On The Banks Apothecary

06/04/2026

My favorite local flower farmers!!! 🌻🌸❤️🌝

06/04/2026

I am so excited for our community to have the alternative options in health care.

06/02/2026

🌿💚 May Update from On The Banks 💚🌿
Hello friends, it is a long one so go grab a cup of tea.
There are some truly positive things happening down here on the banks in Morley, and I wanted to share a quick update with all of you.
🎉 The parking lot is finally DONE! It is solid, functional, and honestly looks pretty amazing.
🏗️ The foundation work for the dry shop and greenhouse is complete, along with all of the grading outside. That means we can finally move into Infrastructure Phase 3 of the garden and start planting tomatoes, peppers, and so many of the things we've been waiting to grow.
I have to admit, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted. I was able to take one big, deep breath... and then it was right back to work. 😅
There is still so much ahead:
🎨 Greenhouse framing is getting painted
🧱 Concrete is next
🏡 Then siding
☀️ Polycarbonate installation
⚡ Electrical work
📋 And a very long list of other projects.....BEES, yes there's lots to do there too.
Electrical..........speaking of the electrical... the Refillery is still battling my old nemesis: LIGHTS. Ugh. Lights, lights, lights. 😩
Sadly, I need to spend this week focusing on finding a solution. Between that challenge and everything else happening behind the scenes, I have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close the Refillery until the electrical panel is installed for the greenhouse. Everything is connected, and as these projects move forward, the pieces are slowly coming together. We have limped along all winter with a battery pack or a generator and both of them a very tired.
On a more personal note, my family is currently facing some serious health concerns that we do not know a lot about yet and are still processing it. Add to that, I have been running what feels like a candle factory, burning the candles at both ends, seven days a week and then add in a twisted knee from last week that I am currently babying back to health (thank goodness for comfrey 🌿), it has become clear that I need to pause long enough to refuel mentally, physically, and spiritually.
💚 PLEASE KNOW WE ARE NOT LEAVING YOU WITHOUT YOUR FAVORITE HERBS AND CLEAN PRODUCTS! 💚
We will be OPEN BY APPOINTMENT. Reach out via messenger to line something up.
🔦 Ahh, bring your flashlight!!!!
I'm only half joking….but not really, bring one! I promise to make this up to you all. Please just laugh about it with me. 😆
It may not be perfect, but it is the best solution I can offer right now while we work through these growing pains. Please forgive the short notice.
If you think of us, we would truly appreciate a prayer or two. 🙏 We are walking through a difficult season, and I am trusting God's plan even when I cannot see the whole path ahead.
Thank you all for your patience, support, encouragement, kindness, and prayers. You have been absolutely amazing, and I am deeply grateful for every one of you and promise to try to keep you all in the loop as information comes to us.
Hang with me, I can finally see this vision coming together. It is becoming the space I dreamed of—a place that is functional, beautiful, welcoming, peaceful, and my personal favorite...
✨ Efficient!! ✨
With so much gratitude,
🌿 Marta
On The Banks
2553 155th Ave
Morley, Michigan

05/28/2026

05/17/2026

Look at that waddle fence!! It definitely is taking a village to shape this operation. These two “kids” drive all the way from Muskegon to help me out. They show up early and work hard the entire time they are here. They have made such a positive impact on helping me along on this journey. I can give them a project and send them on their way and trust it gets done well. Thanks Katrina and Kyle for all you do!! 🌺🪴🫶🏼⭐️

05/17/2026

100% of my dahlias from 2025 and the new 2026 tubers from Mack Creek Flower Farm in Stanwood Michigan have sprouted. The gardens down on the river are going to be spectacular this year. All for the 🐝!! The show will be the frosting on the cake for us. ☺️🫶🏼❤️
Thanks to Greg and Stephanie for all the help on getting me started. 🙌🌺🪴

05/14/2026

☀️🌱 GOOD MORNING friends!! Is everyone as happy as I am that the SUN is finally shining?! 😍🌞 After all the cold, wind, and rain, this beautiful sunshine feels like a gift! 🙌💛

Hey, I am hoping to connect with Matt Krueger. Facebook is not allowing me to send a DM 🤦‍♀️ This could absolutely be operator error because, as many of you know, I am not super “techie” 😂📱 Matt, if you see this, please reach out to me when you get a moment!🍄‍🟫

🌿 Refillery is OPEN today until 7:00 pm! 🌿
Hopefully by the end of the day the heat can officially be turned OFF and the doors left open from here on out on beautiful days like today!! 🙏🌞🚪

🚗 The parking area in front of the store has mostly dried up! 🙌 You should start seeing some action out there by the weekend! 🌱✨

✨ New items on the shelves:
🖤 Black Cohosh
🥒 Pickling Spice Mix
💪 Magnesium Flakes
And we now have Himalayan Pink Salt in fine and course. 🩷

