Nathan grew up in the Cariboo-Chilcotin interior of British Columbia, Canada. Hiking and biking among the Douglas Firs and Lodgepole Pines, Nathan developed a deeply rooted connection to nature. His career began at the University of British Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, specializing in botany. It was here that he learned about the intricate world of plants and how they function. During this time, he also began learning about plant germination and basic care while working in the UBC Botany Department’s greenhouse.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Nathan accepted a job working as a horticulturist at the UBC Botanical Gardens and Nitobe Memorial Garden. While at the Garden, Nathan continued to develop his skills in plant identification and care as he learned from experienced botanists, curators, and horticulturists who looked after numerous plant collections from all over the world. After moving to Ontario, Nathan worked as a seasonal horticulturist at the University of Guelph Arboretum while earning a Master degree in Landscape Architecture. Once finished, Nathan worked as a sessional instructor at the University of Guelph, as well as a project manager and landscape steward for a landscape restoration/redevelopment project on a 6-acre property north of Guelph, Ontario.

Nathan moved to Sudbury, Ontario in the fall of 2018, and spent the 2019 season as the Landscape Designer at the Azilda Greenhouses. In 2020, Nathan began offering design services to the Greater Sudbury area with Gardens by Nathan.