Introduction
GreenPatches (greenpatches.online) is a gardening blog written and run by the GreenPatches team. This privacy policy explains what information we collect when you visit the site, how we use it, and the choices you have. We aim to keep this clear and readable — no legal maze.
What information we collect
Comments. If you leave a comment on a post, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your comment, plus your IP address and browser user agent for spam detection.
Contact form. If you use the contact form, I collect your name, email address, and your message so we can reply to you.
Newsletter. If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address so we can send it. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.
Analytics. We use analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) that collect standard usage data: pages you visit, how long you stay, the device and browser you use, and your approximate location (country or city level). This helps us understand which articles are useful.
Advertising cookies. This site may display ads served by advertising partners such as Google AdSense or Mediavine. These partners use cookies and similar technologies to show ads that may be relevant to you, measure ad performance, and (where applicable) serve personalized advertising. These cookies may track your activity across websites.
How we use your information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to your comments and messages.
- To send the newsletter you signed up for.
- To understand how the site is used and improve our content.
- To keep the site secure and fight spam.
- To serve and measure advertising, where ads are displayed.
Legal bases for processing (GDPR)
For visitors in the European Economic Area and the UK, we process personal data under these legal bases:
- Consent — for the newsletter, optional cookies, and personalized advertising. You can withdraw consent at any time.
- Legitimate interests — for site security, spam prevention, and basic analytics to understand how the site is used.
- Legal obligation — where I am required to keep certain records.
Your rights
Under the GDPR (EU/UK), you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Request correction of inaccurate data.
- Request deletion (“the right to be forgotten”) of your data.
- Restrict or object to certain processing.
- Receive your data in a portable format.
- Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.
Under the CCPA/CPRA (California), you have the right to:
- Know what personal information is collected and why.
- Request deletion of your personal information.
- Opt out of the “sale or sharing” of your personal information (“Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information”). Advertising cookies used for personalized ads may count as sharing; you can opt out through your browser settings or a consent tool on the site where available.
- Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@greenpatches.online. We’ll respond within a reasonable time and in any event within the timeframe required by law.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. This site uses:
- Strictly necessary cookies — needed for the site to work (for example, remembering cookie preferences).
- Functional cookies — for features like comment forms.
- Analytics cookies — to understand site usage.
- Advertising cookies — set by advertising partners for personalized ads and ad measurement.
You can control cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting them. Some features of the site may not work properly if you disable certain cookies.
Third parties
We share limited data with third-party service providers that help run this site: web hosting, email/newsletter services, analytics providers, spam detection, and advertising partners. These providers process data on my behalf and are required to handle it securely. We do not sell your personal information in the traditional sense.
Data retention
We keep your data only as long as needed for the purposes described here: comments are kept for as long as the relevant post is live; contact form messages are kept for up to two years; newsletter data is kept until you unsubscribe; analytics data is kept according to our analytics provider’s settings. Backups may retain data for a short time after deletion.
Children
This site is not aimed at children, and We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 (or the minimum age in your jurisdiction).
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time as the site grows or laws change. The latest version will always be posted on this page, with the date updated.
Contact
If you have questions about this policy or your data, email us at hello@greenpatches.online.