Soon I will get to meet Rosemary Gladstar in real life! We have invited her for a retreat in Stockholm April 4-6, 2025. This is a step in strengthening the networking between herbalists in Sweden. We (Örtfabriken, Karolineswayoflife , Läketrädgården and LifebyLisen ) hope to make this something bigger in the future where we can invite you and everyone who wants to come.
Photo taken by Danielle Cohen
I have tried to explain to the uninitiated how great it is to meet this powerful herbalist. But how can they understand without me first telling them that she is my great idol in life.
Isn't it wonderful to be an adult and have a new idol? Not only did I learn about herbs, I also got to be curious and excited again, just like when I was a kid. I remember the first time I read one of Rosemary's books. I made every other recipe. I read the book forward and backward. And then again.
Then four herbal sisters and I took her digital course, the Art and Science of Herbalism . We learned a lot. Thanks to Rosemary but also through our enthusiasm and meeting continuously week after week.
Rosemary is America's most beloved herbalist. What makes her so special is of course her herbal knowledge and ability to teach, but her greatest quality is her warmth and genuine love for you. How can you not love her?
Here is a compliment.
About Rosemary Gladstar, the young years
Rosemary Gladstar (born 1949) is a living legend in herbal medicine, a loving teacher, and a passionate guardian of the forces of nature. She has inspired countless people to reconnect with the wisdom of plants.
She is of Armenian origin, grew up in the USA and received herbal knowledge from her grandmother as a child. Her work began in the 60s and 70s in California. Herbal knowledge lived a waning existence, forgotten and distrusted. There were few active herbalists and hardly any training. A completely different situation than today in the USA. Rosemary and several others began to bring inherited knowledge to life.
She began teaching herbal medicine while cultivating a community of herbalists. She is the founder of the California School of Herbal Studies (1978) , one of the first schools of herbal medicine in the United States. Rosemary has been extremely prolific, founding United Plant Savers , an organization that works to protect endangered medicinal plants, and authoring several books. Her book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health , is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the world of herbal medicine.
What makes Rosemary so important is her holistic approach to healing. She sees herbs not just as medicine, but as beings or friends that can heal both body and soul. She unites science and tradition, intuition and practice, and urges us to honor both the plants and the ancient knowledge.
Her teachings are filled with love, respect and gratitude for nature. She teaches us to listen to the plants, to create our own medicines and to care for the earth that gives us these gifts. Rosemary Gladstar is more than an herbalist – she is a voice for Mother Earth, a guide for those seeking natural health and an inspiration for all who want to live in harmony with nature.
About Rosemary Gladstar, later years
After spending many years in California, Rosemary Gladstar felt a strong pull north. She longed for a life closer to nature, where she could grow her own herbs, live more self-sufficiently, and deepen her relationship with the earth. She moved to the forested mountains of Vermont, a place known for its wild beauty and rich herb fields. There, she co-founded Sage Mountain , where she lived and taught for over 30 years. She created a sanctuary for plants, animals, and people who wanted to learn about herbal medicine. It was also in Vermont that she founded United Plant Savers , when she saw signs that important plants were disappearing.
This move was not just a geographical change but a deeper return to her roots—both literally and spiritually. Living in harmony with the forests and meadows around her allowed her to continue her life’s work with even greater intimacy with the plants she loved. Vermont became a place where she not only taught herbal medicine, but also lived it—in every breath, in every growing season, in every cup of tea brewed with love and respect for nature.
There are so many stories to tell about Rosemary. I won't be able to tell all the funny and amazing anecdotes here, but please read Örtfabriken's blog article about Fire Cider.
Now Rosemary has started to withdraw, although I must say that she seems extremely active. She has moved from Sage Mountain but still lives in Vermont with her husband. Rosemary was a strong force in the renaissance of herbalism in the USA. Here in Sweden we are eagerly waiting to meet her and we want to be inspired to build a vibrant network of herbalists here too. Just like she has done.
For my part, I want to bathe in her energy in real life for a little while and if I can, I will then pass this on.
What does Rosemary Gladstar mean to you?
