Welcome to
Herbal Arts Apothecary


Herbal Arts Apothecary was created to share the knowledge of botanical remedies, and to encourage simpler, more sustainable ways of living. My name is Morrie Shafer and I am an herbalist, historian, and holistic health coach. I am dedicated to the use of herbs, whole foods, and DIY practices in everyday life, and I believe that this knowledge should be accessible to all.

 

Recent Blog Posts

What's new at Herbal Arts Apothecary
June 20, 2019

The Gift of Empowerment

Become empowered, herbal friends. This is yours! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be an “herbalist,” and how this is somewhat of an elitist club. Up until recently, I have felt like the perpetual student, and I have been studying herbal medicine for over 20 […]
March 27, 2019

Musings on “Adulting”

We’ve dealt with some illness, death, and adversity in these parts recently. My husband and I were having a conversation about the stress we’ve been under, and our capacity to deal effectively (or ineffectively) with it, as the case may be. We decided that dealing with tough stuff might in […]
March 19, 2019

Back to Work on Herbal Arts Apothecary

It’s funny how life sometimes has its way with you (us!). We all have intentions of putting energy into creative projects, but inevitably other demands on our time arise. The responsibilities of everyday life obviously take precedence over all. That said, It’s time to come back to the work that […]

About

A modern approach to traditional healing

My name is Morrie Shafer. I was a city kid until I moved to rural Pennsylvania as a 10- year old. My life was suddenly filled with creeks, running through orchards and farms, and planting my own garden. I fell in love with nature then, and it was deeply transformative. At 14, my family moved to a more wooded area. I began hiking and developing an interest in the plants I would see growing on my many adventures. At 15, I became a “natural foodie” and began cooking my own meals. I went to college at Penn State University as a nutrition major, but quickly decided that feeding red Jell-o and canned green beans to hospital patients was not my idea of health. I decided then to pursue my other love, history, and went on to earn my Master’s Degree, focusing on different aspects of the discipline, but eventually earning dual degrees from Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology. Job prospects for advanced degree historians were abysmal in the 90’s, so I gravitated back to my original interest in the natural world and holistic health.

I spent the next few years studying with Rosemary Gladstar at Sage Mountain, at the NY Open Center (Green Medicine program), Northeast School of Botanical Medicine (Clinical Herbalist program), and the School of Herbal Therapeutics (2 year Clinical Herbalist program & Graduate year). My long-standing interest in nutrition led to Holistic Health Coach certifications from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute (Family Health Coaching).

I love to cook, garden, and pursue all things DIY. I started Herbal Arts Apothecary to continue to spread the knowledge that I believe is our birthright as human beings.

Enhance your relationship with the natural world

The botanical world has an amazing ability to transform our health. We are living in a time where many are isolated from nature, and we are paying a heavy price. It is obvious that a reconnection to nature, and to a simpler life overall, is needed for our lives to function optimally in the 21st century.


Check out our offerings

Our psychological and physical health is enhanced when we access the plant world- even something as simple as a beautiful floral bouquet can lift the spirit. Eating a green salad, making an herbal tea, or crafting a lovely simple syrup can all nurture health and psyche. Learning about plants- how to grow them, use them for medicine, or simply experience them with our senses is deeply inspiring and transformative.