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The Sweet New Roots Story
What’s the meaning behind your business name?
This is one of my favorite questions.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband and I were experiencing so many blessings together for the first time. We were newly married, building our first home and I had recently moved from Dallas, Texas, to join David in Atlanta. We were visiting churches and putting down proverbial “new roots” in North Georgia. It was such a special time.
Simultaneously, we were hurting with our family and friends and experiencing disappointments of our own. At the time, my brother was fighting a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, our toddler-aged nephew was diagnosed with autism as well as a brain abnormality that required invasive brain surgery, and we were living the monthly cycle of hope and disappointment that accompanies infertility. People we loved were significantly impacted by illness, loss of work, loss of family members, and other very challenging circumstances.
How could life be so full of blessings and yet our hearts so incredibly heavy?
Leaning on Lamentations 3:22-23 – The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness – we began to envision each day as a fresh new start and an opportunity to meditate on gratitude.
Isaiah 58:11 tells us, The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength; you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
We were planting and cultivating those sweet new roots, grounded in Christ’s love for us, by allowing our faith in His plans for our lives to carry us through all of the blessings and hardships.
Planting the Seeds, Growing in Grace
I purchased the website domain name for Sweet New Roots in 2021 and sat on it for more than a year, paralyzed by fear. God’s timing is perfect, and in the summer of 2022 my path forward became abundantly clear. Sweet New Roots has so many ties to my passions for plant-forward recipes, wellness, agriculture, and the concepts of growth and renewal. In September 2022, Sweet New Roots, LLC was founded. The website launched two months later.
The Intentional Wellness and the Faith & Purpose sections of this website were born of my own (ongoing) path to healing and learning to lean completely on the Lord.
Where are you based?
My husband, David, and I currently live north of Atlanta, near the foothills of North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachians. The Dallas, Texas, area is where we grew up and will always be home.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing and editing professionally since 2006.
Recipes
Who develops the recipes for Sweet New Roots?
The recipes featured on the Sweet New Roots Recipe Hub are largely developed in the my own kitchen. On occasion, we share recipes gifted by the people and businesses featured. Though rare, recipes adapted from cookbooks or websites are attributed to the original author and prominently attributed.
Can you share the dietary and nutritional information for your recipes?
While I generally do not provide nutrition cards for Sweet New Roots recipes, the recipe index page is organized by categories that include some special dietary guidelines, such as Refined Sugar Free recipes.
If you’re looking for nutrition and calorie counts, there are many fantastic online nutrition calculators and smartphone apps available for free.
I followed your recipe step-by-step and it didn’t turn out. What happened?
That’s frustrating and it happens to all of us. Some of my favorite recipes were only successful after much trial and error. Contact me and I’ll do my very best to help you troubleshoot.
Can I submit a recipe to be featured?
Yes! I’d love to review your recipe to see if it’s a good fit for Sweet New Roots. Submit your recipe here.
Editorial + Photography
Can we work together?
I love partnering with brands and featuring businesses I believe in and think my readers will, too.
With 20+ years of professional writing and communications experience, I bring a unique approach to storytelling and content development. Please see the “About” section of this site to learn more about my professional background. You can also read samples of my earlier work.
To discuss your upcoming project, please get in touch.
Can I send you a product to review?
Thank you for your interest. Please reach out via the Contact submission form and tell me what you have in mind.
Do you work with guest contributors?
Thank you for your interest. At this time, I do not work with guest contributors.
Where do you source your photos?
The original photography on this website is owned by me, Cortney Sparkman and Sweet New Roots.
Branding photos were taken by Grace Emily Photography.
All stock photography used on this website is sourced through paid subscriptions and adheres to commercial and/or creative licensing guidelines. Royalty-free stock photography is also used on occasion.
Images provided by the people, organizations and businesses featured by Sweet New Roots are clearly attributed.
Where do you find your story ideas?
Research and connections within the industries I cover. I put tremendous effort into sourcing editorial opportunities for Sweet New Roots, and I am intentional about the people, businesses and stories I feature.
Do you really travel to meet with the people you feature?
Yes, I really do, and it’s one of my favorite parts of my job!
When I feature farmers and culinary creators, I’m almost always on location for in-person interviews and to take photos. This is an investment of time and financial resources that I believe help set my work apart. In-person interviews and first-hand experiences are crucial to my ability to develop authentic stories that educate and inspire.
That said, I can’t be everywhere. There are inevitably times when I find an absolute gem of a story that requires virtual interviews due to scheduling conflicts or travel constraints.
I have a great story idea I’d like to share with you. How can I do that?
I’m always looking for fresh ideas featuring farmers and culinary creators doing great work and producing high-quality products. Please contact me directly for consideration. I can’t wait to hear about it.
Can I use your photo on my website?
Photos on this website owned by Sweet New Roots are protected by copyright. All images sourced from Sweet New Roots (not through third-party sources) must be properly and prominently attributed and linked to SweetNewRoots.com or tagged on social media @sweetnewroots.
Please reach out if you’re unsure and I’ll respond as swiftly as I can. Thank you!
