Privacy Policy
Sowpath (“the app”) is published by <PUBLISHER_LEGAL_NAME> (“we”, “us”). The app is built to need as little of your data as possible: no account, no location access and no advertising. This policy explains what the app does and does not collect, how it is used, and the choices you have.
Your ZIP code stays on your device
When you enter a ZIP code, the app looks up your USDA hardiness zone and typical frost dates in a table built into the app. Your ZIP code is never sent to our servers or to analytics. The app does not request location access, and it does not use your photos, camera or contacts.
Information stored only on your device
Your saved gardens — the ZIP code or zone you chose, frost dates, garden type, sun, size, goal, the plan you received, items you marked as owned and any name you gave the garden — are stored locally on your device. We cannot read them. Deleting a garden or the app removes this data.
Information sent to create a plan
To create a planting plan, the app sends our backend a request containing only: your hardiness zone (for example “7b”, which spans many states), the typical frost dates for your area (worked out on your device from nearby weather stations), your garden type, sun, size, goal, experience, budget and season. Our backend passes these details to an AI model (Google's Gemini API, acting as our service provider) to suggest plants and supplies, and returns the plan to you. We do not store the contents of these requests; our server logs record only the zone and technical information needed to keep the service running.
Anonymous identifier and daily limit
To prevent abuse, each device can create up to 10 plans per day. For this, requests include an anonymous device identifier and an anonymous Firebase authentication token, and our backend keeps a per-day counter for that identifier. These identifiers are random: they are not linked to your name, email or any account and are not used for advertising.
Analytics and crash reporting
We use Google Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics to understand, in aggregate, how the app is used and to fix crashes. Events describe actions in the app (for example, that a plan was created for zone 7b with raised beds) and never include your ZIP code. We do not use this data to identify you.
No advertising or tracking
The app shows no ads. We do not sell or share your personal information, and we do not track you across other companies' apps or websites, so the app never asks for App Tracking Transparency permission.
Amazon Associates
Tapping an item on your shopping list opens an Amazon search page in Safari that includes our affiliate tag. Anything you do on Amazon (browsing, signing in or purchasing) is governed by Amazon's privacy policy, not ours. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Sharing a plan from the app sends plain text without affiliate links.
Data retention
On-device data stays on your device until you delete it. The daily usage counter is kept only as long as needed to apply the limit. Analytics and crash data are retained by Google Firebase according to its standard retention settings and are used only in aggregate.
Your choices
You can delete any saved garden in the app and remove all on-device data by deleting the app. For any question or request about your data, contact us using the details below.
Children
The app is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.
Data sources
Zone data: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS & PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. ZIP code locations: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb (2020 ZCTA).
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date above shows the latest version.
Contact
<PUBLISHER_LEGAL_NAME>, <PUBLISHER_ADDRESS>. Email: <SUPPORT_EMAIL>.