SproutySpeaks is a free, non-commercial gardening website at sproutyspeaks.com, operated from California, USA. There is nothing to buy, no ads, no affiliate links, and no visitor accounts. This policy explains the little information we do handle, why, and how to ask us to delete it. Questions or requests: sproutyspeaks@gmail.com.
What we collect and why
Newsletter. If you subscribe, you give us your email address. That's all we ask for, and we use it only to run the newsletter. We first send a confirmation email; if you don't confirm, we may send one reminder a day for up to seven days. Once you confirm, you get a weekly digest. Every weekly digest has a one-click unsubscribe link. Along with your email, we store your subscription status, a random code used in your confirm and unsubscribe links, and the dates you subscribed, confirmed, unsubscribed or were sent a reminder. We also receive an email notice when someone subscribes.
Garden tools. Our garden calendar, frost and heat planner, and "what to plant now" tool ask for a ZIP code. Our server sends that ZIP to a public lookup service to find your area and growing zone. We don't keep a list of ZIP codes or connect them to your email. Because a ZIP can be part of a page or lookup address, it may briefly appear in our hosting logs and in analytics page views.
A name saved on your device. The garden calendar can remember a gardener's name in your own browser. It never leaves your device; clearing this site's data in your browser removes it.
Server logs. Like any website, our host receives basic technical information when a page loads, such as your IP address and browser type, to keep the site running and secure.
Cookies and analytics
We use Google Analytics to see which articles and tools are useful. It uses cookies and records page views, general device and location information, and simple tool events such as the growing zone and month looked up. We don't use Analytics for advertising. Learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services.
Some articles include YouTube videos. When a video player loads, YouTube (Google) may set its own cookies and collect information about your activity across sites, even if you don't press play. Google may use that information, including for advertising, under its own policies. We also link to our YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok channels, which have their own privacy rules.
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or install Google's Analytics opt-out add-on. The site still works without cookies, though embedded videos may not.
We don't sell your information
We never sell your information or use it for advertising. A few service providers help us host the site, store the newsletter list, send emails, measure traffic and look up ZIP codes, and they handle information under their own privacy policies.
How long we keep it, and deleting it
We keep your newsletter record while you're subscribed. If you unsubscribe, we keep your email marked as unsubscribed so we don't email you again by mistake. Sign-ups that are never confirmed may be deleted. Analytics data and server logs are kept by our analytics and hosting providers under their own settings and policies.
To see, correct, or completely delete the information we hold about you, email sproutyspeaks@gmail.com, ideally from the address you subscribed with. We'll delete your newsletter record and any sign-up notices or messages from you in our inbox. You won't be treated differently for asking.
Security
The site uses HTTPS, and access to the newsletter list is limited to the person who runs SproutySpeaks. No website or email system is perfectly secure, so please keep your confirm and unsubscribe links to yourself.
Children
SproutySpeaks is general gardening content for all ages, but the newsletter is for people 13 and older. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has subscribed, email us and we'll delete it.
California and other privacy rights
Do Not Track. Our site doesn't currently change its behavior when a browser sends a Do Not Track or Global Privacy Control signal. You can use the cookie and opt-out options above instead.
California privacy laws. As a non-commercial hobby site, we aren't covered by the California Consumer Privacy Act, but we'll still respond to any request to see, correct, or delete information we hold about you.
Outside the US. SproutySpeaks is run from the United States, so information is processed there and wherever our service providers operate. You can still contact us to see or delete your information.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll post the new version here and update the date at the top.
Contact
SproutySpeaks · sproutyspeaks@gmail.com