Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Townsend.
Hi Shelby, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t always know I wanted to own a business, however, I’ve always had this feeling of being meant for something more….. something bigger. I’ve always had this deep connection with nature and all things living, which is how I fell into becoming a nurse. I graduated nursing school in 2016 as my empathy and passion drove me into helping others heal, and I was really good at it. Fast forward a few years, my husband and I, along with our two boys, move to the country which had been a dream of ours for many years. I’ve always had the most supportive husband and we have the best little family, yet, I still felt unfulfilled. It was like a fire was burning inside of me and I wasn’t doing anything with it. My husband encouraged me to get a hobby, outside of our children, and I fell into plants. I learned everything I could about them. How to propagate, their history, the medicinal benefits, and I began teaching others what I taught myself. My husband and I started gardening (fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc) and after a year or two, I thought…. I should start a business. I threw the idea out to my husband and in typical fashion, he was 100% supportive. As Towns End Garden grew, we began offering edgy plant merch, herbal tea blends and more. It’s important to note that I have been sicker than many people my entire life, but for the last 10 years, I began experiencing anxiety, skin rashes, chronic pain and more. After we had our third son, I developed PMDD (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and my physical symptoms were worsening. Despite my nursing experience and education, I looked tirelessly for answers through conventional medicine, only continuing to get worse. After multiple specialists and doctors unable to address my symptoms, I met with a functional medicine practitioner who acknowledged the severity of my symptoms and I had noticeable improvement in only a few weeks. I dove head first into holistic medicine and the cycle syncing method. Within a few months, my PMDD (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) symptoms were completely gone. I realized then that the universe called me to help others who were experiencing their own medical crisis, specifically women suffering with their mental health. I began hosting “Sync and Sips” where women could come to learn about their bodies and how plants, such as herbal tea blends, heal our bodies naturally. I knew that if someone with my background struggled so much, other people were too. I completed a functional medicine practitioner course and began Towns End Apothecary where I look into the root cause of symptoms and help others heal. I find it so beautiful to see how my body could feel that I was meant for more and the universe aligned it all through nursing, a passion for plants and nature, and my own personal health experiences.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning a business is never a smooth road. My husband and I started Towns End Garden from literally nothing. We threw a few hundred dollars into this business a few years ago and hoped for the best. Resale is hard, especially in this economy. My saving grace has always been the support from my husband and my loyal customers. My biggest challenge is that I do work full time as a nursing supervisor. My family is always the number one priority, so balancing being a mother, wife, running three businesses (my husband also owns a business) all with a high stress, demanding, full time job can weigh on you. You definitely have to remind yourself of the end goal daily! I think the most important part of owning a business is boundaries and knowing your limits. If you can prioritize those two things, you can be successful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Towns End Garden / Towns End Apothecary ?
Towns End Garden is a Plant Boutique known for our houseplants, unhinged merch and organic tea blends. We keep our inventory light hearted and humorous. Towns End Apothecary offers sync and sip classes where women sip herbal tea blends while gathering to learn about the medicinal benefits of herbs along with women’s health. I am most proud to bring my nursing background and love for plants to help others heal through functional medicine. I will be expanding my services in 2026 to functional lab testing and online programs to help others heal naturally, bridging the gap between conventional and functional approaches. You can currently shop our inventory at Branded Boutique in Odessa MO.
What makes you happy?
My family makes me happy. Time freedom makes me happy. Helping others heal makes me happy. We’re only here for a short amount of time so we should make the most of it with the people we love. Empowering others to live a life full of happiness and good health is so fulfilling to me.
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