Effective Date: March 2026
DigInGuide (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates diginguide.com. We respect your privacy and want you to understand exactly what data we collect, why we collect it, and what options you have.
This policy applies to all visitors of the site.
Information We Collect
Automatically Collected Information
Each time you visit DigInGuide, our servers and analytics tools automatically record certain technical data:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system and device type
- Pages visited and the order in which you viewed them
- Time spent on each page
- The website or search engine that brought you here
- Date and time of each visit
- General geographic region (based on IP address)
This collection happens through Google Analytics and standard web server logs. None of it is tied to your real name or identity.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies are small files placed on your device by websites you visit. They serve different purposes depending on who sets them.
First-Party Cookies
Set by DigInGuide directly. These handle basic site functions like storing your cookie consent choice.
Third-Party Cookies
Set by Google AdSense and Google Analytics. Google uses these cookies to serve advertisements and gather anonymized usage statistics. The DART cookie specifically allows Google to show ads based on your browsing patterns across multiple sites.
How to Manage Cookies
Every major browser lets you control cookies. You can block them entirely, allow only first-party cookies, or clear them each time you close your browser.
Quick paths to cookie settings:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions
Be aware that blocking all cookies may affect how some parts of the site display or function.
Information You Provide Voluntarily
The only way you actively share information with us is through our contact form. If you use it, you may provide your name and a message. That’s it.
We do not ask for phone numbers. We don’t ask for mailing addresses. We don’t process payments on this site, so we never see credit card or financial data.
How We Use Your Information
We use collected data for three things:
- Improving content – Traffic data shows us which gardening topics readers search for most, so we can prioritize those.
- Understanding traffic patterns – Aggregate data helps us spot technical problems, track seasonal trends, and measure whether site changes are working.
- Serving advertisements – Google AdSense uses cookie data to display relevant ads on our pages. This advertising is what keeps the site free.
We do not sell your personal information. Not to data brokers, not to marketers, not to anyone.
Google AdSense and Third-Party Advertising
DigInGuide displays ads through Google AdSense. Google and its advertising partners use cookies – including the DART cookie – to serve ads that may reflect your interests based on your browsing history.
To opt out of personalized ads, visit Google Ad Settings.
Other third-party ad vendors participating in the Google ad network may also place cookies on your device. We don’t have direct access to or control over those cookies.
For Google’s full advertising privacy details, see Google’s Privacy Policy.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand visitor behavior in aggregate: which pages are popular, where traffic comes from, and how long people stay. Google Analytics sets its own cookies to collect this data.
The information gathered by Google Analytics is processed on Google’s servers. It does not include personally identifiable details like your name or email.
If you’d rather not have your visit tracked by Google Analytics, install the free Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.
Third-Party Links
Our content links to external sites regularly – seed suppliers, product pages, university extension programs, gardening forums, and more. Once you follow a link away from DigInGuide, you’re on someone else’s site.
We don’t control what those sites do with your data. Please review their privacy policies before sharing any personal information with them.
Data Retention
Google Analytics data is retained per Google’s default settings, which is currently 14 months for user-level data. Server logs are kept for a limited time for security and troubleshooting.
Information you submit through the contact form is retained only long enough to respond to your message, then removed.
Your Privacy Rights
California Residents (CCPA)
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we collect and how we use it
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt out of the sale of your personal data (we don’t sell it, so this is already covered)
- Not face discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
Submit CCPA requests through our contact form. We will verify your identity before processing.
European Visitors (GDPR)
Visitors from the European Economic Area may have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Have inaccurate data corrected
- Request erasure of your data
- Restrict how your data is processed
- Receive your data in a portable format
- Withdraw consent you previously gave
To exercise any GDPR right, reach out through our contact form and tell us what you need.
Children’s Privacy (COPPA)
DigInGuide is not designed for or directed at children under the age of 13. We do not intentionally collect personal information from minors. If you believe a child under 13 has submitted personal data through our site, contact us and we will delete that information as quickly as possible.
Data Security
The site is hosted on Hostinger and served over SSL encryption (HTTPS), which protects data traveling between your browser and our servers.
We use reasonable precautions to protect stored data. That said, no system connected to the internet is completely immune to risk. We cannot promise absolute security, but we treat your data with care.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or advertising technologies. When we make changes, we’ll update the effective date at the top of this page.
We suggest revisiting this page occasionally to stay informed. Your continued use of the site after any update indicates acceptance of the revised policy.
Contact Us
Privacy questions or data requests? Get in touch at https://diginguide.com/contact-us.