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Hi there!

I’m Steph Zabel, a practicing herbalist, botanical educator, ethnobotanist, and a life-long student of the plant world. 

I teach people about herbalism--the art and science of plant medicine--so that they can live a more vibrant, healthy and connected life. 

My work focuses on educating and inspiring people about herbs. I teach about local plants, herbal medicine-making techniques, plant identification and useful herbs that every household can use. 

I hope to help enrich your life through herbalism just as much as the plants have enriched mine.




​Connecting People with Plants

My work is to teach and inspire people to:
  • incorporate herbs into everyday life for joy and health
  • become familiar with the skills necessary to use herbs as preventative and supportive tools for taking care of themselves and their families
  • form a deeper connection with the plant world
Study & Work:
  • University of Kent at Canterbury: MSc Ethnobotany, with Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
  • The CommonWealth School of Herbal Medicine: 3-year clinical apprenticeship
  • The Boston School of Herbal Studies: aromatherapy certification
  • Gaia School Herbal Apprenticeship
  • Sage Mountain Herbology Course
  • Currently enrolled in Dr. Aviva Romm's Herbal Medicine for Women course
  • Founder of HERBSTALK, Boston’s community-based herbal conference
  • Harvard University Herbaria curatorial staff for 7 years
  • Vegetation surveyor for the
    National Park Service
  • Researcher on local ethnobotanical uses of plant medicine in Dominica, West Indies & Mexico City
My Background: The Short Version

I was born in South Carolina and brought up in a family that had an affinity for both plants and natural medicine. My grandmother taught me to love the wild trees and herbs on her property, and my parents taught me to love the cultivated plants that they grew so beautifully in our gardens.

In college I studied horticulture and biological science and then went on to complete a masters’ degree in ethnobotany. For field work I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel abroad several times to study traditional uses of local plants in both Mexico and the Caribbean. After graduate school I decided to move to Boston in 2006 where I taught English to foreign students, published an environmental e-zine, worked at a holistic health practice, and took care of plants in a research greenhouse. Eventually I ended up working in one of the world’s largest herbarium collections where for many years I helped to curate plant specimens used for botanical research.

During this whole time I was taking as many herbal courses as I could, incorporating herbs into my daily life, teaching others to do the same, and dreaming up new ways to share my love of herbs with a wider audience. It became clear that working with plants to help others is what I am called to do.


Let’s Connect

 Now that’s enough about me – how can I best help you? If you are interested in a one-on-one session to learn how you can use herbs on a daily basis to support your health, please check out my herbal consultation offerings. Or, see my upcoming classes and events.

Feel free to drop me a line anytime or sign up for my newsletter - I would love to work with you, answer any questions you might have, and help guide you towards the healing power of plants.