App: Mini Garden Coach Developer: Nigelware Effective Date: May 4, 2026 Last Updated: May 4, 2026
Nigelware ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Mini Garden Coach mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our App to plan, grow, and document a small garden.
Information We Handle
What You Create In the App
Onboarding Answers: Your selections for environment (indoor or balcony), sunlight, and weekly time commitment
Garden Plans: The template you choose and a snapshot of its week-by-week plan, frozen at the moment you start the garden
Task Progress: Which weekly tasks you mark complete
Shopping List Progress: Which shopping list items you mark as purchased
Plant Photos: Photos you optionally capture or import for the photo journal, along with the plant and week they belong to and the date captured
Harvest Events: Optional notes you log when you harvest something (date, plant, brief description)
Weekly Feedback: Your one-tap response to "How did this week go?" (Going great, OK, or Need help)
Settings: In-app preferences such as your reminder hour, sound preference, and reminders toggle
Device Information
Technical Data: iOS version and device model, used only at runtime to determine feature availability (such as whether your device has a camera)
What We Do NOT Collect
To be clear, we do NOT collect:
Account information, names, or email addresses
Location, contacts, calendar, or browsing history
Usage analytics, behavioral tracking, or advertising identifiers
Any data through third-party SDKs (the App contains none)
Where Your Data Lives
Local Storage
All garden data, photos, harvests, feedback, and preferences are stored on your device using Apple's SwiftData framework. Plant photos are stored as files inside the App's sandboxed container.
iCloud Sync
Mini Garden Coach uses Apple's CloudKit framework to sync your data to your private iCloud database, so your gardens, photos, and progress stay consistent across the iPhones and iPads signed into the same Apple ID.
Private database: data is stored in your personal iCloud account, not in any database owned or controlled by Nigelware
We have no access: Nigelware cannot read, view, or recover your iCloud-stored data
End-to-end behavior: sync is governed by Apple's iCloud security model, including device encryption and the privacy guarantees of your Apple ID
Opt out: if you sign out of iCloud or disable iCloud Drive for Mini Garden Coach in your device's Settings, the App falls back to local-only storage on that device
Camera and Photo Library
The App offers an optional photo journal so you can document your plants over time.
Camera: Used only when you tap "Take photo" inside a plant's detail screen. We request camera permission at that point and never run the camera in the background.
Photo Library: When you tap "Choose from library," the App uses Apple's PhotosPicker, which lets you select a single image without granting the App broader access to your photo library.
Storage: Selected or captured photos are saved to the App's local storage and synced via your private iCloud database, as described above.
Notifications
Mini Garden Coach can send you local notifications to remind you about each week of your garden plan.
Generated entirely on your device using Apple's UserNotifications framework
Scheduled at the time you create a garden, one per week of your plan
Cancelled automatically when you finish or delete a garden, or when you turn off in-app reminders
Not sent through any external push notification service
Fully controllable through the App's Settings and your device's notification settings
Network Use
Beyond iCloud sync, the App may make limited outbound requests:
Template updates: We may fetch updated garden templates from a hosted JSON file so we can improve the bundled guidance without requiring an app update. These requests do not include any personal data, device identifiers, or user content. The App falls back to the bundled templates if unavailable.
Outbound retailer links: Tapping a "View on Amazon" or similar shopping-list link opens the retailer's website in an in-app browser (SFSafariViewController). Once you are on the retailer's site, that retailer's privacy policy and tracking apply. Where applicable, we participate in affiliate programs and may earn a commission on purchases — this never changes the price you pay.
How We Use Information
The App is designed to:
Recommend a garden template based on your onboarding answers
Show your week-by-week tasks, milestones, and progress
Power the photo journal, harvest log, and weekly feedback
Schedule local weekly notifications for the duration of your plan
Adapt the dashboard when you finish a week or complete the program
Sync your data across your own devices via your private iCloud database
Privacy First
The App contains no third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking SDKs. Nigelware does not store your data on its own servers. Your garden, photos, harvests, and progress remain on your device and in your private iCloud account, under your control.
Data Sharing
We do not share, sell, or transmit your data to any third party. Your data remains in your device's storage and your private iCloud database.
Third-Party Services
The App does not integrate with any third-party analytics platforms, advertising networks, or cloud storage providers. Apple's iCloud and any retailer site you choose to open from a shopping-list link are governed by their own terms.
Data Retention and Deletion
Garden data, photos, harvests, and feedback are retained until you delete them in the App or remove the App from your device
Deleting a garden permanently removes its photos, harvests, feedback, and progress (cascade delete)
Removing the App removes all locally stored data on that device; iCloud-synced copies remain in your private iCloud account until you delete them or disable iCloud sync
We have no ability to access or delete your data on your behalf
Children's Privacy
Mini Garden Coach is designed to be accessible to users of all ages. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Because all data stays on your device and in your private iCloud, the privacy risk is minimal. Parents or guardians should supervise iCloud and App permissions for younger users.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
Access all your data directly within the App
Edit or delete individual gardens, photos, harvests, and feedback at any time
Disable in-app reminders and sounds in Settings
Disable iCloud sync for the App in your device's Settings
Remove the App from your device, which deletes the local copy of all data
Contact us with any privacy-related questions
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of changes by posting the updated policy at this URL and updating the "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at: