Events & Workshops
We believe great landscapes grow from great relationships. From creative collaborations to intimate seasonal gatherings, we’re proud to connect with those who share our love for design, ecology, and purposeful living.
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
We regularly take part in select community events and also host private workshops for clients, design partners, and local organizations. Whether we’re leading a garden walk, offering hands-on seasonal care instruction, or diving into topics like native and edible plantings, our gatherings are thoughtfully crafted to inspire, inform, and cultivate connection.
Want to join us? We’re always adding new offerings throughout the year, check back often or sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop.
Interested in partnering or attending a workshop or event? Contact us, we’d love to connect! 🌱
Events & Workshops
May 3rd
1:00PM - 5:00PM
Worcester, MA
Burncoat Bloom Fest | Burncoat Center for Arts & Wellness
Celebrate the growing season with us at Burncoat Bloom Fest and explore what it really takes to build a healthy, resilient landscape at home. Stop by our table to learn how we design, install, and steward ecological landscapes with native plants, edible gardens, and functional hardscape and carpentry features that support long-term use. We’ll be available to answer questions, share practical tips, and connect you with resources to get started. Be sure to bring the kids, our hands-on “box of dirt” potato dig lets them discover where food comes from and why healthy soil matters.
May 16th
9:30AM - 11:30AM
Boylston, MA
Spring and Setting the Garden Up for Success | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Spring energy often leads to rushed planting and scattered effort. But the most productive gardens begin with observation, planning, and realistic expectations. Early decisions around layout, soil preparation, and plant selection determine how much work and how much harvest follows. This session focuses on reading the garden in spring and setting up systems that make the rest of the season easier.
May 17th
9:00AM - 12:00PM
Sturbridge Common, MA
Annual Plant Sale | Southbridge Garden Club
Join us at the Southbridge Garden Club Plant Sale alongside a great lineup of local growers, educators, and makers. Reimagined Roots will be there sharing practical guidance on organic landscaping, permaculture, and building healthier, more resilient home landscapes. Stop by our table to ask questions, learn more about our services, and connect around simple, real-world ways to grow better.
May 18th
8:30am - 10:30am
West Boylston, MA
Birding Workshop | West Boylston Senior Center
Join Reimagined Roots for a relaxed introduction to birding and the birds you’re most likely to see right here in Central Massachusetts. We’ll cover how to recognize common species, what to listen for, and simple ways to enjoy birdwatching in your own backyard or local green spaces. You’ll leave with more confidence, a sharper eye, and a deeper appreciation for the birds around you.
May 30th
11:30AM - 1:30PM
Worcester, MA
How to Compost in Urban & Suburban Spaces | Burncoat Center for Arts & Wellness
Composting is not just for farmers! In fact, reducing food waste is critical in the effort to reduce your carbon footprint as well as increase the health of the soil, food and ecosystem growing around you! Learn to compost in your apartment, small lot, or large space. This class will teach you how to compost in the winter and in the summer, on any sized lot. Let's make dirt!
June 3rd
6:00PM - 8:00PM
Boylston, MA
Supporting Growth Without Burnout During the Summer | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Summer reveals the results of spring choices. Rapid growth, heat, pests, and weeds can push gardeners into constant reaction mode. This session teaches how to support strong growth while reducing unnecessary work and stress. The focus is on pacing, observation, and practical strategies that keep gardens productive through the most demanding months.
June 10th
1:30pm - 3:30pm
West Boylston, MA
Herb Boxes Workshop | West Boylston Senior Center
Join Reimagined Roots for a practical workshop focused on growing herbs in simple, manageable container boxes. We’ll cover which herbs grow well in our region, how to set up and care for your box, and tips for keeping plants healthy throughout the season. You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to grow fresh herbs at home, whether on a patio, porch, or doorstep.
July 13th
7:00PM - 8:00PM
Charlton, MA
Permaculture Workshop | Charlton Garden Club
Join Reimagined Roots for a practical introduction to permaculture design, where we’ll cover how to read your landscape, build healthier soil, and create plant systems that support themselves over time. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to design a more resilient, productive garden using simple, actionable principles you can apply right away.
