Emma Merritt is a clinical herbalist and educator with over eight years of experience. She graduated from Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Three Year Clinical Training Program in 2012. Emma believes that connection to the earth is where healing begins. She teaches classes on medicine making and basic principles of herbalism. As a clinical herbalist, Emma works with people with a variety of health goals. Many of her clients are interested in improving digestive health, relieving stress and anxiety, hormone balancing, allergy relief, and better sleep. She takes a gentle, client-centered approach to healing.

Jessica is a long time gardener and this was her introduction to herbalism many years ago when she planted her first thyme seeds. Jessica spent many years independently studying herbalism to help herself, her large family, and friends. As her knowledge and garden grew, she sought out herbal apprenticeships and continued studying with various herbalists in New England. Jessica is a folk and community herbalist and enjoys teaching folx young and old how to access and work with the plants that are abundant around us. Jessica is a worker-owner and the Apothecary manager at Railyard Apothecary and is always looking for local herb growers and makers to fill our jars and shelves with high quality herbal offerings for our community. She also helps organize the local Herbal Without Borders group.

Susan Staley is a joyful witness to the ways in which plants support her communities and humanity at large. By recognizing this relationship, we find valuable insights into the possibility for transformation and greater health. As a community and clinical herbalist, Susan works to bring people and plants closer together. She enjoys seeing individuals with a variety of health goals; including improved digestive, immunity and lymphatic support, and support of vitality and equanimity. She values the environment of the herbal clinic for the safety it offers people to explore their life’s journey of health more deeply within the context of plant-based support. Susan continues to study and discover the depth of working with plants to support people (and our planet) at this dynamic time on earth. Susan is a graduate of Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Three Year Clinical Training Program.

Julia Shaw is a community and folk herbalist currently working at Railyard Apothecary. She began her interest and studies at The University of Vermont with a focus on herbal medicine and sustainable food systems.  She continued her education at the Gaia School of Healing, where she deepened her understanding of Holistic and Western Herbalism, Plant Spirit and Sacred Plant Medicine, and studied Energetic Herbalism and Reiki. She believes the best way to learn about plants is from the plants directly, and has acquired a great amount of knowledge of their medicine from spending time in the garden deeply listening, where she grows herbs to make into small-batch tinctures and other remedies for her community. Julia loves working with children doing Plant Magic summer camps and applying her herbal knowledge to support parents as a birth and postpartum doula.