Hi! I’m Christina Denker, but I prefer Tina. Come with me as I share how Healing Roots Gardens was cultivated.

In 2023 the garden was my greatest joy in my darkest night. It brought me peace and grounding all while turning wild from the lack of care. The spring garden was gorgeous. Tons of onions, bumper crop of cucumbers, so many squash that many of them made it to the compost before I could use them. While my largest tomato harvest began to flush at the end of April, I sat in a hospital with my husband. By the end of the first week of May Jesus called him home.

The garden became my sanctuary where I'd sit and stare at the abundance, but would have no strength to harvest. The tomatoes that didn't make it home with family and friends slowly died on the vine. As May turned to June and then slowly to July, my spirit somewhere between here and heaven, the garden became neglected. Weeds had engulfed her like grief had engulfed my body. Wild, chaotic and with no direction the weeds blanketed the garden like Jesus blanketed my heart. Shaded from the heat and scorching sun, beneath the weeds a few treasures were found. Peppers, fennel and watermelon.

Beneath the blanket of my tender heart Jesus brought me treasures. He led me to a church and family I never knew I needed where I was able to leave my worries at the foot of His cross. He gave me hope. He taught me to worship His name. He made me a believer that His works in me are for a greater purpose. He's brought me some of the most beautiful sisters and brothers who speak life into me, encourage me, support me, and show me how healing vulnerability can be. Through this Journey I’m learning to heal my grieving heart while sharing my passion and love of gardening that I’ve cultivated over the last 14 years.

Healing Roots Gardens was created out of sorrow, grief, desperation, love, joy, fear, anticipation, hope, gratitude, and longing with a push from the Holy Spirit to jump all in. I hope to cultivate not only gardens, but a community. One that loves Jesus, supports the human bodies ability to heal, is empowered to grow their own food and does it all out of love.

From my garden to yours ~ Tina