Our Path & Team
Purpose
Encourage relationship with the healing power of nature in the modern world.
Vision
A more just, resilient and joyful future with plant medicine in every heart and home.
Mission
We are a worker-owned cooperative that cultivates health through our apothecary, herbal justice initiatives, clinical and educational work, where individuals may access quality herbs, traditional wisdom and community care.
Values
- Herbal Justice
- This means things like equity, racial justice, financial accessibility, empowerment, and a cooperative business model. Learn more about our commitment to anti-racism work here.
- Love
- This means health, self-care, care for workers, education, community and so much more.
- Ecology
- This means sustainability, regeneration, resiliency and relationship to the world around us are woven into all we do, such as through sourcing from local and organic farms and more.
- Quality
- This means integrity, honesty, sourcing from those that share our values, and providing the best herbs, products and services possible.
We started as a small community space in 2016, and with the support of the community and many, many hands upon the way we've grown into a hub for herbalism and healing in Northern Vermont. See our 5 Year Anniversary page for some highlights we've had along the way!
Reach out with any questions, we look forward to helping you connect more with plants!
Reach out with any questions, we look forward to helping you connect more with plants!
THE RYA TEAM
Our staff of trained herbalists is here to help
Our staff of trained herbalists is here to help
Railyard Apothecary is a cooperative of herbalists dedicated to sharing their knowledge of plants in order to guide our community towards health. In our apothecary, we answer your questions and serve you high-quality, local and imported herbs. In our classes we share our knowledge. In our clinic, we work together and collaborate on cases to give you the best care from a collective wealth of knowledge and experience.
Nick Cavanaugh
(he/him)
Modern lifestyles and the world situation are taking a toll on our health, which shows up as anxiety, trouble sleeping, digestive trouble and more. I offer a connection to local, natural medicine with expert guidance so that you can build resiliency, restore energy and be your best self during these times.
Some of the people I work with:
I've been practicing as a clinical herbalist at Railyard Apothecary since 2017. My prior education included a three-year clinical herbalist training program at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism (VCIH) in Montpelier, VT, an internship at Herb Pharm, and a Community Herbalism Intensive at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine.
(he/him)
Modern lifestyles and the world situation are taking a toll on our health, which shows up as anxiety, trouble sleeping, digestive trouble and more. I offer a connection to local, natural medicine with expert guidance so that you can build resiliency, restore energy and be your best self during these times.
Some of the people I work with:
- young adults who are seeking ways to manage stress and lessen anxiety or depression
- those experiencing digestive difficulties who want to find relief and enjoy their meals
- men who are looking for natural ways to support reproductive health
- people of all neurological diversities, including those diagnosed with disabilities
I've been practicing as a clinical herbalist at Railyard Apothecary since 2017. My prior education included a three-year clinical herbalist training program at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism (VCIH) in Montpelier, VT, an internship at Herb Pharm, and a Community Herbalism Intensive at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine.
Jessica Churchill
(she/they)
Jessica Churchill believes co-creating with the magic of plant kin builds a better world for all beings. As a folk herbalist she focuses on building reciprocal relationships with the plants, not just utilizing them as commodities. Practically speaking this looks like not only ingesting herbs but also working to slow down to a sustainable pace and spending time in the garden, meadow or forest. While understanding physiological workings of herbs, Jessica’s approach is energetic and spiritual in nature with a goal of building rest and resilience practices in the face of the challenges of living in modern times. Bodies are not intended to move at the pace of capitalism and Jessica works with clients to support the body and create ease and balance in their lives.
Jessica predominantly works with:
Jessica has worked at Railyard Apothecary since 2018 and has worn many hats here including apothecary lead, bulk and retail ordering, bookkeeping, as well as internship and product management. Jessica loves the cooperative governance model and has trained with Round Sky Solutions to better understand cooperative governance and infrastructure development. Managed at Railyard in the 'People Person' role (called Human Resources at most businesses), Jessica sees this as the heart of our cooperative business. Time not spent working with the team at Railyard Apothecary, Jessica enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family and friends. They also practice spiritual somatics and frequency tuning at Transformative Consciousness and she has her own business, In Addition Bookkeeping LLC.
(she/they)
Jessica Churchill believes co-creating with the magic of plant kin builds a better world for all beings. As a folk herbalist she focuses on building reciprocal relationships with the plants, not just utilizing them as commodities. Practically speaking this looks like not only ingesting herbs but also working to slow down to a sustainable pace and spending time in the garden, meadow or forest. While understanding physiological workings of herbs, Jessica’s approach is energetic and spiritual in nature with a goal of building rest and resilience practices in the face of the challenges of living in modern times. Bodies are not intended to move at the pace of capitalism and Jessica works with clients to support the body and create ease and balance in their lives.
