Erica’s favorite pastime as a young child was creating a “garden” wherever she was, out of
whatever materials she could find. Now she is in the business of creating gardens, and she
couldn’t be more thrilled.
Originally from Raleigh, NC, Erica studied Biological Engineering at NC State University.
Wanting a more hands-on experience, Erica worked on an urban farm, where she learned the
basics of market gardening – the engineer’s way to grow food – while also studying permaculture design – the ecologist’s way to grow ecosystems. A service-learning fellowship showed her the power of community action, and her purpose in playing a part in the ecosystem of needs. Today, she aims to serve communities by working with people, learning more every step of the way.
She served two terms in AmeriCorps as a School Garden Manager & Educator, which brought
her to Knoxville in 2021. Here she became a skilled environmental educator, realizing her
passion for sharing her biophilic childhood lens while growing food and supporting native
resilience. Erica joined the Alliance in 2023 and is proud to be playing a part in addressing
community needs with the Garden Alliance.