Apothecary brings herbalism to Main Street
Published 5:18 pm Monday, August 19, 2024
Tara Eveland shows some of the natural beauty products available at the Apothecary. (Photos by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
The circa-1826 Atkinson storehouse now houses Serene Tree Apothecary and Project Mercatus, a marketing firm.
Ben Osmanson shows the serene tree wall at the Apothecary.
Tea grounds are available for purchase in bulk.
The Apothecary offers small trees ready for planting.
Serene Tree Apothecary, the latest business to move into the circa-1826 Atkinson storehouse at 235 Main Street, aims to be a one-stop shop for all things herbal.
Tea aficionados will find 17 blends, including earl grey vanilla cream, citrus mint and hibiscus, as loose grounds in glass jars rather than single-serve tea bags.
There’s also bath salts, essential oils, handmade natural soap and a herb wall where customers can buy herbs in bulk by the satchel or by the gram.
The store opened its doors to the public for the first time on Aug. 16.
Tara Eveland, the store’s herbalist, said she began studying natural remedies 22 years ago, first by taking yoga classes and then by studying under a herbalist while living in Bardstown, Kentucky. She grew up in a small town in southern Illinois and has traveled across the country in her mobile home.
When she arrived in Smithfield, she rented an apartment and decided to put down roots.
“I literally fell in love with Main Street. … It’s like stepping back in time,” Eveland said.
There’s no college degree for herbalism; rather it’s a craft that’s passed down like folk medicine, she said, and with that comes a few restrictions.
“I can’t give medical advice,” Eveland said.
Ben Osmanson, the Apothecary’s owner, is a transplant from California. He credits his mother with introducing him to home remedies and healthy eating.
“This has just been a part of my whole life and it fits the area,” Osmanson said.
Osmanson said he sources his herbs exclusively from growers in the United States and plans to eventually grow most of what the Apothecary offers here in Isle of Wight County. Other offerings, such as honey, he plans to source from local farmers and beekeepers.
Osmanson said his vision for the Apothecary is to offer “an experience” to shoppers, such as allowing them to cut their own bars of soap. The building’s basement is being renovated into a communal space for yoga and herbalism classes, Eveland said.
The historic storefront also houses marketing firm Project Mercatus, another of Osmanson’s businesses, which handles the marketing for the Apothecary and other clients.