September 13th
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Sterling, MA
Composting Talk with Reimagined Roots | Sterling Fair
Composting is not just for farmers! In fact, reducing food waste helps reduce your carbon footprint, saves money on trash bags, and keeps odors out of the kitchen. Learn how composting works, as well as a variety of composting methods for any space, from apartment to homestead
September 27th
2:00PM - 4:00PM
Boylston, MA
Finishing Strong in the Fall and Preparing for Next Year | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Fall is often overlooked, yet it’s one of the most important seasons for future productivity. How a garden is managed at the end of the season affects soil health, pest pressure, and spring readiness. This session focuses on thoughtful transition, closing the season well while preparing the garden for rest and renewal.
PAST EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
4/29 Homeschool Gardening Workshop | Beaman Memorial Public Library
Join Reimagined Roots for a fun, engaging workshop designed for homeschool families to explore how food actually grows and gets to our tables. We’ll cover the basics of starting seeds, what plants need to thrive, and the important role local farms and gardens play in our food system. This session is designed for all ages, with space to ask questions, get curious, and connect with others as we welcome the spring season together.
4/26 Grafton Earth Day | Sustainable Grafton
Celebrate Earth Day with us in Grafton at this community event hosted by Sustainable Grafton on Grafton Common. Explore practical, real-world ways to care for the land we call home, connect with local businesses and organizations, and discover resources that support sustainable choices for your home and landscape. Be sure to stop by our table for a kid-friendly, hands-on activity designed to spark curiosity and connection with the natural world.
4/26 Designing the Future: From Backyard to Bioregion | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Move beyond the individual garden to consider how landscapes connect at a larger scale. This session examines long-term planning, community resilience, and bioregional thinking, offering tools to design gardens and landscapes that support ecological health well into the future. Part 3 of our 3 Part Winter Session Series.
4/25 Massachusetts Agriculture in Action Expo
Join us at the Massachusetts Agriculture in Action Expo, a free, family-friendly celebration of the farmers, food, and working landscapes that sustain our communities. Sponsored by the Massachusetts State Grange, this event brings together growers, educators, and land-based businesses for a day of hands-on learning and connection. We’re excited to be there as vendors, sharing practical tools and ideas for building healthier, more resilient landscapes at home.
4/25 Massachusetts Agriculture in Action Expo
Join us at the Massachusetts Agriculture in Action Expo, a free, family-friendly celebration of the farmers, food, and working landscapes that sustain our communities. Sponsored by the Massachusetts State Grange, this event brings together growers, educators, and land-based businesses for a day of hands-on learning and connection. We’re excited to be there as vendors, sharing practical tools and ideas for building healthier, more resilient landscapes at home.
4/23 Plant Rubbing Workshop | West Boylston Senior Center
Join Reimagined Roots for a relaxed workshop exploring plant rubbing as a simple way to connect more closely with the natural world. We’ll guide you through how to observe plant structure, texture, and form while creating botanical prints using seasonal plant materials. You’ll leave with a new way to notice and appreciate the plants growing around you.
4/14 Leominster EarthFest
Celebrate with us at Leominster EarthFest to explore practical ways to make more eco-friendly choices at home and in your landscape. Connect with local businesses and organizations, discover useful resources and services in the area, and shop for thoughtfully made items that support a healthier, more resilient community.
4/11 Planting Resilience: Growing Abundance in Any Backyard | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Explore practical strategies or building healthy soils, diverse plant communities, and productive home gardens. Participants will learn how to design for abundance using polycultures, perennial crops, and climate-responsive planting techniques suited to small and large spaces alike. Part 2 of our 3 Part Winter Session Series.
3/21 Design Like Nature: The Foundations of Permaculture | New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Learn the core principles of permaculture design and how to observe landscapes the way nature does. This session introduces systems thinking, site analysis, and ecological patterns that form the foundation of resilient, regenerative gardens at any scale. Part 1 of our 3 Part Winter Session Series.
3/1 Plan your Veggie Garden | Burncoat Center for Arts & Wellness
Have you struggled to know what to plant in your garden, or how to make sure you're actually making the most of the space you have? Or, are you just longing for warmer days? Join us for this 2-hour garden planning class where we will cover topics such as companion planting, succession sowing, attracting pollinators, protecting crops, and more! You'll leave with a garden plan you can follow on your own landscape. Don't have land of your own? Make a plan for that person you're always telling to start planting some food so you can share in the abundance!
2/27 Fruit Tree Pruning | Worcester County Conservation District
Join Reimagined Roots and the Worcester County Conservation District to learn how proper pruning supports healthy structure and reliable fruit production. In this focused, practical session, we’ll cover when and why to prune, how to identify what should be removed, and how winter pruning sets trees up for strong growth in the seasons ahead. You’ll leave with clear guidance and confidence to care for existing fruit trees or plan for future plantings.
