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.
Jennifer Porter
Jennie believes in the medicinal power of plants to help restore balance to our bodies and minds. As a clinical herbalist, she helps clients use food, plants and lifestyle shifts to move toward their health goals. In her experience, healing begins in a safe, non-judgmental space, and she welcomes clients of all ages and identities to explore how plants can support their wellbeing. Whatever your needs may be – preventative, acute, or chronic - she will create individualized recommendations and formulas that reflect your unique experience, goals, and lifestyle.
As a lifelong student, Jennie is committed to continually learning about the natural world, our health, and how the two can support each other. Her herbal training includes Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Three Year Clinical Training Program and an apprenticeship with Spoonful Herbal. She also holds an M.S. in Food Systems from the University of Vermont.
Jennie believes in the medicinal power of plants to help restore balance to our bodies and minds. As a clinical herbalist, she helps clients use food, plants and lifestyle shifts to move toward their health goals. In her experience, healing begins in a safe, non-judgmental space, and she welcomes clients of all ages and identities to explore how plants can support their wellbeing. Whatever your needs may be – preventative, acute, or chronic - she will create individualized recommendations and formulas that reflect your unique experience, goals, and lifestyle.
As a lifelong student, Jennie is committed to continually learning about the natural world, our health, and how the two can support each other. Her herbal training includes Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Three Year Clinical Training Program and an apprenticeship with Spoonful Herbal. She also holds an M.S. in Food Systems from the University of Vermont.
Meet Jennifer
Nick Cavanaugh
Nick Cavanaugh believes that nature is full of remedies for helping people with their ailments large and small. As a clinical herbalist, he is excited to introduce people to those things that can improve their well-being, including herbs, food, diet, lifestyle, exercise and meditation.
Nick works with:
Nick’s education includes 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.
Nick Cavanaugh believes that nature is full of remedies for helping people with their ailments large and small. As a clinical herbalist, he is excited to introduce people to those things that can improve their well-being, including herbs, food, diet, lifestyle, exercise and meditation.
Nick works 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
Nick’s education includes 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.
Meet Nick
Guido Masé
Guido has been involved with medicinal plants since before moving to Vermont in 1996. He was one of the founding members of the Sage Mountain Free Herbal Clinic in 2001 and has been working with folks one-on-one ever since. He approaches his work from the biomedical perspective as well as from the mythological and energetic context offered by the Western herbal tradition. He works with plants in the garden and forest, and contributes writing and research to the field of herbal medicine through conferences, publications, and speaking engagements. He believes in the inherent worth of plants to heal people, communities, and even the culture at large.
Specific areas of focus include:
- GI tract and microbiome health
- Herbal support for cancer treatment
- Work with mood, vitality, and spirit
- Fertility and endocrine balance for all bodies
- Allergies and hypersensititives
After twenty years of direct work with clients, Guido transitioned into a support, management, research and coordination role here at the herbal clinic. This means that, while you can’t book an appointment to work with Guido directly, he still actively participates in case review, provides supportive clinical context and literature reviews for the clinical practice, and brings his experience to the assessment, planning, and formulation that you’ll be working on with your herbalist. As a client of our collaborative practice, you get the benefit and insight of all members – including Guido – when you book an appointment and we review your case.
Guido has been involved with medicinal plants since before moving to Vermont in 1996. He was one of the founding members of the Sage Mountain Free Herbal Clinic in 2001 and has been working with folks one-on-one ever since. He approaches his work from the biomedical perspective as well as from the mythological and energetic context offered by the Western herbal tradition. He works with plants in the garden and forest, and contributes writing and research to the field of herbal medicine through conferences, publications, and speaking engagements. He believes in the inherent worth of plants to heal people, communities, and even the culture at large.
Specific areas of focus include:
- GI tract and microbiome health
- Herbal support for cancer treatment
- Work with mood, vitality, and spirit
- Fertility and endocrine balance for all bodies
- Allergies and hypersensititives
After twenty years of direct work with clients, Guido transitioned into a support, management, research and coordination role here at the herbal clinic. This means that, while you can’t book an appointment to work with Guido directly, he still actively participates in case review, provides supportive clinical context and literature reviews for the clinical practice, and brings his experience to the assessment, planning, and formulation that you’ll be working on with your herbalist. As a client of our collaborative practice, you get the benefit and insight of all members – including Guido – when you book an appointment and we review your case.
Meet Guido
Jessica Churchill
Jessica (she/they) has been practicing herbalism for many years with her friends and family. In addition to her own studies and time spent with the plants, they have trained with Blackbird's Daughter Botanicals, Wild Faith Herb Farm, and Sweetgrass Herbals. Jessica has worked at Railyard Apothecary since 2018 and has worn many hats here including Apothecary lead, bulk and retail ordering, and 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. This is implemented at Railyard in the 'People Person' role (called Human Resources at many businesses) which Jessica sees as the heart of our cooperative business. Time not spent working with the team at Railyard Apothecary, Jessica enjoys gardening, reading, spending time with family and friends and doing spiritual somatic coaching and frequency tuning work at Transformative Consciousness.
