julia watkins

Julia Watkins is an author and content creator residing north of Chicago with her husband, Scott, and their two children. Her work focuses on simple, slow, and sustainable living, which she shares through her popular Instagram account, @simply.living.well, and her blog, www.simplylivingwell.com. Watkins earned a degree in marine biology and ecology and began her professional career in environmental conservation, working in the field for a significant portion of her life. This background heavily influenced her personal commitment to sustainability and low-waste practices.

Watkins’ journey into low-waste living intensified after the birth of her first child, prompting a reassessment of her values. She began adopting practices such as cloth diapering, green cleaning, shopping at farmers’ markets, and conscious consumption. A pivotal moment occurred when she lived in Berkeley, California, encountering the zero-waste lifestyle through Bea Johnson’s book, “The Zero Waste Home,” and observing friends who significantly minimized their waste footprint. Inspired by these examples, she gradually integrated low-waste habits into her routine.

In 2017, following a move to Chicago, Watkins launched her Instagram account to document her zero-waste efforts. This led to the publication of her first book, “Simply Living Well: A Guide to Creating a Natural, Low-Waste Home,” released on April 7, 2020, by HarperCollins. The book provides recipes, DIY projects, and guidance for reducing waste in various household areas. She followed this with another publication, “Gardening for Everyone” (2022), published by HarperCollins, which offers advice on creating and maintaining sustainable backyard gardens. Watkins advocates for an approach to sustainability that is practical and enjoyable, emphasizing that individual efforts contribute to broader systemic change.