Fold is a community built for homesteaders to buy, sell, trade, rent, and hire services responsibly. Because Fold listings often involve in-person meetups, farm visits, livestock, tools, raw goods, equipment rentals, and hired services, safety is essential.
These guidelines help protect buyers, sellers, renters, rental owners, customers, service providers, animals, and property.
By using Fold, you agree to follow these Community Safety Guidelines in addition to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Be honest, respectful, and transparent in all communications and transactions.
Keep conversations inside the Fold app whenever possible.
Trust your instincts—if something feels off, stop the interaction.
Do not engage in harassment, bullying, threats, or abusive behavior.
Do not impersonate other users or misrepresent what you are selling.
Fold may remove listings or suspend accounts that violate these guidelines.
Whether you’re picking up eggs or delivering a dairy goat, prioritize personal safety:
Meet in public, well-lit locations whenever possible (farm goods may require exceptions).
Bring someone with you if visiting a private residence or farm.
Let someone know where you're going and when you expect to return.
Keep your phone charged and your Fold chat open.
For large livestock transactions, meet in daylight hours whenever possible.
The other party refuses to verify basic information (first name, approximate location).
You are uncomfortable with the nature of the meetup.
The listing seems fraudulent or too good to be true.
If you ever feel unsafe or witness suspicious behavior, report it to Fold and local authorities if needed.
Livestock moves involve special safety considerations for both people and animals.
Users must:
Ensure animals are represented accurately (age, sex, health, temperament, breed).
Not list sick, injured, or mistreated animals.
Follow all federal, state, and local regulations for animal transport and sales.
Provide appropriate containment or transport equipment during pickup.
Fold prohibits:
Sales of endangered or illegal wildlife.
Cruelty, neglect, or unethical treatment of any animal.
Misrepresentation of an animal’s health, vaccinations, behavior, or breed.
Verify the seller’s information before visiting.
Ask for vet records or proof of health where applicable.
Ensure you can legally own or transport the animal in your state.
Bring proper equipment (trailer, crates, livestock restraints).
Ensure animals are secure and safely handled during pickup.
Follow your state’s livestock bill-of-sale or movement permit requirements.
Disclose any known health or behavior conditions.
Fold does not mediate disputes between buyers and sellers.
All transactions occur off-platform at your own risk.
Users are responsible for complying with all food safety laws, which vary by state.
Fold expects users to:
Clearly disclose whether goods are raw, unpasteurized, homemade, or processed.
Follow all labeling and packaging requirements where applicable.
Store goods at appropriate temperatures until pickup.
Only sell goods they produced themselves or have rights to sell.
Buyers should:
Ask questions about production, handling, and storage.
Follow safe food handling practices after purchase.
Know whether raw milk, raw cheese, or other goods are legal to purchase in their state.
Fold does not verify or certify food safety of goods listed on the platform.
Renting tools, tractors, trailers, and other equipment involves added risk for both owners and renters.
Accurately represent the equipment’s condition, age, and any known defects.
Do not list equipment you do not own or do not have authority to rent out.
Do not list equipment you know to be unsafe, unregistered, or illegal to operate.
Disclose known maintenance issues or safety limitations.
Confirm the renter’s ability to safely operate the equipment before handoff, where practical.
Inspect equipment before use and confirm it is in safe working condition.
Operate equipment only as instructed and in compliance with all applicable laws.
Return equipment on time and in the condition agreed with the owner.
Carry or confirm appropriate insurance before renting, where applicable.
If you believe equipment is unsafe to operate, do not use it.
Fold does not inspect, certify, or guarantee the condition or safety of any rental equipment, and does not mediate disputes between owners and renters. All rental transactions and agreements occur off-platform and at your own risk.
Fold allows users to list farm, homestead, and agricultural services, such as fencing, land clearing, tractor work, and equipment operation.
Only advertise services you are qualified and equipped to perform.
Accurately represent your qualifications, licenses, certifications, and insurance.
Follow all applicable laws, licensing requirements, and safety practices while performing services.
Confirm a provider’s qualifications, licenses, certifications, and insurance before hiring them, where appropriate.
Clearly agree on scope, price, and timing before work begins.
Supervise your own property and animals during any service visit.
Fold does not employ, supervise, or guarantee the work of any service provider, and does not mediate disputes about service quality or performance. All service transactions and agreements occur off-platform and at your own risk.
Common red flags:
Requests to send money before seeing the item or animal.
Users who refuse in-person meetups without a legitimate reason.
Payment methods that offer no buyer protection (e.g., gift cards, wire transfers).
Listings priced unusually low relative to market value.
To stay safe:
Never share banking information with another user.
Avoid deposits unless you fully trust the seller (Fold cannot recover deposits).
Keep communication inside the app.
Report suspicious listings or messages immediately.
The following are not allowed on Fold:
Fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation of any kind
Selling stolen goods or animals
Harassment, threats, or abusive conduct
Discrimination or hate speech
Listings that violate state or federal laws
Violations of animal welfare or food safety laws
Attempting to circumvent Fold bans, moderation, or safety measures
Encouraging others to break state or federal regulations
Listing equipment you do not own or do not have authority to rent
Listing unsafe equipment
Misrepresenting equipment condition or maintenance history
Misrepresenting service qualifications, licenses, certifications, or insurance
Advertising services you are not qualified to perform
Posting dangerous, fraudulent, or deceptive rental or service listings
Attempting to circumvent applicable safety requirements for rentals or services
Violations may result in listing removal, account suspension, or permanent bans.
You can report:
Suspicious users
Unsafe behavior
Fraudulent listings
Animal welfare concerns
Unsafe or misrepresented rental equipment
Unqualified or misrepresented service providers
Harassment or abusive conduct
Fold may take action but does not guarantee outcomes or mediation.
If you are in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement.
Fold is a platform for connecting buyers, sellers, renters, rental owners, customers, and service providers.
All transactions, rentals, and services occur off-platform and at your own risk.
Users are solely responsible for:
Compliance with federal, state, and local laws
Animal welfare and transport
Food safety
Rental equipment condition, safe operation, and legal use
Service provider qualifications, licensing, and workmanship
The accuracy of their listings
Their behavior during meetups
Any harm or damages resulting from transactions, rentals, or services
Fold is not responsible for disputes, injuries, or losses related to off-platform transactions, rentals, or services.