Jessica predominantly works with:
- People doing ancestral healing or trauma recovery work and would like to incorporate herbs into that practice.
- Folks with uteruses navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause.
- Those navigating life interrupting events such as cancer, autoimmune disorders or other chronic illnesses and are looking for ways to support the body while receiving traditional treatments.
- Members of the 2SLBGTQIA+ community that are interested in working with herbs for embodiment and gender affirmation support.
Jessica has worked at Railyard Apothecary since 2018 and has worn many hats here including apothecary lead, bulk and retail ordering, bookkeeping, as well as internship and product management. Jessica loves the cooperative governance model and has trained with Round Sky Solutions to better understand cooperative governance and infrastructure development. Managed at Railyard in the 'People Person' role (called Human Resources at most businesses), Jessica sees this as the heart of our cooperative business. Time not spent working with the team at Railyard Apothecary, Jessica enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family and friends. They also practice spiritual somatics and frequency tuning at Transformative Consciousness and she has her own business, In Addition Bookkeeping LLC.
Brooke Sambol
(she/they)
Cultivating relationships with plants can support both gentle and powerful transformation in our lives. Like us, plants are whole beings. My approach to herbalism is relational and seeks to honor that wholeness - including the wider social, political, and environmental contexts that shape us. In our work together, I aim to foster a process in which you feel heard, cared for, and empowered with accessible strategies to work towards your health goals. Whether you’re looking for support with acute concerns, chronic health conditions, or are simply interested in exploring a new way of supporting your well-being, I look forward to meeting with you!
I especially enjoy working with those:
I studied clinical herbalism at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism. Before that, I studied at the California School of Herbal Studies and even took my first herb workshop at Railyard back in the day. At Railyard Apothecary, I wear several hats including product making, herb sourcing, and coordinating the medicine making internship. I love getting to introduce people to new plant friends (matchmaking, if you will) and crafting herbal medicine. Outside of work, I enjoy snuggling with my dog Bug, crafting (wool, pottery, brooms... you name it!), cooking, and dancing.
(she/they)
Cultivating relationships with plants can support both gentle and powerful transformation in our lives. Like us, plants are whole beings. My approach to herbalism is relational and seeks to honor that wholeness - including the wider social, political, and environmental contexts that shape us. In our work together, I aim to foster a process in which you feel heard, cared for, and empowered with accessible strategies to work towards your health goals. Whether you’re looking for support with acute concerns, chronic health conditions, or are simply interested in exploring a new way of supporting your well-being, I look forward to meeting with you!
I especially enjoy working with those:
- Looking for support with stress, mood, and nervous system dysregulation
- Working with immune and lymphatic challenges, such as inflammation, recurrent colds, allergies, autoimmunity, etc.
- 2SLGBTQIA+ people, generally, as well as those interested in partnering with plants to support queer embodiment and affirmation
- Curious about a whole-body approach that considers how different experiences within the body may be in conversation with one another
- Interested in forming more personal relationships with plants and integrating them into daily life
I studied clinical herbalism at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism. Before that, I studied at the California School of Herbal Studies and even took my first herb workshop at Railyard back in the day. At Railyard Apothecary, I wear several hats including product making, herb sourcing, and coordinating the medicine making internship. I love getting to introduce people to new plant friends (matchmaking, if you will) and crafting herbal medicine. Outside of work, I enjoy snuggling with my dog Bug, crafting (wool, pottery, brooms... you name it!), cooking, and dancing.
Sachi Hergesheimer
(she/her)
Sachi was drawn to herbalism through her love of plants and her diy spirit. The ability to help oneself and others stay healthier through plant medicine is deeply appealing. In the past few years she has taken a deeper dive into herbalism through studies with Spoonful Herbals and Old Ways Herbals.
Her other passion is woodworking and she co-owns a small business that makes woodworking kits. When she’s not working on kits you’ll find her building heirloom furniture or working on fun projects for family and friends.
(she/her)
Sachi was drawn to herbalism through her love of plants and her diy spirit. The ability to help oneself and others stay healthier through plant medicine is deeply appealing. In the past few years she has taken a deeper dive into herbalism through studies with Spoonful Herbals and Old Ways Herbals.
Her other passion is woodworking and she co-owns a small business that makes woodworking kits. When she’s not working on kits you’ll find her building heirloom furniture or working on fun projects for family and friends.
