Nicole is from New York, where she grew up between forests and her mother and grandmother's gardens. She holds a BS from Cornell University, and a Masters' from San Jose State University, both in the in Natural Sciences. She was a native plant nursery manager and taught Organic Horticulture and Biology and created an Environmental stewardship course for high school students. She is currently promoting her first book, The Bajio's Bounty, cookbook of local cuisine, ecological education, and is engaged in writing and editing projects, among others.