Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents:

• Do you have an on-farm store or can I come browse your products and purchase at your farm?
• Do you sell other products from other farms?
• How long will it take for my order to be packed and ready to be picked up?
  
• How will I be contacted when my order is ready?
• How do I schedule my pickup appointment?
• Types of pickup appointments:
• Order pick up deadlines:
• Order cancellation and pick up appointment no-shows:
• Farm Tours:
  
• How long does raw milk last?

Do you have an on-farm store or can I come browse your products and purchase at your farm?

At this time, we do not have an on-farm store or a convenient way for customers to browse our selection of products in person. We hope to add a farm store in the future.

To see the variety of products we offer, as well as the products' availability, please browse our online store. Orders are only accepted through our online ordering process; we do not take orders over the phone, text, email, or in-person. 

We restock some items seasonally and others throughout the year. The best way to get notified of product restocking is to sign up for our periodic email newsletter by creating a free account.

Do you sell other products from other farms?

At the time of this posting, the only products that we do not produce ourselves are the maple syrup products. 

All other products are produced by us, on Honeysuckle Farm.

How long will it take for my order to be packed and ready to be picked up?

Please understand that we are not an “order today, pickup today” type of business. Each order is hand packed by Joe or Rachael, as soon as we are available to pack it.

• Orders received on weekdays are typically packed no later than the end of the following day.
• Orders received on the weekend are typically packed no later than the following business day.
• Orders containing milk may take additional time to fulfill. This is because we allow for milk to be ordered before it may be produced

The majority of our orders are received Friday through Sunday. This also happens to be when most of our family's events (activities, sports, etc.) tend to be scheduled.

We appreciate your patience.

Multiple orders:

If we receive multiple confirmed orders from an account using the same credit card number as payment for each order, those orders will be combined and the credit card will be processed for a single transaction. This helps to keep credit card processing fees lower, as each transaction is is charged an individual fee in addition to a the percentage fee charged to all orders. If for some reason you need the orders to be separated, please leave a note in the checkout comments.

How will I be contacted when my order is ready?

Email is the primary method of correspondence that we use to share information and send notifications about orders. 

After ordering, please be sure to check your email for the order confirmation email. 

If you are expecting an email from us but do not see it in your inbox, please check your SPAM folder.

When your order is packed and adjustments to the estimated total have been made for items sold by weight or other ancillary charges (such as jar deposits, etc.), an automated email will be triggered with the subject line “Your Order is Packed - Schedule your Pickup Appointment”.

How do I schedule my pickup appointment?

We use an online appointment scheduling app called Calendly. This service helps to cut down the amount of back and forth emails sent in order to agree on a date and time for the pickup appointment.

Simply click on the link in the “Your Order is Packed - Schedule Your Pickup Appointment” email to take you to Calendly’s website. 

There you will choose from the available dates and times, enter the first and last name used to place the order (so we know which order the pickup is for) and an email address.

Calendly will send you a confirmation email with all the appointment details. Please make sure you receive this email, otherwise your appointment was not scheduled. 

If you need to cancel or reschedule the appointment, there are links within the confirmation email for that purpose. 

Calendly will automatically populate our calendar with your scheduled appointment and will update if you decide to reschedule or cancel.

Types of pickup appointments:

When you arrive at the farm, please pull into our driveway completely; do not park on the road.

Meet the Farmer Order Pickup: (New customers are required to select this option when scheduling)

• This type of appointment is designed specifically for FIRST-TIME CUSTOMERS who have never been to our farm to pick up before and are therefore unfamiliar with the process.

• The appointment window is 15 minutes in duration and we ask that you plan to arrive within that window. There may be customers arriving immediately before or after your window, so we appreciate your punctuality.

• Since we will be expecting your arrival in a specific appointment window, we are often out in the driveway, or nearby, when you arrive. This may not be the case if you arrive significantly before or after your appointment window.

• We will introduce ourselves and assist you in collecting your items. We will discuss the self-service pickup option and answer any of your questions.

• Due to limited time, we will not be able to give impromptu farm tours. Read about farm tours below.

Self-Service Order Pickup:

• This type of appointment is designed specifically for RETURNING CUSTOMERS who have been to our farm to pick up before and are familiar with the process. 

• The appointment window is 3 hours in duration and we ask that you plan to arrive within that window. It is possible that multiple customers may arrive at the same time.

• Since this is a self-service style appointment, please assume that we may not be around or able to assist you when you arrive.

Both pickup types are able to be scheduled no more than 5 days in advance. If the times available for either type of pickup do not work for your schedule, please reply to the “Order Packed” email with a proposed date/time and we will work with you to find an agreeable solution.

Note: If you miss your self-service window, it is possible that your order may be returned to the freezer/refrigerator in a secured location. Multiple customers come everyday to pick up orders, and we need to have space in the self-service refrigerator for scheduled pickup's. Please come within your pickup window or let us know if you will be late.

Order pick up deadlines:

We ask that you pick up your order within a timely manner. Once we pack your order and send the first “Your Order is Packed” email, we expect orders to be picked up as follows:

• Orders containing milk or eggs: MUST be picked up within (5) FIVE DAYS. On the fifth day, the order will be cancelled.

• All other orders: Please pick up within two weeks.

If there is an issue preventing you from picking up your order by these deadlines, please reply to the “Your Order is Packed” email as soon as possible and we will work with you on a solution. 

Order cancellation and pick up appointment no-shows:

At this time, there is no penalty for canceling an order. If this becomes an issue, we may be forced to charge a restocking fee on canceled orders.

Just as your time is valuable, so is ours. We expect customers to honor the appointment times scheduled. Please let us know ASAP if you will be late or miss your pickup appointment.

Milk orders that are picked up within five days will be cancelled. Ordering accessibility for accounts that miss the milk pickup deadlines more than once will be suspended. 

Milk is non-refundable.

Farm Tours:

More information to come.

How long does raw milk last?

The answer to this question depends on two things: temperature and oxygen.

Milk stored at colder temperatures will also stay sweet longer. Obviously, you do not want to unintentionally freeze the milk. Frozen milk is still safe to consume, but the consistency of the cream will change and appear more “clumpy” when thawed. We recommend keeping you milk towards the back of your refrigerator as that is the coldest area.

Milk in unopened jars should easily last two weeks or longer. Once the jar is opened and more and more air is introduced, the beneficial bacteria in the milk will consume the milk sugars, it will lose the sweet flavor, and slowly begin to taste and smell more sour each day. 

The general rule of thumb is, once it's been opened, to consume the entire jar within a week. 

If it sours beyond your taste preferences, it can still be used as an ingredient in cooking, baking, soups, etc. Raw milk does not go rancid like pasteurized milk, it "clabbers" instead. It is still edible and usable. 

www.realmilk.com has tons of information on everything raw milk.

Have a question and couldn't find the answer?

If your question is about a particular product, please first read the products description. Product specific questions are generally answered in the products description. 

Otherwise, please Contact Us.