The MHF Team
We feel incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most inspiring and dedicated folks around. Whether part time, full time, remote, or seasonal; every team member is valued as an integral part of this collaborative, farm and apothecary, and we really couldn't make it happen without them. We have a small but mighty crew, so lots of us wear many hats and float between the farm and gardens, the markets, our online spaces, the apothecary and the office. Allow us to introduce you to our 2024 MHF team!
Emily Springer
Owner & Founder
Farm & Apothecary Manager
Emily Springer is the founder of Meeting House Farm and Infusion Herb Co; our sister company and artisan apothecary. She comes from a farming family, has a rich background in plants and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Herbalism, organic planting, biodynamic farm & garden management, apothecary systems and Women's health. Not only that, she has years of corporate financial training, a mind for organization and a knack for building community. Through the collaborative, her mission is to connect local herb growers in the Northeast, supporting these small farms, gardens, orchards and greenhouses through community and cooperation, and give people more access to locally grown herbs and herbal medicine. She aims to share the wisdom of the plants through herbal education, tips and explanations and often teaches classes, workshops and gives lectures in the area.
Sammi Altznauer
Customer Happiness Guide & Operations Assistant
Sammi joined the team in the Spring of 2024. Sammi grew up gardening with her grandma and has a deep love and connection to the earth. She’s known Emily since she was 12, first starting as a “Mother’s Helper” learning how to babysit her two boys, then transitioning into a trusted babysitter/nanny from high school through college. Sammi is most excited to learn more and connect with our Herbal Marketplace farms and meet more farms to introduce into our collaboration.
Right now, Sammi’s favorite plant ally is lemon balm because of its calming effects on my nervous system and its wonderful scent. “I leave every harvest smelling like a citrus grove!”
Sammi currently lives in Portland, ME. When she’s not working hard to ensure customer happiness here at Meeting House Farm, she enjoys spending my time hiking, studying permaculture, identifying and documenting native plants, paddle boarding, and appreciating the details of life.a.
Abbie McGilvery
Marketing & Social Media Manager
Abbie originally started working with MHF in 2022 as part of the Many Hands work-trade program, followed by an on-farm Seed to Soul apprenticeship focused on ashwagandha in 2023. During that time, Abbie came on board as the social media manager for both Meeting House Farm and its on-farm apothecary, Infusion Herb Company. While she has always been interested in gardening and the power of plants, Abbie says, “It wasn’t until I had hands-on experience working in the dirt and seeing the entire process - from seed to apothecary - that I fell in love with herbalism. I have a whole new perspective now on growing, health, and the connection I share with the world around me.”
Right now, Abbie’s favorite plant allies are Nettle and Solomon’s Seal. She says, “I’ve been taking both of these herbs as a tincture morning and night and have seen significant improvements in my joint pain and inflammation - this combination is amazing!”
Abbie currently lives in Windham, Maine. Outside of working with Meeting House Farm and Infusion Herb Company, she runs a marketing and social media business, From The Nest, where she manages her clients’ monthly content and guides other business owners and organizational leaders as they learn to tell their stories online. Abbie also loves to lead marketing workshops both in-person and virtually and hopes to bring more of these workshops to the growers in the MHF Herb Grower Collaborative in the future.
Franco Varga
VA Team Member
Franco joined the Meeting House Farm team in the summer of 2024. Born in Argentina, Franco is currently studying Law. Thanks to his mother and grandmother, Franco has been gardening since he was a child. He grew up in a house with a large garden where he enjoyed gardening and cultivating various plants. Among the fruit trees and vegetables he has grown, his favorite plant has always been jasmine, whose scent fills the mornings with a sense of tranquility and beauty.
In addition to jasmine, Franco has a special fascination with a plant that attracts butterflies, a symbol of the ephemeral beauty of nature that has always inspired him. His passion for plants and love for nature have become an integral part of his life, complementing his academic dedication and his desire to contribute to the well-being and sustainability of the environment.