Jessica (she/they) has been practicing herbalism for many years with her friends and family. In addition to her own studies and time spent with the plants, they have trained with Blackbird's Daughter Botanicals, Wild Faith Herb Farm, and Sweetgrass Herbals. Jessica has worked at Railyard Apothecary since 2018 and has worn many hats here including Apothecary lead, bulk and retail ordering, and 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. This is implemented at Railyard in the 'People Person' role (called Human Resources at many businesses) which Jessica sees as the heart of our cooperative business. Time not spent working with the team at Railyard Apothecary, Jessica enjoys gardening, reading, spending time with family and friends and doing spiritual somatic coaching and frequency tuning work at Transformative Consciousness.
rowan walker
rowan walker is a queer trans community herbalist, facilitator, writer, and maker.
they are passionate about q+t healing and weaving resilient community. rowan facilitates spaces for learning and connection, traveling along well-worn pathways of herbal magic in their biz of hawthorn and yew. through the pathways of process, ritual + relationship, they seek to spiral ever closer to holy embodied aliveness, and to help others do the same, in service to movements for justice and healing.
rowan loves to nerd out about ancestral plantlore and sacred practices, how we might live more deeply in integrity with our values, and the ways herbalism can support movements for total liberation. you can find more of their work on ofhawthornandyew.com or @hawthornandyew in IG
rowan walker is a queer trans community herbalist, facilitator, writer, and maker.
they are passionate about q+t healing and weaving resilient community. rowan facilitates spaces for learning and connection, traveling along well-worn pathways of herbal magic in their biz of hawthorn and yew. through the pathways of process, ritual + relationship, they seek to spiral ever closer to holy embodied aliveness, and to help others do the same, in service to movements for justice and healing.
rowan loves to nerd out about ancestral plantlore and sacred practices, how we might live more deeply in integrity with our values, and the ways herbalism can support movements for total liberation. you can find more of their work on ofhawthornandyew.com or @hawthornandyew in IG
Sachi Hergesheimer
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.
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.
Brooke Sambol
Brooke (she/her) comes to herbalism through her love of plants and passion for the connections between individual, collective, and ecological health. She is currently in her third year of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Clinical Training Program, where she works with clients in their student clinic. Before that, she studied at the California School of Herbal Studies and even took her first herb workshops at Railyard back in the day. At the apothecary, one of Brooke’s main responsibilities (and pleasures!) is making tinctures as well as formulating and crafting Railyard’s products. She’s especially excited about providing folks with vibrant, locally grown, fresh-plant medicine. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys gardening, hanging out with animals, fiber art, and dancing.
Brooke (she/her) comes to herbalism through her love of plants and passion for the connections between individual, collective, and ecological health. She is currently in her third year of the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism’s Clinical Training Program, where she works with clients in their student clinic. Before that, she studied at the California School of Herbal Studies and even took her first herb workshops at Railyard back in the day. At the apothecary, one of Brooke’s main responsibilities (and pleasures!) is making tinctures as well as formulating and crafting Railyard’s products. She’s especially excited about providing folks with vibrant, locally grown, fresh-plant medicine. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys gardening, hanging out with animals, fiber art, and dancing.
Laura Rose
Laura Rose found her love of plants while vegetable farming by the ocean. She continues to work in food systems, but for the past 5 years has been dedicating her time and curiosity to learning as much as she can about plant medicine. She studied with Karen Rose at Sacred Vibes and is currently in her 3rd year at VCIH. She moved back to Vermont in 2021 after bopping around NY for a decade- east end of Long Island, Brooklyn and upstate. At Railyard, LR works closely with farmers to source all the bulk herbs & tinctures at the apothecary. Working with farmers is her favorite part of the job! When she’s not at work, LR likes to go on fun long walks in the woods, see live music, play basketball and drink fancy cocktails.
Laura Rose found her love of plants while vegetable farming by the ocean. She continues to work in food systems, but for the past 5 years has been dedicating her time and curiosity to learning as much as she can about plant medicine. She studied with Karen Rose at Sacred Vibes and is currently in her 3rd year at VCIH. She moved back to Vermont in 2021 after bopping around NY for a decade- east end of Long Island, Brooklyn and upstate. At Railyard, LR works closely with farmers to source all the bulk herbs & tinctures at the apothecary. Working with farmers is her favorite part of the job! When she’s not at work, LR likes to go on fun long walks in the woods, see live music, play basketball and drink fancy cocktails.
