Photos courtesy of Ironworks Café and Basin Farmworks
If you ever roll into Othello, WA—whether intentionally or because you missed an exit while vibing to your playlist—there’s are a couple of places you need to experience: Basin Farmworks and Ironworks Café. The café is the kind of spot where the scent of fresh soil, blooming flowers, and espresso somehow merge into a single, comforting aroma. This is not your average nursery-plus-coffee-shop combo. It’s a full-on community ecosystem built by someone who believes in hard work, good coffee, and the magic of growing things. And that someone is Erika—a roll-up-your-sleeves, dig-in-the-dirt, get-it-done force of nature who could probably run a farm, a café, and a small country if asked. And she is all that and more running both businesses that are beautifully intertwined.
Enjoy this side quest by finding them at Basin Farmworks.
At Basin Farmworks during the early days of COVID, while the rest of us were panic-baking banana bread and trying to keep a single African violet alive, Erika went full superhero mode and planted what is now one of the most jaw-dropping peony gardens in the region. We’re talking HUNDREDS of peony plants, which give a spring harvest of a staggering 14,000+ stems that turn the entire property into a floral fever dream. Gen Y calls it “inspiring.” Gen Z calls it “main character energy.” Gardeners call it “goals.” And honestly, they’re all right. Add in berry-picking season—where you can wander rows of juicy blueberries like a foraging woodland creature—and you’ve got a place that feels like a wholesome side quest in the video game of life.
And then there’s Ironworks Café, named in honor of Erika’s family history in metalworking—a nod to the grit, craftsmanship, and “build it with your hands” ethos that runs through everything she does. It’s the perfect place to sip something delicious while admiring the landscape or plotting which plants you’re about to adopt. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a chaotic plant collector, or someone who just likes to support local growers while drinking really good coffee, WONDERFUL food; Basin Farmworks is your people. Check them out online at: Ironworks Cafe & Market.
Before You Dig In… Take the Garden-Lover Traveler Quiz
Now, before you sprint off to Basin Farmworks to adopt a peony or grab a latte at Ironworks Café, let’s find out what kind of garden-loving traveler you actually are. Because let’s be honest—every plant person has a vibe. Some of us are “stop the car, I saw a greenhouse” people. Others are “I came for the coffee but left with a trunk full of perennials” people. And a few rare souls are “I identify moss for fun” people. So consider this your warm-up stretch before diving into the full article: a quick, quirky quiz to reveal your botanical alter ego.
QUIZ: What Kind of Garden-Lover Traveler Are You?
1. You arrive in a new town. What’s your first instinct?
A. Find the nearest nursery and sniff the plants.
B. Locate a café with plants you can complement.
C. Wander into a park and start identifying shrubs like a botanical detective.
D. Hit the hardware store because you “might need supplies.”
2. Your suitcase contains:
A. Pruners, gloves, and a sun hat.
B. A reusable cup and a plant-themed tote bag.
C. A field guide and a magnifying lens.
D. Twine, duct tape, and optimism.
3. Your ideal vacation activity:
A. Touring local gardens and judging mulch choices.
B. Sipping iced coffee while admiring landscaping.
C. Photographing moss like it’s a supermodel.
D. Helping strangers repot their plants because you can’t watch them struggle.
4. Your plant-parenting style:
A. Overprotective helicopter gardener.
B. Chill but attentive—plants thrive on vibes.
C. Scientific and meticulous.
D. Chaotic good.
Your Results
Mostly A — The Green-Thumb Globetrotter You travel with purpose: to find plants, admire plants, and maybe bring home a cutting (legally, of course). Grab your friend and roadtrip to Ironworks Café followed by selfies with the peonies and a bushel of berries at Basin Farmworks.
Mostly B — The Café-Side Cultivator You love plants, but you also love a good latte. Ironworks Café is basically your natural habitat. You are on your way to Ironworks Café!
Mostly C — The Botanical Explorer You’re part traveler, part plant detective. You can identify 47 species of shrubs but still lose your keys. Next stop: Basin Farmworks followed by lunch and latte at Ironworks Café.
Mostly D — The Garden MacGyver You can fix anything with twine, a stick, and sheer determination. You’re the friend everyone wants on a gardening road trip. Pack your backpack, compass and set your GPS to Basin Farmworks