…and most all low stocks have been topped off and some have even dropped cost per ounce!! 🌿🫙

I’ll be out and about somewhere working the soil today 🌻🪴🚜 Hoping you all get a chance to soak up some much-needed Vitamin D and enjoy this beautiful day! ☀️💛

05/14/2026

This is my “bee guy”. Such a wealth of information. I’m very excited for their bee therapy beds. I hope you all get a chance to go check out their store and get on the list for some bee love. 💕 🐝

05/12/2026

Here’s to giving it a go at another week. 🙌⭐️

Refillery opened a bit early today and will be open until I get time to close it,🙈😂…….. at the very least until 7pm.
Big herbs orders coming in today and tomorrow to top off low stock……some new items coming in too!
Weather transitions this weekend to summer…FINALLY. ☺️🙌🌺🌼❤️🌏🪴🫶🏼

05/07/2026

🌧️💨 WOW… what a CRAZY spring it has been here at the refillery! 🌱🐝☀️

Between all the rain, mud, standing water, and cold wind it has been really hard to get outside and get things moving like I had hoped. BUT… I did get a beautiful little break for a very special trip to Oklahoma for my daughter Shawn’s wedding 💍🤍 The weather was gorgeous, but I have to say… not nearly as gorgeous as my daughter. She was absolutely stunning and I could not be happier for her and Josh. 🥹❤️

Back here in Morley, the river has finally receded 🌊, puddles are beginning to dry up, and I have only gotten the skidsteer stuck ONE other time… so far 😂🚜 In my defense, I got it out myself BOTH times! Hahaha.

Even with all the spring chaos, BIG changes are happening here at On The Banks! 🌿✨

🚧 We have officially started excavating around the greenhouse prepping for concrete and raised beds along the outside.
🅿️ Construction on the NEW parking lot begins very soon… YAY!!!
🌸 Landscaping has begun around the store.
🪨 More hardscapes are being built throughout the gardens.
🌱 The seed hut is BURSTING with medicinal herbs and vegetables, with over 30 flats already moved outside under frost cover!

The fruit trees are absolutely exploding with blossoms this year 🍎🍒🍐 and I have been planting comfrey around the bases of the trees. Comfrey is wonderful around fruit trees because its deep roots pull nutrients and minerals up from the soil, helping feed the trees naturally. The leaves also make an amazing mulch and help improve soil health over time. 🌿💚

The dandelions, daffodils, money plants, apple, cherry, and pear blooms are all putting on quite the show and that makes both me AND the bees very happy 🐝🌼

Speaking of bees… one of my bee buddies, Lauren, and I split hives in both our apiaries on May 1st 🐝👑 The weather was a little chillier than we had hoped, but sunny enough for us to try a queen rearing method called “On The Spot” or OTS.

OTS is a method where you encourage the bees to raise their own queen directly from very young larvae already in the hive instead of grafting. It involves carefully modifying worker cells so the bees can build queen cells from them naturally. It is a simpler and more natural approach to queen rearing that many smaller beekeepers really enjoy working with. Luckily Lauren had done it before, so it was wonderful having her knowledge there since this was my first time trying the method. So far everything looks good! 🤞🐝 I will definitely give an update after this week’s hive checks.

I also have a FULL list of things to stock in the refillery 🫙🌿 If there is something you need that we are not currently carrying, please do not hesitate to reach out!

I am SO excited about all the herbs we are adding to the gardens this year. We will be offering even more herbs that get to you faster, fresher, and grown right here in your own community 🌱💚

💐 Mother’s Day is almost here! 💐
I have already put together a few requested gift baskets for some special moms. There is still time to have something beautiful built in just the right price range. Reach out soon if you need something. 🎁💕

AND… coming soon… 👀🌿
Once all the gardens here at On The Banks are planted, I will be sharing all the “leftover” veggies, herbs, and flowers with anyone is in need. If you feel led, gentle donations toward seed, soil, and sowing are always appreciated but never expected. ❤️

Also… I owe everyone an apology 😅🌿
I completely dropped the ball on the winter herb countdown series. This first winter brought MANY unexpected challenges while trying to get everything up and running. Don’t fret though — I have not forgotten! I am brainstorming ways to bring it back in a format that is easier to keep up with and less time consuming while still being educational and fun.

I wanted to say thank you to the Tamarack District Library board in Lakeview for having me speak about the refillery products and how we strive to educate, refill, recycle, & reuse. It was a wonderful time. Foraging is in full throttle.....I am so blessed with ramps….. patches of thousands! I plan to pickle the bulbs and make ramp salt from many of the leaves. Do any of you have a favorite ramp recipes you would like to share? I’d love try some other was of preserving them too.

Thank you all so much for stopping in, supporting us, following along, and checking out the refillery. You are all so deeply appreciated more than you know. ❤️

📍 On The Banks Apothecary
2553 155th Ave
Morley, MI
If the lights are on… COME ON IN! 🌿✨