Root & Reclamation — Terms of Service

Includes Bridging the Commons and Unwelcome Guests
Effective date: November 12, 2025 • Version: 1.0

Plain English (not a contract)

• You can read and share short quotes with credit; don’t republish whole pieces.

• Paid tiers unlock more writing and audio; renewals are automatic unless you cancel.

• Be respectful in comments; I moderate.

• This is expressive/educational work, not professional advice.

• If these terms change, I’ll let you know.

1) Who we are

“Root & Reclamation” (the Publication) includes Bridging the Commons and Unwelcome Guests, operated by John Free / GreenAlchemy (“Publisher,” “I,” “me,” “my”).

2) Using the Publication

By accessing, subscribing to, or interacting with the Publication (including comments), you agree to these Terms and to Substack’s platform terms and policies, which govern billing and delivery.

3) Content ownership & permissible use

• All original writing, audio, and media (the “Content”) are © John Free / GreenAlchemy unless otherwise noted.

• Okay: read, save, and share brief quotations or small excerpts with clear attribution and a link back to the original post.

• Not okay without written permission: republishing full posts, paywalled content, archives, or audio; training AI models on Content; commercial use; creating derivatives presented as your own.

• If you wish to license or republish, email john@greenalchemy.farm first.

4) Reader contributions (comments, replies, messages)

• You retain rights to your own comments and contributions, but by posting you grant the Publisher a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, moderate, excerpt, and re-share them in connection with the Publication.

• You’re responsible for what you post. Don’t post illegal, defamatory, hateful, harassing, doxxing, or spam content.

• I may moderate, hide, or remove content, or limit access, at my discretion to protect the circle.

5) Tiers, subscriptions, and payments

• Paid subscriptions (including Supporter and Ally/Founding tiers) are processed by Substack. Auto-renew applies unless you cancel before the renewal date.

• Refunds: handled case-by-case consistent with Substack’s refund policy.

• Benefits may evolve. I’ll communicate material changes in advance; continued use indicates acceptance.

6) Access & availability

• I aim for steady publishing, but no guarantee of posting frequency or availability is made.

• I may pause, change, or discontinue parts of the Publication (including archives or audio) for maintenance, safety, or editorial reasons.

7) Community guidelines

To help keep the circle coherent:

• Practice respectful dialogue; no harassment, hate speech, or personal attacks.

• No spam, solicitation, scraping, or unauthorized data collection.

• Stay on topic; bring heat without harm.
  Violations may lead to content removal, limits on participation, or account termination.

8) Sensitive topics & wellbeing

This work may address trauma, colonization, cultural critique, collapse, and spirituality. Reader discretion is advised. Content is expressive and educational, not therapy or a substitute for professional care.

9) Disclaimers (no advice)

• Content is provided “as is” for informational and expressive purposes only; it is not medical, legal, financial, mental health, or professional advice.

• You use the Content at your own discretion and risk.

10) Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent allowed by law, the Publisher is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages arising from your use of (or inability to use) the Publication or Content.

11) Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Publisher from claims arising out of your misuse of the Publication, violation of these Terms, or infringement of others’ rights.

12) Privacy

Email delivery, payments, and account data are handled by Substack under their policies. I don’t sell your personal data. See Substack’s privacy policy for details on processing. If I publish a separate Privacy Notice, that will also apply.

13) Changes to these Terms

I may update these Terms. Material changes will be communicated (e.g., via post or email). Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

14) Termination

I may suspend or terminate access (including paid access with a prorated refund where required) for violations of these Terms or to protect the community.

15) Governing law & venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada (conflict-of-law rules excluded). Any permitted disputes will be heard in courts located in Ontario, Canada.

16) Contact

Questions, permissions, or concerns:
John Free — john@greenalchemy.farm