Emma Andrews: Shop Herbalist
Meralee Allen: Garden Manager
She/Her
In 2011, Meralee came to Misty Meadows as a client, looking for relief from life-long allergies. Much to her delight, her remedies worked wonders, and she began to fall in love with herbal medicine. In 2017 she enrolled in our Level 1 program, and in 2018 was awarded the position of Jr. Herbalist here at Misty Meadows. Since then, she has worked in the shop and gardens, and in 2022 became our Garden Manager.
Aside from herbalism, Meralee is a certified Green Fire Reiki practitioner, and is also a very talented artist. Moving forward, Meralee would love to incorporate her illustrations and herbal knowledge into books on plant identification, and kitchen medicine.
Some of Meralee’s favorite herbs are Plantain and Marshmallow.
Hilary Bak: Shop Herbalist
Jessica Daigle: Harvest Manager, Teaching Faculty
She/Her
Jess was a self-taught home herbalist for several years before beginning her formal training at the Herbal Academy of New England. Jess has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to local wildcrafting and foraging, and has special interests in medicinal mushrooms, herbalism for pets, and clinical herbalism.
She began working in the shop at Misty Meadows in 2018, and eventually moved on to her current position of Harvest Manager in 2020. She has also been a part of our school faculty, teaching various classes in our Level 1 program, as well as occasional workshops and plant walks.
Moving forward, Jess aspires to become more self-sufficient, with dreams of an intentional community, her own herb farm, and animal rescue.
Some of Jess’s favorite herbs are Angelica and Reishi.
Kristin Hall: Product Manager, Teaching Faculty
She/They
Kristin has loved herbs since their Dad taught them how to identify Wintergreen in the woods on behind their house; she’s been growing and foraging her own herbs since then. She is a native to New Hampshire and lives with her partners, child and menagerie of pets on a 5-acre farm in the Seacoast.
Kristin worked as a Certified Optician for 16 years and has taught classes on Sexual Health to queer communities on the East Coast.
They came to Misty Meadows in 2021 for Herbal Immersion, and never left. Kristin is currently finishing up the Clinical portion of the Advanced Herbal Studies program at Misty Meadows. She also helped to organize the 2024 Misty Meadows Women’s Herbal Conference.
In addition to her role as Product Manager; Kristin teaches classes for the Level 1 Herbal Program, as well as the occasional workshop.
Veronica Light: Teaching Faculty
She/Her
“As so many of us do, I have a lifelong love of plants and plant medicine. As a child I always enjoyed identifying plants and tasting what I knew I could safely forage. Intertwined with my love of plants has always been a love of magic. I knew and felt there was more connecting us than could be seen. I began my herbal training at Misty Meadows over a decade ago when I was feeling a little lost in my faith. The Level I program grew a spark of interest and intrigue into a flame of passion and purpose. I found it so empowering to know the plant allies around me and how I could work with them for my own healing. I continued to learn in the Herbal Programs at MM and was accepted as the Junior Herbalist. I then took on the role of Medicine Maker and Products Manager in the shop at MM, teaching parts of the Herbal Program until 2015 brought my first baby and a new chapter. I am now a co-founder of Spirit Wise Herbs with the most beautiful partner, Erika Shoukimas. SWH has given us the opportunity to teach all over the area and has ultimately brought us full circle, home again at MM. I have hopes of serving many communities, sharing teachings and medicines and knowing those whose hearts sing with mine. My heart is full of gratitude for Misty Meadows and the part it has played in my becoming who I am and knowing what I want in this life. The magic and medicine of this place touches all who visit.”
Judith Santangelo: Medicine Maker, Teaching Faculty
She/Her
Judy recently retired from her career as an allopathic health practitioner, where she was a Physician’s Assistant for over three decades. She had always been interested in the use of herbs and more traditional healing modalities, and in 2020 made the decision to explore that interest by enrolling in our Level 1 certification program. Since then, she has completed levels 1, 2, & 3 of our herbal certification programs, as well as level 2 of Green Fire Reiki. In 2022 she joined the Misty Meadows team as Product Manager. She will be continuing on her herbal journey by practicing Clinical herbalism, expanding her home apothecary and herb gardens and listening for the magic of the herbs and the forest.
Some of Judy’s favorite herbs are Yarrow and Ashwagandha.
Erika Shoukimas: Teaching Faculty
She/Her
“I have always loved plants. I remember from a very young age my mother dividing daylilies in the front yard in her nightgown. My grandfather always had a large vegetable garden daring us to try the hottest peppers. During my teens, I worked at a garden center where I learned how to be in awe of plants, how to grow them, and how to care for them. At UNH, I studied Environmental Conservation and Horticulture. But the real magic began when a college feminist spirituality class led me to the doorstep of Misty Meadows. My years at MM as an herbal student were spent learning the depth, heart, and medicine of plants - changing my life profoundly. Along the way, I became a licensed practical nurse, mother to three wild boys, and co-owner of Spirit Wise Herbs. I am currently part of the teaching team for the Level 1 Herbal Studies Program, Herbal Immersion Course, and The Witch's Path Series at Misty Meadows.”
Wendy Snow Fogg: Founder, Director & Senior Herbalist
She/Her
Wendy brings 30+ years’ experience to students of our Herbal programs. She created The Spirited Herbalist: A Plant-Guided Journey To Your Self, a beginner level program which she created and introduced in 1995, and which has now been reimagined into three levels of Herbal Certificate programs offered at Misty Meadows. She also brought into being Herbal Immersion Week and many short herbal workshops and classes for personal growth. Most recently Wendy navigated criteria for Misty Meadows to become a Private Post-Secondary Career School, the first herb school to be licensed by the NH Department of Education.
Wendy holds advanced certification in Traditional Western Herbalism by Matthew Wood and also earned certification in advanced herbal studies from Sage Mountain in Vermont, certificate in Facial Diagnostics from William LeSassier Herbalist AC, and is certified in Traditional Herbal Diagnosis by Matthew Wood, AHG and Earthsong Herbals and has received numerous advanced herbal trainings at conferences over 30 years. A Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Master Teacher of Shamballa and Karuna Reiki and most recently has co-created and introduced Green Fire Reiki. She is a certified ear candling practitioner, completed level 3 Craniosacral Therapy training with Don Ash, and is a Master Teacher of Magnified Healing.
Valerie Woodard: Children’s Programming
She/Her
Valerie is an intuitive energy healer; she began her journey when she was introduced to Reiki in 1995 following the birth of her first child. Since then, she has heeded the call to dive deep into all things energy, herbal, and holistic. Adding several modalities over the years, her practice has evolved into one of divine healing. With an energetic focus on overall well-being, this allows one to find balance within themselves, be present to show up in their own lives, to heal themselves, expand their energy, raise their vibration, and be their best authentic self. As a facilitator, Valerie enjoys guiding others through energetic layers to identify and reach beyond their energetic blocks, imbalances, or wounds.
Using unique healing modalities, Valerie’s training includes Usui Reiki, Green Fire Reiki, Sound Healing, Aromatherapy, Crystal Healing, Flower Essence Therapy, Herbalism, Guided Meditation, EFT, and Holistic Nutrition. Utilizing these modalities allows for a well-rounded approach of wellness and whole-body health. Energy work can be deeply transformational on all levels of being. As an intuitive healer, Valerie connects with her clients while holding sacred space, on a deeply profound level, which may guide one on their path to healing through their own personal journey.
Valerie organizes our Soundbath Meditation nights and is the Director of Children’s Programming at Misty Meadows.