accounts with a balance credit at the end of the season will receive a refund check with their last order.
Thank you for understanding and supporting home grown herbs!

COMMUNICATION WITH US

Please provide an email address on your form as this is our main form of communication - how we confirm harvest & shipping/pick up dates and how we send invoices with online payment options. We do also ask for your preferred method of communication in case we need to reach you quickly regarding harvest confirmations, shipping, etc.

During the season, if you have questions regarding what is on your confirmed order, please refer to your Pre Order Confirmation Estimate, Harvest Time frames on our HERBS page, or the information provided here. For availability questions, please look at the New Order Request Form on our HERBS page or in our ONLINE SHOP for small quantity dried herbs. They are updated regularly.
As we focus our energies on growing the herbs, our office hours are limited. Priority will not be given to questions such as “how much of this did I order” or “when will I receive this herb” or “do you have this available” as this information is already provided for you. You are responsible for keeping record of what you ordered, and what you have received. We thank you for keeping in mind, that every moment we have to spend on excess communication is time we won’t be tending the herbs or are overtime hours that tip the balance to unsustainable for our personal lives.

Please use email if you do need to reach us regarding your order in a non-urgent manor so we can keep the details all in one place. As our hands are often covered in soil, wet or clean and working with herbs we do not answer the phone during the day. We do receive texts throughout the day, so if it is an urgent matter concerning an order scheduled to be harvested within 48hrs you may reach out that way. Make sure to say who you are and we will try to respond before the day is done.
Sunshine’s direct cell phone is - three zero five 766 1761.

VISITING YOUR HERBS

Folks with Pre Order accounts with us are welcome to come visit the farm and their herbs while they are growing. Sit with them, give them love, take a nibble. As we are hard at work most days, or resting when we can, we may not be able to give you a full tour but we can point you in the direction of the herbs you would like to see. PLEASE NOTE: All visits must be scheduled in advance so that we are here and can greet you!