Garden Guru

Garden Guru ("the App", "we", "our", or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored, and protected when you use the Garden Guru mobile application.

By using Garden Guru, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

Account Information

When creating an account, we may collect information such as:

• Email address
• Authentication credentials required for sign-in
• Profile information voluntarily provided by you

Plant Images and User Content

Garden Guru allows users to upload photographs of plants for identification and disease detection purposes. We may collect and store:

• Plant photographs uploaded by users
• Plant scan history
• Saved plants and gardening records
• Notes or information entered by users related to their plants

Usage Information

To improve the performance and reliability of the App, we may collect information regarding how users interact with Garden Guru, including:

• Features accessed within the App
• General usage patterns
• Application performance data
• Diagnostic and crash information

Notification Preferences

If you enable reminders or notifications, the App may store preferences related to plant care schedules and alerts.

How We Use Your Information

The information collected through Garden Guru may be used to:

• Create and manage user accounts
• Authenticate users securely
• Identify plant species from uploaded images
• Detect potential plant diseases
• Provide gardening guidance and recommendations
• Maintain plant scan history and saved records
• Deliver plant care reminders and notifications
• Improve the accuracy and functionality of our services
• Analyze application performance and enhance user experience
• Maintain the security and integrity of the App

Storage of Information

Information provided through Garden Guru, including uploaded plant images and scan history, may be stored securely to enable users to access their gardening records across sessions and devices.

Reasonable measures are implemented to protect stored information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no electronic storage system or method of transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Data Sharing

Garden Guru does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

Information may be shared only in the following situations:

Service Providers

We rely on trusted third-party services to operate the App. These providers process information only as needed to deliver their services and are bound by their own privacy and security commitments. See the next section for the specific providers we use.

Legal Requirements

Information may be disclosed if required by applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.

Third-Party Services We Use

Garden Guru currently uses the following third-party services:

• Supabase — secure cloud database, file storage, and backend infrastructure
• Google Sign-In — authentication for users who choose to sign in with Google
• Apple Sign-In — authentication for users who choose to sign in with Apple
• Plant identification & AI services — used to analyze uploaded plant images and detect potential diseases

Each provider handles data according to its own privacy policy. We share only the information necessary for these services to function.

Analytics

Garden Guru may use analytics technologies to better understand how users interact with the App. This information helps improve functionality, identify technical issues, and enhance the overall user experience.

Analytics data is used for operational purposes and is not sold to third parties.

Notifications

If enabled by the user, Garden Guru may send notifications related to:

• Watering schedules
• Plant care reminders
• Gardening alerts
• Important updates regarding App functionality

Notification permissions can be modified or revoked through your device settings at any time.

Data Retention

Information collected through Garden Guru is retained for as long as necessary to provide the services offered by the App or until the user deletes their account, subject to any legal obligations requiring retention.

Account Deletion

You can delete your Garden Guru account at any time using either method below:

• In the app, go to Profile > Settings > Delete Account, or
• Email us at gurugarden63@gmail.com from the email address associated with your account

When you delete your account, we remove your personal information, uploaded plant images, scan history, and saved plants from our systems within 30 days. Some information may be retained for a limited period where required to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, or enforce our agreements. Anonymized or aggregated data that cannot be linked back to you may be retained for analytics purposes.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information under laws such as the GDPR and CCPA:

• Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Request deletion of your personal data
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request export of your data in a portable format
• Opt out of notifications and marketing communications
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise any of these rights, email us at gurugarden63@gmail.com. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling the request.

Children's Privacy

Garden Guru is not specifically directed toward children under the age of 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If it is discovered that such information has been collected unintentionally, reasonable efforts will be made to remove it.

Your Choices

Users may choose to:

• Update certain account information within the App
• Disable notifications through device settings
• Delete their account at any time (see Account Deletion above)
• Stop using the App at any time

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes:

• We will update the Effective Date at the top of this page
• For material changes, we may notify you within the app, by email, or through a prominent notice
• Your continued use of Garden Guru after updates means you accept the revised policy

Please review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Disclaimer

• Plant identification, disease detection, and care recommendations provided by Garden Guru are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional horticultural, agricultural, medical, or veterinary advice.
• Results from AI-based identification may not be 100% accurate. Users are encouraged to verify results independently and consult qualified professionals when needed.
• The App is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
• To the fullest extent permitted by law, Garden Guru and its operators are not liable for any damages, losses, or harm — including to plants, property, animals, or persons — resulting from reliance on the App's identifications, recommendations, or content.
• Users are solely responsible for decisions made based on information provided by the App, including the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or any other treatments.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your rights, or need help with your account, please contact us:

• Email: gurugarden63@gmail.com

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within a reasonable timeframe.