Staff

Mary  established “Farmacy Herbs,” in Providence in 2006. Over the years, Farmacy Herbs has evolved into more than just a shop; it’s a multifaceted center for community health education, herbal studies, and farming. This hub has welcomed and nurtured thousands of students, interns, and volunteers, playing a pivotal role in spreading herbal knowledge and fostering a deeper understanding of holistic health within the community. Her students have started herb businesses all over the country: Town Farm Tonics, Hue Apothecary and Wild Heart Herb House to name a few!

Healing Philosophy
Mary advocates for personal and planetary healing through herbs, nutrition and lifestyle. She focuses on using herbs to support health, not treat disease. Mary’s healing philosophy also revolves around community, activism, education, social justice, politically compassionate herbalism and  health justice.

Teaching Experience
Mary holds a teaching associate position at Brown University Medical School, where she instructs Western Herbalism to the Integrative Resident Program. In 2006, she developed the Herbal Foundations Certificate Program, which she has successfully run twice a year since its inception, training over 1,000 students. Her programs emphasize herbal medicine, health justice, and nutritional healing.

Since 2001, Mary has taught herbalism and farming at various local businesses, hospitals, events, universities, high schools, nursing homes, elementary schools, conferences, and for special interest groups and non-profits, locally and around the world.  She has been a distinguished teacher at the New England Women’s Conference and the International Herb Symposium since 2009. Mary has been a guest speaker at the 2012 USDA Women in Agriculture Conference and the 2013 United Nations Council on Women.

Mary’s extensive teaching experience and dedication to herbalism make her a prominent figure in the fields of herbalism and nutritional healing.

Educational History

Mary brings over 25 years of extensive experience in the field of herbalism, both in professional and informal settings. From 1999 to 2002, she honed her skills under Danielle Cavalacci at Indigo Herbals in Providence, RI. In 2004, Mary began her career as a Community Herbalist at Seven Arrows Herb Farm, where she spent four years learning from renowned botany and medicinal plant experts, Judy and Michelle Marcelot.

In 2006, Mary furthered her education by attending Sage Mountain’s advanced herbal program, where she studied under numerous esteemed herbalists such as, Rosemary Gladstar, Bill Mitchell and Deb Soule.  Her hands-on experience working directly with the public for the last 20 years has been a cornerstone of her practice. Mary has hosted a variety of teachers, conferences, programs, and classes at Farmacy Herbs, focusing on topics such as anatomy and physiology, nutritional healing, and in-depth herbal healing.

Mary’s dedication to the field and her comprehensive background make her a respected and knowledgeable herbalist, committed to sharing her expertise and promoting holistic health.

Community Work
In 2019, Mary and her codefendants won a president setting federal court case over a trademark on a common herbal term. See firecider.com for details. In 2011/12, Mary edited and directed the documentary Herbal Aide featuring the work of many herbalists and community activists. Through Herbal Aide, she currently offers a grant program for herbalists working to create access to herbalism in their communities. In 2005/6 she volunteered in post Katrina New Orleans as an herbalist in the clinics, farmer in the gardens, and kitchen worker.
She is a founding member of the following community groups: Providence Recycle-A- Bike, The Northeast Radical Healthcare Network, Radherb, Traditions Not Trademarks, Herbal Aide, Sage Healing Collaborative.

Awards
She was awarded The Northeast Herbal Association Community Herbalist Award in 2008 for her dedication and commitment to the herbal community.

In 2009 and 2015, Mary won first place at the International Herb Symposium for Farmacy Herbs products.

Farmacy herbs was awarded “Best of Rhode Island” in 2009 from RI Monthly magazine, “Best in Providence” by the Providence Phoenix in 2010, and “Best of Rhode Island” in 2018 by RI Monthly Magazine.

Mary has been featured in:
Bust Magazine, New York Times, Boston Globe, Providence Journal, Providence Business News, The Rhode Show , Rhode Island Monthly and many more herbal publications nationally and internationally.

Follow Mary on Instagram