Inspiring Conversations with Cara Coleman-Schutte of Worts & Wards

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Coleman-Schutte.

Hi Cara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Worts & Wards started with a shared foundation—Jerika and I met during our MA program in Art History at Case Western, and quickly became close friends. We both come from backgrounds in history, research, and education. At the same time, Jerika is a practicing witch with a deep knowledge of herbalism and energy work, so our work has always lived at that intersection of academic understanding and lived practice.

We started to see a gap—especially in Cleveland—for spaces that treated holistic wellness with both respect and accessibility. We wanted a space that acknowledges the ways our physical, mental and spiritual health and wellness are interconnected.

So we built Worts & Wards as both a retail space and a community hub—somewhere people can explore herbs, remedies, and spiritual practices, but also learn, ask questions, and feel comfortable no matter where they’re starting.

Ohio City felt like the right place to do that. There’s such a strong sense of community here, and we really wanted to contribute something that supports people’s well-being in a tangible, inclusive way.

-Cara Coleman-Schutte

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes and no. In many ways it has been smooth because Jerika and I are genuinely great partners — we balance each other out in all the right ways. But we are also first-time business owners, building a brick‑and‑mortar business based in a world that’s increasingly digital, fast-paced and convenience driven. Plenty of people thought we were a little nuts for doing it. There were challenges around finding a place with high foot traffic, rising costs, and convincing others that a physical community space still mattered. But those hurdles pushed us to be intentional, creative, and really clear about why we were doing this in the first place.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Worts & Wards is a holistic wellness shop and community space rooted in accessibility, education, and intention. We specialize in functional herbs, loose-leaf teas, tinctures, candles, and metaphysical tools, but what really defines us is how we approach those offerings.

We’re known for being a space where people can walk in at any level—whether they’ve been engaged in herbalism or alternative spiritual practice for years or are just curious—and feel welcomed, not intimidated. Education is a huge part of what we do. We take time with customers, answer questions, and offer context so people feel empowered to make choices that work for them.

What sets us apart is that balance between being grounded and a little bit magical. We honor the traditions behind what we carry, but we’re not gatekeeping them. We’re thoughtful about ethical and sustainable sourcing, we prioritize local makers when we can, and we’re really intentional about creating products and experiences that feel both high-quality and approachable.

Beyond retail, we’re also building a community hub. We host workshops, gatherings, and events that give people a chance to connect—with the practices, with each other, and with themselves.

Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that people genuinely feel comfortable in our space. We hear all the time that it feels warm, welcoming, and different from what they expected. That’s always been the goal—to create something that feels human, inclusive, and rooted in care.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One of our most useful resources is Herbal Academy. It is an excellent resource for herbalism courses. Their online herbarium has hundreds of plant monographs with a wealth of high quality information.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wortsandwards.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wortsandwards/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wortsandwards/
• Other: http://linktr.ee/wortsandwards?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn04uUk0Mv4hvwk21j6f8VUp2J9rGQhENgf9YPQQRPIPIJwqwNZfie-xaJzRc_aem_V3BtucPTI5fqY9AZssj54w