Andrea Crowley-Hughes

• Andrea is adept at repotting houseplants and proud of bringing a stressed, root-bound heart leaf philodendron back from the brink of death.
• Bugs don't bug her — as a child, she would try to trap and learn about insects, and she still finds them fascinating, which comes in handy when researching native ecosystems and garden pests.
• Once Andrea learned to re-grow scallions by placing their root ends in water, she began researching container gardening and hydroponic vegetable growing strategies for small living spaces.

Experience

Andrea combines print and digital media experience with her fascination with nature, which began when she was a young butterfly enthusiast. She started her writing career at a print newspaper in 2008, then spent several years working in social media strategy and non-profit communications. Andrea is now a freelance journalist who has written about the spotted lanternfly invasion, solar power, what makes New Jersey tomatoes uniquely delicious, and other topics that pique the curiosity of sustainability-focused garden lovers. Her work has been featured in outlets such as TAPinto.net, Jersey City Times, and Culture Trip, and she has won awards from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. When she's not writing, you can find Andrea playing the bird-themed tabletop game Wingspan with her spouse while their cat gingerly walks across the board.

Education

Andrea has a master's degree in media studies from The New School in New York City. She earned her bachelor's degree in English literature from Drew University.