Shantree is a Permaculture Teacher, Ayurvedic Live-Food Nutritionist, Therapeutic & Shamanic Herbalist, and Constitutional Ecological Educator with 35 years experience in the Organic Natural Healing Arts. He is an expert on the medicinal and nutritional properties of herbs and trees of Carolinian Canada. His primary focus these days is on research, demonstation and education.

He is the founder and co-director of The Living Centre (1983), and Living Arts Institute.

Shantree received his doctorate in Nutritional Medicine and Herbalism in the 70's. Since then he has been exploring the effect of local foods and herbs on one's physical, mental and emotional health. His passion and study has lead him to explore the benefits of a high energy Ayurvedic live-food approach to nutrition. He has had the honor to teach, counsel and empower thousands of individuals on their health and educational journey. Shantree has been exploring the nutritional and ecological benefits of a live-food approach for over three decades.

A past Vise-President of the Ontario Herbalists' Association (OHA) and served on the OHA board for 10 years. A Professional Member of the Ontario Herbalist Association for over 30 years. Shantree is dedicated to providing an integrated preventative approach to well being, applying the healing wisdom of the East and West. He formulates and dispenses his own herbal preparations "HerbSpirit Botanicals".

Shantree's deep spiritual connection to the Earth which has drawn him into the teachings of shamanic and earth wisdom practices as well as Carolinian Canada native plant preservation and studies. He is a passionate edible forest gardener and designer, permaculture teacher and well known for his unique circular medicinal-wheel forest garden and medicine trail with over 1,000 species of edible and medicine plants and trees through the 50-acre botanical sanctuary.

Since the mid 1980's Shantree has been applying organic forest gardening practices. Creating his own unique approach to how permaculture works in the temperate climate of Canada. After 30 years he is now sharing this with his students and apprentices who come to study Forest Gardening and Permaculture.

Shantree combines his passion for forest gardening with newly emerging scientific information from many fields - Ecological Medicine, Resilience Science, Deep Ecology, Regenerative Design, Living Nutrition, Deep Organic Medicine, Bioregionalism, Natural Health Science and the visionary solutions from the Bioneers. Visioning to reveal a regenerative path toward better stewardship of the natural world. A spiritual activist at heart.

Shantree is the author of 'Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis', the first book of its kind to be published in the west.

A Conversation with Shantree

Living with the Environment

Radio Interview with Shantree about Ayurveda covering many aspects including information from his book Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis.

Founders & Directors

Shantree Kacera, Ph.D. D.N., R.H., and Lorenna Kacera are founders and directors of The Living Centre and Living Arts Institute. Together they blend their over 35 years each, of experience to offer programs that support individuals in the practice of conscious living. Through The Sevenfold Path to Peace, Ayurvedic Teachings, and a Live-Plant-Food-based lifestyle they support those with a passion to live healthier, happier & more spiritually fulfilled lives.

Lorenna and Shantree are internationally celebrated visionaries, authors, educators, nutritional researchers and world peace workers.