The short version: we collect only what we need to run the Organic Gardening Collective site and the Tended garden-journal app — your account email, the plants, photos and notes you choose to add, and (only if you allow it) your approximate location to show local weather. We don't sell your data. You can see, export, or delete it. Some features rely on trusted third parties (see below), including sending plant photos to an AI provider when you ask for a check-up.

Who we are

This site and the Tended app are operated by Flow Solutions Group, a Florida corporation ("we", "us"). For any privacy question or request, contact privacy@organicgardeningcollective.com. If you are in the EU/UK, you can also lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

What we collect

• Account info — your email address, and a display name if you provide one, when you create an account.
• Your garden content — the plants, diary notes, and photos you add. These are private to your account.
• Approximate location — only if you grant permission, we use your device's approximate location to fetch local weather. We use it to make the request and don't store precise GPS coordinates.
• Newsletter email — if you sign up for updates, we store your email to send them.
• Technical & functional data — minimal data needed to keep you signed in and remember preferences (see Cookies & local storage), plus standard server logs kept briefly for security.

How we use it, and our legal bases

Where the GDPR/UK-GDPR applies, our legal bases are:

• To provide the service (accounts, saving your plants/notes/photos) — performance of a contract.
• AI photo check-ups (analysing a photo you submit) — your consent, given when you request a check-up.
• Local weather (using approximate location) — your consent, given via your browser's location prompt.
• Newsletter — your consent.
• Security and preventing abuse — our legitimate interests.

You can withdraw consent at any time (e.g. revoke location permission, unsubscribe, or stop requesting check-ups).

Service providers we share data with

We don't sell your personal data. We use a small set of trusted processors to run the service:

• Supabase — database, authentication, and private photo storage (hosts your account, plants, notes, and photos).
• Anthropic — when you request an AI photo check-up, the photo and basic context are sent to Anthropic's API to generate the assessment. Don't upload photos containing sensitive personal information.
• SendGrid — sends transactional and (if you opt in) newsletter email.
• Open-Meteo — weather data; receives approximate coordinates to return your local forecast.
• Bluehost — hosts the website.

These providers may process data in the United States and other countries; where required, transfers rely on appropriate safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses).

How long we keep it

We keep your account and garden content until you delete it or close your account. Delete a plant or entry in the app to remove it; delete your account to remove your data (contact us if you need help). Newsletter data is kept until you unsubscribe. Backups and brief logs age out on a rolling basis.

Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your data; to restrict or object to processing; and to withdraw consent. To exercise these, use the in-app controls or email privacy@organicgardeningcollective.com. We won't discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

Children

This service isn't directed to children under 16 (or the minimum age in your country), and we don't knowingly collect their data. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we'll remove it.

Cookies & local storage

We use only essential/functional storage — for example, to keep you signed in and remember your preferences and consent choices. We don't use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. If that ever changes, we'll update this policy and ask for your consent first. You can clear this data anytime via your browser settings.

Security

Your garden data is protected by per-user access rules so only you can see your own plants, notes, and photos. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect your information.

Changes

We'll update this page when our practices change and revise the "last updated" date above. Significant changes will be highlighted in the app or by email where appropriate.

Affiliate links

Some guides and recommendations may include affiliate links (for example, Amazon). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These links don't change what we recommend, and they're labelled where used.

Contact

Questions? Email privacy@organicgardeningcollective.com. See also our Terms of Use.