Julia grew up in northern New Jersey. She found a deep love for the outdoors through family camping trips, Girl Scout trips to Camp Glen Spey, treasured visits to Harvey’s Lake in Vermont, and exploring her Grandparents’ gardens. Fresh tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers connected Julia to local food. This sparked a passion for cooking for her loved ones. This passion led to a Food Science degree at Clemson University. Julia lived throughout the Eastern US, working jobs like wine-making, kombucha brewing, and large-scale tea brewing.
After trying her hand in the corporate sector, Julia pursued a change that aligned more with her values. This led to volunteering with organizations that focused on animal care, food security, and feral cat TNR programs. This change in trajectory was fueled by a passion for community care and stewardship and led her to serving with AmeriCorps this 2025-26 year.