“This class was great! I loved how much they believed in and were passionate about the subject. We need Part II & III.”
”Nate + Lucy were great. Loved the enthusiasm and info.”
- NEBG Workshop Attendees
Workshops Details & Speaking Engagements
From seasonal hands-on garden sessions to lecture-based talks on sustainable design and organic growing, our programming brings together education, creativity, and community. Whether you’re joining us for a one-hour talk or a multi-part series, you’ll walk away feeling empowered to grow more—more food, more beauty, more life.
We offer private sessions for garden clubs, organizations, wellness programs, schools, and design partners. Whether it's a cozy indoor lecture or a guided garden walk, we tailor each experience to your space and your goals.
Popular Workshop Topics Include:
Intro to Permaculture
A beginner-friendly overview of permaculture principles and how they apply to everyday landscapes. Learn how to design with nature, support healthy ecosystems, and create spaces that are both productive and beautiful.Cultivate Your Ecosystem
Learn how to plan your garden to support pollinators and grow more food. We’ll cover companion planting, Square Foot Gardening, and ways to design for both beauty and function. A great discussion-based workshop full of practical ideas.Border Bounties
Turn your garden borders into productive, beautiful spaces. This class shares real examples and tips for using flowering and fruiting plants to manage invasives, reduce pests, and boost your landscape’s health.Perennial Crops for New England
Discover trees, shrubs, and perennial veggies that thrive in our region. These plants offer food for people and wildlife while building long-term resilience and diversity in your yard.Landscapes for Happy Honeybees: Beyond No Mow May
Get design ideas for pollinator-friendly gardens that still look neat and intentional. Learn what to plant for blooms all season long—and how to blend beauty with purpose.
Meet Your Instructors, Lucy + Nate
Nate Fournier
Founder & CEO, Reimagined Roots
With a foundation in engineering, design, and construction, Nate Fournier brings a systems-thinking approach to landscape design. His journey into regenerative living began in 2014 after completing his first Permaculture Design Course (PDC) with renowned teacher Geoff Lawton. Inspired by the potential to transform ordinary spaces into productive, resilient ecosystems, Nate began converting suburban yards into abundant human habitats—balancing food production, beauty, and ecological function.
Since then, Nate has completed three PDCs, studied regenerative agriculture internationally, and earned his General Contractor’s license. In 2020, he founded Reimagined Roots to bring this holistic vision to life across Central Massachusetts. As a speaker and educator, Nate is known for making complex ecological concepts accessible, empowering others to design with nature and build lasting connections to the land.
Lucy Smith
VP of Sales & Design, Reimagined Roots
Lucy Smith’s work lies at the intersection of food sovereignty, community care, and ecological restoration. Holding a BA in Economics and Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Lucy’s academic background shaped her deep commitment to supporting communities—especially those affected by food insecurity. That commitment led her around the world, studying permaculture in Thailand, Hawaii, and Costa Rica, where she earned her Permaculture Design Certificate at Finca Tierra.
Lucy went on to design landscapes up and down the East Coast, specializing in biodiverse, edible, and culturally-informed gardens. Her designs draw heavily from indigenous agricultural wisdom, blending aesthetics with purpose to create deeply rooted, living systems. Now leading sales and design at Reimagined Roots, Lucy brings clarity, compassion, and creativity to every project, and is a sought-after voice on ecological design and community resilience.
The Foodscape Journey
We were honored to be featured on The Foodscaper Podcast
Nate Fournier shares how his background in engineering, permaculture, and landscape design inspired his journey into edible landscaping. In this conversation, Nate explores the philosophy behind Reimagined Roots and how we create beautiful, productive ecosystems that regenerate soil, grow food, support pollinators, and reconnect people with nature.
Worcester Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Exchange: Transforming Lawns into Living Landscapes
We were honored to share our story on Chamber Exchange The TV Show, highlighting how Reimagined Roots designs and builds resilient, beautiful, and edible landscapes. Our mission is to replace turf with regenerative, low-maintenance ecosystems that support biodiversity, food production, and community well-being.
Perennial Crops for New England
Discover how to turn your backyard into a thriving ecosystem
In this talk at the Boylston Public Library, we explore how to transform conventional lawns into functional, edible landscapes filled with native plants, medicinal herbs, and pollinator habitat. Learn practical steps to design a sustainable, regenerative yard that feeds both people and the planet.