After owning a yoga studio in the DMV area and on the Eastern Shore for the better part of a decade, Holli decided to return to her farming roots and seek out farming as an occupation. Her particular passion lies with soil building and mushroom cultivation. Her long range goals involve collaborating with existing area farms to demonstrate how adding mushrooms to the permaculture model enhances food production on many levels and can also be used in environmental remediation. Holli has worked on both large and small farms all over the globe.

As a part-time interpreter, Katherine Maringo is excited to be a part of the Accokeek Foundation family, and looks forward to forging new friendships and making new memories at the farm. “I enjoy learning about new things that nobody else knows,” states Katherine of her new role. “If it involves history, I love it even more!” That interest in American history primarily spans the period of time from the British colonial foundation, all the way to the Reconstruction after the Civil War. You will find Katherine in costume at the National Colonial Farm during special events, weekends, and an occasional weekday, too. When not helping to teach visitors to the farm about the day-to-day life in Colonial Maryland, Katherine enjoys gardening and taking care of her 16 chickens.

Linda Brown joined the Accokeek Foundation’s education staff the Spring of 2013. Linda’s work experience ranges from customer service and retail to education and childcare. Her most rewarding job experience was as a first-grade teacher with the Potomac Heights Christain Academy. She now enjoys working as a Museum Educator, leading K-12 school tours of the National Colonial Farm, where she can mix two loves of her life into one–working with children and the quiet life of a farm. A Maryland native, Linda has lived most of her life in Indian Head, Maryland where she still lives with her husband of 37 years. She has two adult sons, and is a new, first-time grandmother of a beautiful baby girl, Abigail Grace. When she isn’t busy working, devoting her time to her church, or home with her family, Linda enjoys taking long walks, hikes, and playing with her dog “Bo-Bo.”

Born in the Bronx, New York, yet raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Joseph Mickens joins the Accokeek Foundation with a passion for learning, meeting new people, and the history and culture of Southern Maryland as he steps back into the 1770s in his role as Site Interpreter. Before coming to Accokeek Foundation, Joseph worked as a Contractor for Lathan Construction at the Smithsonian. When not working on the National Colonial Farm, he enjoys time in the 21st century with his wife and five children.

Mariah Fry interprets “Jemima Bolton”

Mariah Fry began her journey with the Accokeek Foundation during the summer of 2011 as a Museum Theater intern. When she is not in costume as a site interpreter for the National Colonial Farm, Mariah teaches middle school writing in Fairfax, Virginia and will act as an  interpreter for the soon to be opened National Children’s Museum. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and son.