Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 2026
Overview
Terrarium respects your privacy. This page explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights.
Cookie Preferences
You can choose how Terrarium stores data:
- Persistent Profile: saves assessment progress and personalization between visits using a profile cookie and localStorage, and enables analytics.
- Session Cookie: keeps progress only while this browser session stays open using a session cookie; no localStorage or analytics.
- No Cookie: stores nothing on your device; progress resets between page loads.
You can change your choice by clearing cookies in your browser and revisiting the site.
Information We Collect
Household Assessment Data
When you complete the household assessment, we collect information like household size, housing type, climate zone, and preparedness level.
Storage depends on your cookie preference. With a Session Cookie, we keep your progress only for the current browser session. With a Persistent Profile, we store a compact profile cookie and localStorage draft so you can continue later.
Server-side Household Storage
With Persistent Profile consent, when server storage is available your profile's durable copy lives on our server keyed by an anonymous household id — no name, no email, no account. Your browser holds only that id plus a random secret; anyone without the secret cannot read or claim the household.
Lantern links (mutual neighbor connections) store only pseudonymous ids on both sides. Nothing about your household is visible to a linked neighbor until you opt in on the Your Three page, capability scores are never shared, and either side can revoke a link at any time.
"Reset profile" deletes the server copy, revokes your lantern links, and clears the identity cookie — identity death, immediately.
Usage Analytics
If you choose Persistent Profile, we collect basic analytics about page visits and product views to understand how people use the site. This data is aggregated and used to improve the experience.
Contact Messages
If you email us, we receive your email address and the contents of your message.
Affiliate Links
Buy links on Terrarium are ordinary links to retailers and earn us nothing today. We are not an Amazon Associate or an Etsy affiliate. See the Affiliate Disclosure for current status.
We do not receive your payment details from these retailers.
Cookies
First-party cookies
Terrarium sets first-party cookies of its own: your cookie preference (terrarium_cookie_consent), a profile cookie if you choose Persistent Profile (terrarium_profile), a session cookie (terrarium.sid), and an anonymous household identity cookie (terrarium_hh). They are described under Cookie Preferences above.
Third-party cookies after click-out
When you click a buy link you leave Terrarium for a retailer such as Amazon or Etsy. That retailer may set its own third-party cookies in your browser to remember where you came from and to attribute a purchase. We do not control those cookies and cannot read them; the retailer's own privacy policy governs them. You can block or clear them in your browser settings.
How We Use Your Information
- Personalize product recommendations based on household context
- Maintain basic site functionality and sessions
- Improve the site and product selection
- Respond to messages you send us
Sharing and Third Parties
We do not sell your personal information. We may share limited data with service providers that help us operate the site (for example, hosting or analytics). When you purchase through affiliate links, the retailer's privacy policy applies to that transaction.
Your Choices
- You can choose Persistent Profile, Session Cookie, or No Cookie from the banner
- You can update or reset your household profile at any time
- You can disable cookies in your browser settings (some features may not work)
- You can opt out of analytics by using browser-based opt-out tools
Data Security
We use reasonable security measures to protect your information. If you choose Persistent Profile, your assessment data is stored in your browser and in a server-side session. If you choose Session Cookie, your progress is stored only for the current session. If you choose No Cookie, we do not store assessment data beyond the current request.
Children's Privacy
Terrarium is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy occasionally. Significant changes will be posted prominently on the site.