Root & Reclamation — Privacy Policy

Includes Bridging the Commons and Unwelcome Guests
Effective date: November 12, 2025 • Version: 1.0

Plain English (not a contract)

• I use Substack to run this publication and send emails.

• I see what you share with Substack for this list (e.g., email, tier, comments).

• I don’t sell your data.

• You can unsubscribe, change settings, or ask me to delete what I control.

• Substack (and Stripe, for paid) process most data under their policies.

1) Who we are

“Root & Reclamation” (the Publication) includes Bridging the Commons and Unwelcome Guests, operated by John Free / GreenAlchemy (“Publisher,” “I,” “me,” “my”). This policy explains how your information is handled when you subscribe, read, or engage.

2) What we collect

Through Substack’s platform, the following may be collected:

• Email address (required to subscribe).

• Payment details (paid subscribers only), processed by Stripe for Substack — I don’t see or store your full payment info.

• Account data you choose to provide (name, profile, settings).

• Engagement data (opens/clicks, subscription tier, which posts you view).

• Comments and replies you post publicly.

• Technical data collected by Substack (e.g., IP address, device/browser, cookies). See Substack’s privacy policy for details.

3) How your information is used

• Deliver emails and posts you signed up for.

• Manage subscription status (free, paid tiers, renewals, expirations).

• Enable community features (comments, likes).

• Operate, secure, and improve the Publication (basic analytics, spam prevention).

• Communicate important updates, changes to terms, or policy notices.

I do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

4) Legal bases (EU/UK)

Where applicable, processing is based on:

• Contract/legitimate interests (running a subscriber publication, community features, security).

• Consent (email delivery where required by law, cookies controlled by Substack).

• Legal obligations (records, taxes).

5) Sharing & processors

• Substack provides the newsletter platform and hosts subscriber data.

• Stripe processes paid subscription payments for Substack.

• I may use limited, privacy-respecting tools for aggregated analytics (e.g., subscriber counts, trends).

• I may disclose information if required by law, to protect rights/safety, or to prevent abuse/fraud.

6) Cookies & tracking

Cookies and similar technologies used for login, email delivery, and analytics are primarily controlled by Substack. See Substack’s cookie/privacy policies for details and opt-outs.

7) Data retention

• Subscriber records are retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward for compliance and record-keeping.

• Comments remain on posts unless you delete them or request removal.

• Emails/communications may be retained for operational and legal purposes.

8) International transfers

Substack and its processors may store or process data in multiple countries. Protections such as contractual safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) may apply.

9) Your choices & rights

You can:

• Unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email.

• Manage your settings (email frequency, notifications, payment) in Substack.

• Access, correct, or delete personal data I control by emailing john@greenalchemy.farm.

• Delete comments you posted or request removal.

• Object or withdraw consent where processing relies on consent (subject to legal limits).

• Portability (receive a copy of the data you provided) where applicable.

Residents of certain regions (e.g., EU/UK GDPR, California CCPA/CPRA) may have additional rights; contact me to exercise them. I’ll coordinate with Substack as needed.

10) Children’s privacy

This Publication is not directed to individuals under 16. Do not subscribe or provide personal information if you are under 16.

11) Security

I rely on Substack’s infrastructure (and Stripe for payments) which use industry-standard safeguards. No system is 100% secure; please use caution when posting publicly.

12) External links

Posts may link to third-party sites. Their privacy practices apply there; please review their policies.

13) Changes to this policy

If I make material changes, I’ll notify you (e.g., post or email). Continued use after the effective date signifies acceptance.

14) Contact

Questions or requests about privacy:
John Free — john@greenalchemy.farm