Danny Federico
editor@riverbendnews.org
A new plant nursery and creative gathering space is preparing to put down roots in Suwannee County.
Wild Roots Collective, a plant nursery, apothecary and creative studio, is set to celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, March 21, bringing together plants, art and community collaboration in a single space along U.S. Highway 129.
Owners Adam Houston and Jennifer Smith say the business is designed to be more than just a place to buy plants. Instead, they hope Wild Roots Collective will become a community hub where gardeners, artists, growers and makers can connect, learn and share their work.
“We found a need in the community for gatherings and for supporting other makers and growers,” Smith said. “We want to be a facilitator for those people and give them a place to showcase what they do.”
The grand opening celebration will feature a variety of activities designed to introduce the community to the space and its mission. Visitors can expect local vendors, food trucks, live music and opportunities to meet area growers and artisans. The event will also include plant swaps and giveaways, with items provided by participating makers and vendors.
Houston said the goal is to create a space that reflects the collaborative spirit behind the business itself.
“We want it to feel like a celebration of local creativity,” he said. “It’s about bringing people together.”
Located along the busy Highway 129 corridor, the business also hopes to serve as a storefront for small-scale growers and creators who may not otherwise have access to high-traffic retail space.
“With the increase in farm stands throughout the counties, we want to be a place where those makers can bring their products and have them on a major road like Highway 129,” Smith said. “If their little dirt road doesn’t get much traffic, this road will.”
Through a consignment-style setup, Wild Roots Collective plans to partner with growers and artisans from across Suwannee County and surrounding areas. The goal, the two said, is to help local producers expand their reach while still allowing them to focus on creating their products.
“They can keep doing what they love — growing plants or making things — while we help connect them with customers,” Smith said.
While plants will be at the heart of the business, the duo says education and creativity will play equally important roles.
Wild Roots Collective will operate as a traditional garden center in some ways, offering a variety of plants and gardening supplies. However, Smith said the shop will place a strong emphasis on teaching customers about sustainable gardening practices and native plants.
“We’re going to carry many of the same plants other garden centers have,” Smith said. “But we really want to focus on the education side of things. That includes teaching people about native plants, drought tolerance and alternatives to pesticides and herbicides.”
Classes and workshops will be a major part of the business model. Plans include gardening classes covering plant propagation, permaculture techniques and hugelkultur, as well as creative workshops for those interested in art and self-expression.
Smith said the goal is to empower people with knowledge while also creating a welcoming environment for creativity.
“I’m a huge believer in art and the way it allows people to express themselves,” she said.
Both Smith and Houston added that the atmosphere of the shop will be just as important as the products it sells.
“We want people to feel like they’ve stepped into a different reality when they come here,” Smith said. “Somewhere peaceful and relaxing.”
Future events will reflect that vision by combining gardening, creativity and community gatherings.
Upcoming activities already planned include art workshops and themed events, such as a “Paint & Plant After Dark” gathering scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, March 27. They also plan to host community movie nights, including a screening of the cult musical comedy, “Little Shop of Horrors,” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 – a showing the duo felt was a fitting choice for their plant-centered business.
Smith said the goal is to create a space where people can return again and again for events, education and connection.
The name “Wild Roots Collective” reflects both the founders’ personal backgrounds and their vision for the business.
Houston’s family has deep ties to Live Oak, and he spent summers working on his grandparents’ farm growing up. Smith, who also grew up in the area, said the name also reflects her personality, describing herself as more “feral and wild,” which helped inspire the Wild Roots concept.
Together, they said they wanted to create something that reflects both the agricultural heritage of the area and the creativity of the local community.
“The collective part of the name is really important,” Smith said. “We want to build relationships with local growers and makers and create a meeting place where people can share their skills and ideas.”
Looking toward the future, the two hope Wild Roots Collective will continue to grow alongside the community it serves.
One long-term vision includes developing a “seven-layer food forest” on nearby property. The concept would create a layered growing system that allows visitors to harvest a variety of fruits and berries throughout the seasons.
Instead of simply picking one type of fruit, visitors could experience a landscape filled with strawberries, blueberries, pears, blackberries and other edible plants.
“That’s one of our bigger goals down the road,” Houston said.
In the shorter term, they hope the business will quickly become a trusted destination for plant lovers across the region.
“Our goal is to establish our name as the go-to nursery in Suwannee County,” he said. “If someone is looking for native plants or wants to learn more about gardening, we want them to think of Wild Roots.”
Community members will have their first opportunity to explore the space during the grand opening celebration on March 21, beginning at 9 a.m.
Houston and Smith say they hope the event will mark the beginning of something lasting for the area.
“We’re really excited to open our doors,” Smith said. “This is something we’ve been building toward for a long time, and we’re excited to share it with the community.”
More information about Wild Roots Collective, including upcoming classes and events, can be found on the business’s Facebook page.
Riverbend News photos by Danny Federico, March 5, 2026