Last updated: October 23, 2026
This policy explains what ThriveThyme (thrivethyme.app) stores, what it sends, and why. ThriveThyme is a garden planning guide operated with support from Spruce Software Studios. It describes how the app works today.
In this policy, "personal information" means information that can identify you, such as your name or email address.
You can use ThriveThyme with or without an account. Either way, your garden data is saved in your browser on this device. That includes your hardiness zone, garden list, planting dates, garden layouts, garden type, journal, harvest log, planning notes, reminder choices, and language.
We do not copy your garden data to our servers unless you choose to share a garden, as described below. Your garden data will not appear in another browser or on another phone on its own. If you clear your browser's site data, your garden data is deleted.
The "Back up your garden" section in My Garden lets you download all of your garden data as one file. You can then restore that file in another browser or on another device. The file is saved wherever you choose, and it is never uploaded to us.
If you use Share garden, we send a copy of the garden you chose to share to our servers. We store that copy to create the share link, and anyone who has the link can view it. We ask search engines not to list shared gardens. The shared copy is not linked to your account. If you want a shared garden removed, email us the link.
You do not need an account to use ThriveThyme. If you create one, we store your name, your email address, and a password hash. A password hash is a scrambled version of your password, so we never store the password itself. We also store the weather and reminder settings you save, such as your ZIP code and which alerts you want.
When you sign in, we keep a session record that may include your IP address and user agent (the type of browser or device you use). We use these records to keep sign-in secure and to prevent abuse of the service. Your device also stores a sign-in cookie or token.
We use account data to sign you in, to send the emails you ask for, such as reminders and password resets, and to protect accounts. Accounts do not store your garden list, layouts, logs, or notes.
You can enter a ZIP or postal code to find your USDA hardiness zone or your local weather outlook. To answer that request, we send the ZIP code, or the location it points to, to outside location and weather services such as Zippopotam.us and the U.S. National Weather Service. We do not send your name, email address, or account with that request.
Some seed shopping links go to Seeds Now. ThriveThyme is a Seeds Now affiliate, which means we may earn a commission when you buy through those links. The links include tracking tags (Refersion rfsn and UTM tags) so that Seeds Now knows the visit came from us. When you click one, you leave ThriveThyme and go to the Seeds Now website.
If we ever show ads, they will be limited and kept out of the core planner.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not sell your garden list to advertisers.
ThriveThyme uses browser storage only to run the features described in this policy. If you sign in, we also set a sign-in cookie. The core planner does not load third-party analytics or tracking pixels.
Like most websites, our servers may log technical details about each request, such as IP address and user agent. We use these logs to run the site and keep it secure.
Cloudflare handles traffic to our site and helps block attacks. DigitalOcean hosts our servers and database. SendGrid delivers our account emails.
Garden data on your device stays until you delete it or clear your browser's site data. Account data stays until you delete your account. A saved ZIP code stays until you clear it or delete your account. Sign-in sessions expire after 30 days, and we delete old session records about a week after they expire or after you sign out. Shared gardens stay online until they are removed.
You can delete your account from the account menu. This removes your account record from our servers, including any saved ZIP code, and signs you out. Garden data on your device stays until you clear your browser's site data or the app's storage, so download a backup first if you want to keep it. For step by step help, see Delete Your Account.
ThriveThyme is a general gardening tool and is not directed at children under 13. Do not create an account for a child under 13.
We may update this policy as the app changes, and when we do, we will change the date at the top of this page.
For privacy questions, email [email protected].