Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to FloraMetric ("we," "our," or "us"). We are dedicated to providing precision planning tools for thriving gardens and landscapes. We value the trust you place in us when you use our garden planner tools, landscape design software, and intelligent planting schedules (collectively, the "Services").

This Privacy Policy explains how FloraMetric collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your information when you visit our website, use our mobile application, or engage with our digital tools. We are committed to protecting your personal data and ensuring transparency in our processing activities.

By accessing or using our Services, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service.

2. Information We Collect

To provide you with our high-precision garden layout tools and personalized planting calendars, we collect various types of information. This data helps us tailor your gardening experience to your specific environment and needs.

A. Personal Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register for the Services, express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products, participate in activities on the Services, or otherwise contact us.

• Account Registration: Name, email address, password, and contact preferences.
• Gardener Profile: Experience level, gardening goals (e.g., maximize yield, aesthetic appeal), and preferred plant types.
• Payment Data: We may collect data necessary to process your payment if you make purchases, such as your payment instrument number (credit card number), and the security code associated with your payment instrument. All payment data is stored by our payment processor, and you should review its privacy policies and contact the payment processor directly to respond to your questions.

B. Garden and Environmental Data

To fulfill our value proposition of "precision planning," we collect specific data regarding your gardening environment:

• Geographic Location: To determine your USDA Hardiness Zone or local climate zone for accurate planting schedules.
• Plot Specifications: Dimensions of your garden, soil type inputs, sun exposure logs, and layout configurations created within our tool.
• Visual Content: Photos of your garden or landscape that you upload to the platform for analysis or journaling purposes.

C. Information Collected Automatically

We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate the Services. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information.

• Log and Usage Data: Service-related, diagnostic, usage, and performance information our servers automatically collect when you access or use our Services and which we record in log files.
• Device Data: Information about your computer, phone, tablet, or other device you use to access the Services. Depending on the device used, this device data may include information such as your IP address (or proxy server), device and application identification numbers, location, browser type, hardware model, Internet service provider and/or mobile carrier, operating system, and system configuration information.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your information for purposes based on legitimate business interests, the fulfillment of our contract with you, compliance with our legal obligations, and/or your consent.

Specific Use Cases

• To facilitate account creation and logon process: If you choose to link your account with us to a third-party account (such as your Google or Facebook account), we use the information you allowed us to collect from those third parties to facilitate account creation and logon process for the performance of the contract.
• To send administrative information to you: We may use your personal information to send you product, service, and new feature information and/or information about changes to our terms, conditions, and policies.
• To protect our Services: We may use your information as part of our efforts to keep our Services safe and secure (for example, for fraud monitoring and prevention).
• To improve our algorithms: We analyze aggregated, anonymized garden data to improve the accuracy of our planting algorithms and yield predictions for all users.
• Marketing and Communications: With your consent, we may send you marketing emails about new companion planting guides, soil health articles, or features found in our Garden Game. You can opt-out of our marketing emails at any time.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We only share information with your consent, to comply with laws, to provide you with services, to protect your rights, or to fulfill business obligations.

Vendors, Consultants, and Other Third-Party Service Providers

We may share your data with third-party vendors, service providers, contractors, or agents who perform services for us or on our behalf and require access to such information to do that work. Examples include:

• Payment Processing: Securely processing your subscription fees.
• Data Analysis: Helping us understand user activity to improve our tools.
• Email Delivery: Sending you your seasonal planting reminders.
• Hosting Services: Infrastructure services to keep FloraMetric online.

Business Transfers

We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

Legal Obligations

We may disclose your information where we are legally required to do so in order to comply with applicable law, governmental requests, a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process, such as in response to a court order or a subpoena.

5. Data Security

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

Measures Include:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest.
• Strict access controls limiting data access to necessary personnel only.
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Secure coding practices for our garden planner tools.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding your personal information.

GDPR (EEA and UK Residents)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have the following data protection rights:

• The right to access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data.
• The right to rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or complete information you believe is incomplete.
• The right to erasure: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
• The right to data portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

CCPA (California Residents)

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California residents have the right to:

• Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers.
• Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected.
• Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. FloraMetric does not sell your personal data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Information" section below.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to access or store information. Specific information about how we use such technologies and how you can refuse certain cookies is set out in our Cookie Policy.

We use both session cookies (which expire once you close your web browser) and persistent cookies (which stay on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them). These are used to:

• Authenticate users and prevent fraudulent use of user accounts.
• Save your garden layout preferences.
• Track usage patterns to improve our software responsiveness.

8. Third-Party Services

The Services may contain links to third-party websites and applications of interest, including advertisements and external services, that are not affiliated with us (for example, links to seed suppliers or gardening tool manufacturers mentioned in our resources). Once you have used these links to leave our Services, any information you provide to these third parties is not covered by this Privacy Policy, and we cannot guarantee the safety and privacy of your information.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

FloraMetric is based in the United States. If you are accessing the Services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed by us in our facilities and by those third parties with whom we may share your personal information, in the United States and other countries.

If you are a resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, then these countries may not necessarily have data protection laws or other similar laws as comprehensive as those in your country. We will however take all necessary measures to protect your personal information in accordance with this privacy policy and applicable law.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated "Revised" date and the updated version will be effective as soon as it is accessible. If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we may notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to review this privacy policy frequently to be informed of how we are protecting your information.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions or comments about this policy, you may email us at [email protected] or by post to: