Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Hortus ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and share information when you use our platform for mapping native plant gardens and building pollinator corridors.

By using Hortus, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Username, email address, password
• Location Data: Property address, latitude/longitude coordinates (for mapping your garden)
• Garden Data: Plants you've added (species, quantities, planting dates)
• Messages: Communications you send to other users through our platform
• Profile Information: Optional bio, sharing preferences

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: How you interact with the platform (pages visited, features used)
• Device Information: Browser type, IP address, operating system
• Cookies: We use cookies for authentication and analytics

3. How We Use Your Information

• Provide and improve the Hortus platform
• Display your garden on the community map
• Generate community analytics (bloom coverage, species diversity, pollinator corridors)
• Enable you to message other users
• Send important updates about your account or the service
• Conduct research on urban biodiversity (anonymized data only)
• Provide aggregated data to conservation authorities and research institutions

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 Public Information

The following information is visible to other Hortus users:

• Your username
• Your property location (approximate, shown on map)
• Plants you've added to your garden
• Your profile information (if you choose to add it)

4.2 Aggregated & Anonymized Data

We may share aggregated, anonymized data with:

• Research institutions studying urban biodiversity
• Conservation authorities tracking native plant adoption
• Municipal governments measuring environmental program impact

This data does NOT include your name, email, exact address, or any personally identifiable information. Example: "567 native plants were added in North Toronto in January 2026" (NOT "John Smith planted 10 milkweeds").

4.3 We Do NOT Sell Your Data

We will never sell your personal information to third parties. Period.

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL)
• Secure password hashing
• Row-level security on database
• Regular security audits

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights & Choices

• Access: You can view and edit your profile and garden data anytime
• Delete: You can delete your account and all associated data
• Export: You can download your garden data
• Opt-out: You can opt out of non-essential emails
• Visibility: You can control who sees your garden (public/private)

To exercise these rights, email us at privacy@hortus.app

7. Children's Privacy

Hortus is not intended for users under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

8. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies for:

• Keeping you logged in
• Understanding how you use the platform (analytics)
• Improving your experience

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may limit functionality.

9. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Supabase: Database and authentication (see their privacy policy)
• Vercel: Hosting (see their privacy policy)
• OpenStreetMap: Map data (see their privacy policy)

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through the platform. Continued use of Hortus after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact us:

• Email: privacy@hortus.app
• Website: hortus.app