BY STEVEN JUPITER
BRANDON—“Epona was the Celtic goddess of horses and fertility,” explained Ellie Romp when asked about the name of her new craft cannabis shop south of Brandon village. “I have four sons—I have noth- ing against men—but I wanted to channel female energy here.”
The shop is in the rear of the Green Mountain Smoke Shop, at the intersection of Route 7 and Country Club Road. It’s a cozy space, which Romp de- signed specifically to be warm and comfortable. Folks can come in, talk to Romp about the various craft cannabis products she offers, and feel like it’s ok to linger.
“I want people to feel like they can stay and chat,” she said. This welcoming attitude is very much in keeping with Romp’s “day job” as manager of two group homes for the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC).
Romp grows much of her product on her farm in Salisbury, and what she doesn’t grow herself is sourced locally. At the moment, her stock consists of 6 to 8 carefully selected strains of cannabis, including her own “Purple Sticky Icky,” a sativa hybrid with a fruity flavor and purple color. But whether you’re looking to take the edge off or to get a boost, Romp makes sure to have a range of strains to meet customers’ various needs.
“Right now, my growing operation doesn’t use all the allowable square footage under my license. I’d like to expand so I can grow even more plants. I want to be ‘seed to sale,’ growing and selling my own plants.”
As Epona Farms continues to grow, Romp hopes to obtain a manufacture license so she can expand her offerings to include edibles made in house as well.
“One of my friends is a confectioner,” she said. “We already have great recipes for delicious sugar-free and vegan edibles that use the trimmings from my harvests, which makes it all even more sustainable.”
The shop’s location within the Green Mountain Smoke Shop allows customers to purchase cannabis at Epona Farms and the accessories needed to enjoy it in the smoke shop.
“It’s one-stop shopping,” Romp laughed.
As if her schedule weren’t busy enough, with a new shop, a demanding job at CSAC, and 6 children at home—she’s a single mom caring for her 4 sons and 2 nieces—Romp is also a fiddler who plays the open mic at Red Clover in Brandon almost every Thursday night.
“During COVID, I would go to my brother’s house and jam until 2 a.m. sometimes,” Romp says. “Eventually I got good enough to perform in public.”
Romp has been open for business since December but is holding her official “grand opening” on Saturday, March 11, from noon to 5. There will be live music and specials on selected products. Come on down, meet Ellie, and learn about her products.
