diff --git a/.planning/STATE.md b/.planning/STATE.md
index 26e65245f..ec06e3019 100644
--- a/.planning/STATE.md
+++ b/.planning/STATE.md
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ B1 dispatches.
 
 ### F2 — Document branch + release model
 
-- [ ] Extend `CONTRIBUTING.md` with branch flow + ASCII/Mermaid diagram
-- [ ] Mirror page on healthlog-docs (developer / contributor docs)
-- [ ] Make user-vs-contributor distinction explicit
+- [x] Extend `CONTRIBUTING.md` with branch flow + ASCII diagram (this branch)
+- [x] Mirror page on healthlog-docs at `/contributing/branch-model/` (`5d96861` on healthlog-docs/main)
+- [x] User-vs-contributor distinction explicit in both surfaces
 - Detailed report: `.planning/phase-F2-report.md`
 
 ### FX — User-facing artifact cleanup (PII + jargon + German leaks)
diff --git a/.planning/phase-F2-report.md b/.planning/phase-F2-report.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7b7bd18d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.planning/phase-F2-report.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Phase F2 — Document branch + release model
+
+Status: complete · 2026-05-10T15:18+02:00
+
+## Outcome
+
+The two-branch model is documented in two places:
+
+| Surface | File | Audience |
+|---|---|---|
+| Repo root | `CONTRIBUTING.md` (extended) | Contributors cloning the repo |
+| Docs site | `src/content/docs/contributing/branch-model.mdx` | End users + would-be contributors browsing docs.healthlog.dev |
+
+Both contain:
+
+- ASCII branch-flow diagram (`feature/* → develop → main → tag → GHCR → Coolify`)
+- Two-rule summary (develop = daily, main = release-only)
+- Hotfix flow (branch from main, tag patch, merge back to develop)
+- Explicit "end users follow tags / contributors track develop" guidance
+
+## Commits
+
+| Repo | Commit | Branch |
+|---|---|---|
+| HealthLog | (this commit) | `develop` |
+| healthlog-docs | `5d96861` | `main` |
+
+## Build verification
+
+`healthlog-docs`: `npm run build` green, 46 pages built (was 45),
+new `/contributing/branch-model/` slug rendered, pagefind search
+index covers it.
+
+## Why this lands now (before B-phase work)
+
+The branch model is operational: every B1-B5 commit goes to `develop`.
+If the docs lag behind the operational reality, would-be contributors
+who clone the repo today and open a PR against `main` would need to
+re-target it. Docs ship with F2 so that contract is clear from the
+first v1.4.20 commit.
+
+## Sidebar placement
+
+The new "Contributing" sidebar group sits at the bottom of the docs
+nav, below "Account". Contains one entry today (`branch-model`); F5
+or future hygiene PRs may add `code-conventions`,
+`dev-environment`, etc.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index e7e5126d0..0824ab103 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -90,13 +90,39 @@ pnpm db:generate    # Regenerates Prisma client
 
 Always include the migration file in your PR.
 
+## Branch Model
+
+HealthLog uses a long-lived `develop` branch for daily work and reserves `main` for releases.
+
+```
+   feature/* ──┐
+               ├──► develop ──► (release-merge) ──► main ──► tag vX.Y.Z ──► GHCR build ──► Coolify deploy
+   fix/*    ──┘                                        │
+                                                       └──► hotfix/* ──► main + tag, then merge back to develop
+```
+
+Two simple rules:
+
+- **`develop` is the daily target.** Open feature, fix, test, and docs PRs against `develop`. Builds do not run on `develop` pushes — the branch is free of release ceremony.
+- **`main` is release-only.** It receives a single release-merge per version, gets tagged (`v1.4.20`, etc.), and that tag is what triggers the Docker image build, the GHCR push, and the Coolify deploy. Pushes to `main` outside a release are reserved for hotfixes that cannot wait for the next cycle.
+
+If a critical bug needs a hotfix:
+
+1. Branch from `main`: `git checkout -b hotfix/something main`
+2. Land the fix; tag a patch release on `main`
+3. Merge `main` back into `develop` so the next release inherits the fix
+
+End users: track the latest `v*` tag (or `:latest` on GHCR). The `main` branch always equals the latest release.
+
+Contributors: track `develop`. PRs target `develop`.
+
 ## Pull Requests
 
 1. Fork the repository
-2. Create a feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/your-feature`)
+2. Create a feature branch off `develop` (`git checkout -b feature/your-feature develop`)
 3. Make your changes
 4. Ensure all checks pass (`pnpm typecheck && pnpm lint && pnpm test && pnpm format:check && pnpm build`)
-5. Submit a PR with a clear description of the changes
+5. Submit a PR against `develop` with a clear description of the changes
 
 ## Security