Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Ullyott.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I had the pleasure of being a middle and high school teacher in San Diego For 10 years. During that time, I taught PE, 8th-grade science, 7th-grade science, 9th-grade biology, and AP biology. I spent 9 of my 10 years at Gompers Preparatory Academy. It was there that I learned the value of accessible and quality education for all students. In 2020, I decided to take a step back from my career as a teacher and focus on my next chapter: motherhood. On the day the state shut down in March of 2020, I welcomed home my second son. The pandemic had many different effects on people, and for me, it showed me again the importance of accessible and quality education, no matter the circumstances. To help supplement what students were learning from home and help teachers who were teaching remotely, I published some of my curriculum to a website I had been working on during my master’s program. I also decided to help teach people about local nature spaces and environmental stewardship opportunities because being outdoors was one of the things we could all do safely at that time. I quickly learned that though I was not an employed teacher, I still had a great desire to teach. I graduated with my Masters in Teaching Biology from University of Miami, Ohio, in 2021 and began to take all the work I had created during this program and write a book. Over time, the book evolved into a manuscript and workbook that helps people navigate the world of sustainability in a very easy-to-read and comprehensive way. In Fall of 2023, I finally decided that my little hobby of helping people find connections with nature had become more, and I officially registered as a business. I now sell recipe books for cleaning products, personal care products, and snacks, as well as offer sustainability consultation services and host workshops both online and in person. I am very excited to announce the release of my book: April 22, 2024, Earth Day! My hope is that people will find inspiration to get outside and live a more sustainable life when the visit my website, Instagram, attend a workshop, or read my book.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth enough, though most things take longer when you are taking care of small kids. I have one son who is 6, and another is 3. My children have taken priority, so I have spent many late nights working on my master’s degree, working on curriculum, and during the creation of Nature Needs SD.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Having been a teacher, I would say that my specialty is education, but I also make it my business to network with as many people and businesses as possible. I want to be a resource for people to find the best location for them to get out in nature or the best organizations to volunteer for, depending on what they are looking for. I’m very proud of creating this hub for people. My goal has always been to break down the barrier of access to information, so I spend hours every month looking up nature-related events and create a calendar for people to follow. With hundreds of events posted every month on my calendar and Instagram, there is something for everyone. As far as I know, I am the only place that personally curates a calendar of every environmental stewardship opportunity I can find in San Diego County… and I’m always looking for more!
In addition to Nature Needs SD, I’m also a volunteer coach for my son’s little league team, I’m a volunteer trail guide for Mission Trails Regional Park, and I’m on the management committee for the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF). March 13, 2024, will be the 70th GSDSEF! I have worked for the fair since 2017 and am responsible for checking student projects for safety and quality and also the gift shop.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I saw what can happen when we all work collectively for a common goal. During the pandemic, so many people came together and offered their personal skills to help others and it was a beautiful thing. I believe that everyone deserves access to quality education, so I make it a priority to offer most of what I do completely free of charge, or I work with different individual’s budgets.
Pricing:
- Recipe books: $3 each
- Consultations: Free-$300 (sliding scale)
- Workshops: Free- $100 (sliding scale)
- Book and Workbook: $20 (out 4/22)
Contact Info:
- Website: natureneedssd.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nature.needs.sd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nature.Needs.SD?mibextid=LQQJ4d
