Today we’d like to introduce you to Janae Wells.
Janae, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I showed a great passion for animals and nature early in life and I could usually be found in the woods searching for and studying snakes, rocks, and different species of plant life. So much so, that my family often recounts wild stories of me such as when I took kittens that I rescued to school in my book-bag and found them all homes. I was also found chasing a limping bird down the street to save it. The most repeated story is of my infamous daily routine of trekking into the forest to turn over every rock and find uncharted territories and animal life. It was undeniable that I found happiness in nature and had a proclivity for wildlife studies and care-giving. As I matured, I felt a sense that there was more to see to the world than the state of Ohio which seemed to do so little for my free-spirited mind. I felt a huge disconnect to things all of a sudden as if I didn’t belong and I needed to find my true place. I was in search of somewhere that resonated where I could start a new adventure beyond merely existing.
The lack of diversity and LGBTQ representation in Ohio is what ultimately motivated me to move to Georgia at the young age of 20, and it was the best decision I could have ever made for the wanderlust spirit in me.
I have been able to blossom here in Atlanta the past 6 years and it’s given me such a sense of independence that I never could have gotten in Ohio. Atlanta has provided me with more nature and wildlife adventures than I can recount. I’ve spent most of my days hiking to waterfalls to meditate, following rivers endlessly, and traveling to any place that I could manage to get away to. I have also used my time here to connect with many people with similar interests and energies like me. I’ve had the pleasure of working with children in which work has never felt like actual work. I’ve managed to start multiple small businesses that have allowed me to have a pretty decent experience while here. I can genuinely say that Ohio would not have afforded me the same experiences. This access to a bigger city has opened my mind wider and has shown me the endless gifts that our world has to offer. Georgia has been the place that has truly made me feel an exchange of energy to universal energy, and that energy seems to want us all to win.
Moving down south has allowed me to get more in touch with my roots and has refueled my interest in holistic health and wellness. As a child, my passion was to work in the healthcare field and I bounced between dreams of being a veterinarian, nurse, or psychiatrist. I knew that my place in the world would be rooted in helping others, I just couldn’t decide which route would lead me to my calling. In 2017, I enrolled in undergraduate biology studies while I also educated myself on the studies of African culture, history, herbs, sustainability practices, self-care, and mental health. I spent most of my time reading, researching, and watching documentaries. This sparked a new lifestyle for me that has changed my life and introduced me into the world of herbal healing, energy work, and magic.
Georgia is the best place for young people who are interested in the world of business because it is full of successful examples of business owners who have managed to turn their lifestyles into their calling. This has been extremely motivating to me and I’ve managed to build a network of friends who have supported me during the launch of my first LLC, Wild Haven Botanica, which is a lifestyle brand that offers herbal healing products and eczema relief. There are so many products on the market that are geared solely towards profit and are not formulated with the future in mind. These other companies can care less about what their ingredients mean for your skin. By “going Green” you can personally offset some of the adverse effects that are caused to our planet, and bodies. It’s impossible to be completely green 100 percent of the time, but if we can make a difference by eating cleaner and using natural products then that benefits us AND the earth. It’s a win, win. I feel that Georgia has helped me to laser focus on my purpose and has empowered me to make a difference, one footprint at a time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wouldn’t say that the rode has been smooth until I decided to get out of my own way. It took me years to muster up the courage to start Wild Haven. My biggest obstacle was balancing my inner world to manifest change in my outer world. My Inner voice was one of self-doubt. I told myself stories like I wasn’t “expert” enough to start a business in skincare. I eventually had to write a new script in which I realized that this business was more of a stepping stone to having a bigger impact on our ecosystem, which meant more to me than my initial limiting beliefs. I deemed myself ready and didn’t need to ask for permission. Sometimes your own mind will be the block to your blessings. When I’m old and grey I want my retrospect to be that I followed the wave of alignment that the universe had set forth for me. It didn’t take long before my mind started working in my favor, I’ve defeated that battle, now I can serve as an example for myself. The next time I think something isn’t doable, I’ll be my own proof that it is!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Wild Haven Botanica LLC – what should we know?
Wild Haven at its core is a lifestyle brand that motivates people to move towards a plant-based lifestyle. We offer a range of herbal skincare products that combine beauty and nature in its purest form. One of our best sellers is Plant Fix Eczema Salve, which is a medicinal blend that helps to rapidly heal eczema and repair damaged skin.
What sets us apart from most other companies is that we focus on ‘Green Living’ all the way through. Our containers are PET plastic and recyclable, we are partnered with PETA and will never test on animals, our formulas are plant-based with no preservatives or fillers, and we formulate everything in the house by extracting infused herbs. Our products are truly made with YOU & OUR EARTH IN MIND.
What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
Wild Haven as a business is a journey and we are dedicated to forever learning and providing products which help to heal. The learning process is never over when it comes down to herbal healing. I’m proud to say that I have recently been accepted into the RN Science degree program at a private school in Miami. My next goals for a business are to further my studies in the world of health and infuse that education back into Wild Haven. I’m excited and nervous to leave Georgia and start this new adventure but I see that the universe has made its decision on my next steps forward. Everyone’s purpose here on this planet is to make the world a better place to live in. The path to success is the one which includes making a difference in someone else’s life.
The universe blessed us with enough life to breath its air, it’s our unspoken obligation to share a hand in creating a better world. Making a difference starts with self. It grows somewhere between mentally grounding ourselves at the moment and helping someone else along their journey. Leaving behind a memory of light and love guides others towards a path of giving back to the very earth that birthed us all. Our existence is written in the stars and our very DNA tells a story. One of which we all are connected to something greater.
Support a small business that supports you.
Contact Info:
- Website: wildhavenbotanica.com
- Email: contact@wildhavenbotanica.com
- Instagram: @wildhavenbotanica
Image Credit:
1) Janae Wells(personal photo) Photographer: Becky Noble of Noble and Pure LLC, 2) Janae Wells(personal Photo), Photographer: Becky Noble of Noble and Pure LLC, 3) Kasaye & Becky(The Village market event helpers), Photographer: Janae Wells
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