The founder of Wellfounded Botanicals on cannabis fragrances, fighting Crohn's disease, and why the family farm is a dying breed.
AS TOLD TO PATTY CARNEVALE
I am of the opinion that New Yorkers are born, and not necessarily in New York. You’re born a New Yorker and eventually, if you’re lucky, you get there. I was born in Philadelphia, grew up in Michigan and North Carolina, but moved to New York City to go to college.
I have a lot of country in me. I always enjoyed the outdoors. I went to Montessori school and was a tomboy. When I lived in New York, I always took weekends to be in the country and embrace open air and grass, livestock and running around in muddy boots. These things were in stark contrast to my time in the city, where I was militant about being in very, very high heeled shoes. You always wear the good shoes, and you wear them all day.
I had a very unlikely education for any of the things that I'm doing. I had a fascination and an aptitude for art, much to the disappointment of my father. I ran off to the big city and put myself through art school because I thought I could do it. So I did.