Storytellers

A Ukrainian-Sicilian born in New Jersey, Nicole spent her youth on the beaches and bays of South Florida. Impassioned at young age, she frequently could be found standing atop lunchroom tables speaking out for sea turtles and coastal habitat. She fondly remembers riding her beach cruiser everywhere, often alongside her parents, together they would fill their bike baskets with forgotten citrus.

She landed in the mountains of North Carolina where her heart was won over with plant lore, butternut squash pancakes and seasons while studying/practicing agriculture at Warren Wilson College. Known as the garden lady, she went on to play and learn with elementary aged school children and teachers, developing and implementing school garden curriculum for public schools. She is more accustomed to telling stories to kids with her friend, a puppet named Olivia.

Her passion for working with plants and people continues to build in the Piedmont where she is currently working with refugee farmers, crafting goat cheese and pursuing a Horticultural Therapy degree. She lives in rural Chatham County where she enjoys collecting and identifying animal bones and making/eating creative sauerkraut combinations.