Dear Community,

After living abroad in Berlin, Germany for over 8 years, I’ve decided to return back to my home state of California to start anew!

Building Julez Ferments during the first wave of the pandemic and having the opportunity to nourish the Berlin community—especially BIPOC and queer individuals—brought tremendous joy and growth into my life. However, it was also one of the most challenging periods of my time in Germany for various reasons. Since pausing Julez Ferments in May of last year/2023, I have been focusing on addressing chronic health issues and prioritizing my mental wellness, both of which were deeply affected by the pandemic and a traumatic event I experienced last year.

As a queer Korean-American, living safely and stably in Berlin has become increasingly challenging in recent years. Now, as I focus on opening a new chapter and redefining what community work and engagement mean to me, I feel called to return to the Bay Area in California. Despite the complexities America evokes both geopolitically and personally, I am eager to learn from and collaborate with organizers, artists, and land workers who are centering community needs in regenerative and healing ways. To make this transition possible, I’ve set up a gofundme to gather support from the community, especially as I will be returning to California without a job secured.

Your support will enable me to:

I am deeply grateful for my time in Berlin and the incredible, beautiful souls I've had the privilege of connecting with. While I’m excited to reunite with kindred spirits back home, I also look forward to staying connected with the community I’ve built here—hopefully through more meaningful food-related gatherings in the future. It has been a true honor to have had the space to cook, feed, and share a part of myself with all of you <3

With gratitude and love,

Julez