1. Introduction
Seed Sown ("we," "us," or "our") operates the Seed Sown mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our App.
By using Seed Sown, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Name and display name
- Email address
- Profile photo (if you choose to upload one)
- Authentication credentials (securely managed by Firebase Authentication)
2.2 Garden & Plant Data
Information you provide about your garden, including:
- Plant names, varieties, categories, and growth stages
- Planting dates, care instructions, and notes
- Photos of your plants
- Location/bed names (e.g., "raised bed," "indoor")
2.3 Harvest & Seed Inventory Data
- Harvest logs including weight, quality ratings, dates, and photos
- Seed inventory details including names, quantities, and expiration dates
2.4 Community Content
If you participate in the community features, we collect:
- Posts, comments, and images you share
- Likes and saved posts
Community posts are visible to other Seed Sown users.
2.5 Photos & Camera Data
With your permission, we access your device camera and photo library to:
- Take photos of plants, harvests, and seed packets
- Scan seed packet labels using AI-powered text recognition
Photos you upload are stored securely in Firebase Storage.
2.6 Location Data
With your permission, we collect your approximate location to:
- Provide local weather conditions
- Suggest planting times based on your growing zone
Location access is optional. If you decline, we use a default location and you can still use the App.
2.7 Subscription & Purchase Data
If you subscribe to Sown Pro, we process:
- Subscription status (active/inactive) and plan type
- Purchase dates
Payment processing is handled entirely by Apple through the App Store and by RevenueCat. We do not collect or store credit card numbers or billing details.
2.8 Push Notification Tokens
If you enable notifications, we store a device token to deliver reminders and updates. You can disable notifications at any time through your device settings.
2.9 Usage Data
We may collect anonymous usage information such as feature interactions and app performance metrics to improve the App.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide and maintain the App's features (garden tracking, harvest logging, seed inventory, community)
- Process seed packet scans using AI text recognition
- Deliver weather-based gardening suggestions
- Send reminders and notifications you configure
- Manage your Sown Pro subscription
- Improve the App's performance and user experience
- Respond to support requests
4. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services to operate the App:
| Service | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Firebase (Google) | Authentication, database, file storage, and backend functions | Account info, garden data, photos, preferences |
| Google Cloud Vision | AI-powered seed packet text recognition | Seed packet images (processed, not stored by Google) |
| RevenueCat | Subscription management | User ID, subscription status |
| Open-Meteo | Weather data | Approximate coordinates (latitude/longitude) |
| Apple App Store | Payment processing | Managed by Apple per their privacy policy |
Each third-party service operates under its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review their policies.
5. Data Storage & Security
Your data is stored on Firebase (Google Cloud) infrastructure with industry-standard security measures including:
- Encryption in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
- Firebase Security Rules restricting data access to authenticated users
- Passwords hashed and managed by Firebase Authentication
While we implement reasonable safeguards, no method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We share data only:
- With the third-party services listed above, solely to operate the App
- When you voluntarily share content through community features (visible to other users)
- If required by law, regulation, or legal process
- To protect the rights, safety, or property of Seed Sown or its users
7. Your Rights & Choices
You have the right to:
- Access your data — View your information within the App
- Export your data — Sown Pro subscribers can export garden and harvest data as CSV or PDF
- Delete your account — You can delete your account from the App settings, which removes all associated data within 30 days
- Manage permissions — Control camera, photo library, location, and notification access through your device settings
- Opt out of notifications — Disable push notifications at any time
8. Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account:
- Your personal data, plants, harvests, seeds, posts, photos, and preferences are queued for deletion
- Data is permanently removed within 30 days
- Some anonymized, aggregated data may be retained for analytics purposes
9. Children's Privacy
Seed Sown is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
10. International Data Transfers
Your data may be processed and stored on servers located outside your country of residence, including in the United States, through our use of Firebase and Google Cloud services. By using the App, you consent to such transfers.
11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we collect and how it is used
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
- Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights
12. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)
If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights including:
- Access, correction, and deletion of your personal data
- Data portability
- Objection to processing
- Withdrawal of consent at any time
To exercise these rights, contact us at legal@seedsown.app.
13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice in the App or updating the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at:
- Email: legal@seedsown.app
- Support: support@seedsown.app