Looking to fill the desire of taking care of something other than a pet or child? Consider purchasing and tending for a houseplant at A Modern Plantsman, a locally owned and operated nursery and indoor houseplant store located in Colfax, Washington.
A Modern Plantsman specializes in providing a large selection of exotic indoor plants to support the green thumb of Colfax and beyond by providing plants not usually seen in the eastern Washington region. Plants are directly selected and sourced throughout the northwest from Spokane, Seattle, Portland and other locations.
“We have a lot of people coming up from the other communities like Pullman or Moscow, and we are having people coming as far as Lewiston or Spokane,” Dominic Villareal, Colfax local and owner of A Modern Plantsman, said. “As far as the plant community goes, there are tons of people getting involved in it…and we’re definitely seeing that effect on the Palouse.”
Due to the smaller nature of the Palouse, Villareal focuses on bringing the plants seen in larger, more competitive outlets to his business, while adding the experience of hands-on connection and love to plants that may not be present in more commercial sources.
A Modern Plantsman, being Villareal’s first business venture, was inspired by his love and passion for plants and plant care. As well, the shop focuses not only on being a provider for plants in the eastern Washington area but also on reconnecting people to nature and creating a community through guided services, such as plant education and potting, a botany club and in-store paid workshops open to customers.
The botany club is a free, hands-on community and online club normally held once a month before COVID-19 restrictions paused meetings. Events usually centered around activities such as plant-swapping, potting lessons, group hikes, foraging, plant-based art, terrarium workshops and macrame, all supplemented with refreshments.
More extensive, hands-on paid workshops derive from the success of the “guinea pig” meetings of the club, according to Villareal.
“When I decided to start the shop, I put together a list of things that I felt like all of the other places that I’d been to were missing,” Villareal said. “One of them was a sense of community, so I felt like if we focused on workshops and doing things that were inclusive and engaging, then that would help create that community vibe.”
A Modern Plantsman’s employees, personal friends of Villareal, hold the same innate love and passion for plants as the owner.
BriAnn Davis, a Pullman local and employee since last November, pursued employment after years of supporting Villareal’s business for personal means.
“For me, the most enjoyable part (of working here) is probably just being around the plants all day,” Davis said. “I’m technically the plant care tender, so I do most of the care for everything, and coming into this environment every day is a really welcoming and happy vibe.”
Aaron Agulay, a Pullman local as well and employee for over a year pursued the job as a fun hobby grown out of friendship.
“Potting things up and being creative and seeing the joy on some people’s faces when they get their complete little project done, or bringing home something that they’re going to take care of are the fun parts of it all,” Agulay said.
As for advice for potential plant parents, Villareal encourages learning and resilience in taking care of new additions to your home.
“For me, plants have always been about experimenting, so there’s a lot of failure in experimentation. It’s just a part of the game,” Villareal said. “One of the things I always tell people is ‘don’t be discouraged by the losses that you have, just keep learning. Use it as growth.’”
Originally opened in a different location in February 2019, Villareal has operated the business at 124 N Main Street since February 2020. Hours are 12—5 p.m. Saturday and 12—4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit their Facebook page ‘A Modern Plantsman: Plant shop, botany club & workshop’ (@amodernplantsman) or Instagram @amodernplantsman.
Katarina Hockema can be reached at [email protected]