The Avant-Garden Shop: Your Garden & Bird Store

Year: 2013

Garden Gate: Episode 10 – Bird, bat, butterfly and bee houses

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CHEX TV air date: Fri. Apr. 19th, 2013

Click here to watch this episode of?The Garden Gate.

Gary Cowie from Animal House Creationsbluebirdphoto was our guest on this episode of The Garden Gate.? Gary constructs wonderful homes for many of our natural friends. He has thoroughly researched what specifications are needed for proper homes.

The size of the port opening, floor size, etc. will all vary depending on which bird you are trying to attract. His homes have drainage, ventilation, predator guards and more.

We not only discussed bird houses, but butterfly houses and homes for the super pollinator Mason bees!? Very informative.

These houses are all available at The Avant-Garden Shop.

 

Garden Gate: Episode 9 – The Peterborough Garden Show

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OL_Ptbo Garden Show Logo smallCHEX TV air date: Fri. Apr. 5th, 2013

Click here to watch this episode of?The Garden Gate.

Rachel Burrows, chair of the Peterborough Garden Show was our guest. We discussed the garden show which is held the second weekend in April each year at the Evinrude Centre in Peterborough. Rachel gave us information on this very successful gardening show which began in 2000.

 

Garden Gate: Episode 8 – Buy Local Campaign

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buylocalCHEX TV air date: Fri. Mar. 22nd 2013

Click here to watch this episode of ?The Garden Gate.

Vince Bierworth from the KRUZ and WOLF radio stations is spearheading a Buy Local Campaign in the Peterborough area.? As my guest this week he told about the campaign and why he feels it’s important to support local businesses.

At The Avant-Garden Shop the majority of our gifts and outdoor decor are Canadian made. Vince and I discussed the benefits of this and how successful local businesses in turn support local charities and other businesses.

 

Garden Gate: Episode 7 – Heritage Tomatoes

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tomatoesCHEX TV air date: Fri. 8th, 2013

Click here to watch this episode of?The Garden Gate.

Jillian Bishop (aka The Tomato Lady) from The Urban Tomato was my guest this week. We talked about Heritage Tomatoes and the wonderful and flavourful varieties now available.

Heritage tomatoes are the old “antique” varieties that you just can’t find in the grocery stores.? Because other tomatoes are grown for their durability during shipping?they are?not as flavourful.? Heritage tomatoes come in purple, orange, yellow, white, striped etc.? Growing a wide variety is fun when you can present a plate full of these colourful beauties to your dinner guests!

I have grown some in the past and they are absolutely delicious. If you happen to grow some of the cherry tomatoes you may find they never make it to the kitchen. They are so delicious right from the vine. I have a terrific sesame salsa recipe that is easy to make with sweet cherry tomatoes. The sweet and sesame work very well together.

Keep in mind that some of these tomatoes are “indeterminate” which means they are not short and bushy but can get quite long. Staking is necessary.

Each year Jill hosts a Seedy Sunday, seed exchange. ?Crowds flock to get a jump on spring. ?Visit her blog for details.

 

Garden Gate: Episode 6 – Identifying birds

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Suet FeederCHEX TV air date: Fri. Feb 22nd, 2013

Click here to watch this episode of?The Garden Gate.

Drew Monkman joins Brenda Ibey, owner of The Avant Garden Shop, to discuss how to identify your favourite birds during nature walks and birdwatching outings.It was a cold day in January but the birds were out singing and we were also entertained by crows chasing a hawk!

Drew Monkman is a retired teacher, naturalist and writer whose popular nature column ?Our changing seasons? appears weekly in the Peterborough Examiner. He participates in wildlife-monitoring programs, including the Breeding Bird Survey and the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas and is author of Nature?s Year in the Kawartha?s. He lives in Peterborough.

His book is available at The Avant-Garden Shop.

 

Garden Gate: Episode 5 – Attracting birds to your back yard with Drew Monkman

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Upside down suet feeder

CHEX TV air date: Fri. Feb 8th, 2013

Click here to watch this episode of?The Garden Gate.

Brenda is joined by special guest, Drew Monkman to talk about ways to attract birds to your backyard. It was a cold day in January but we saw a lovely little woodpecker enjoying some suet and peanuts and also learned a few things!

Drew Monkman is a retired teacher, naturalist and writer whose popular nature column “Our changing seasons” appears weekly in the Peterborough Examiner. He participates in wildlife-monitoring programs, including the Breeding Bird Survey and the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas and is author of Nature’s Year in the Kawartha’s. He lives in Peterborough.

 

Come in to Win a Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder

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comeintowinBrome, the manufacturers of the BEST squirrel proof feeder, is having a contest. Come into the store for a secret code. Enter online often for your chance to win one of 150 Squirrel Buster bird feeders.

We carry 5 different styles of Squirrel Busters. The Plus, peanut, finch, classic and mini. Visit our website to see all 5!

The 5 o’clock show, November 11th, 2012, A visit to The Avant-Garden Shop

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5 o'clock showTheresa Kazuba from CHEX TV visited The Avant-Garden Shop in late 2012 to learn more about backyard bird feeding and bird watching.? Special guest Drew Monkman also joined us for a segment of the program.

Well worth watching if you’d like to learn more about choosing the right bird food, quality bird feeders and even a little about the local Blue Bird population.

This video is a little longer than the others but can be seen here.

Garden Gate: Episode 4 – Choosing feeders for specific birds

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Droll Yankees Finch Feeder

CHEX TV air date: Fri. Jan. 25th, 2013

Click here?to watch this episode of The Garden Gate.

This episode of The Garden Gate discussed how to attract specific birds by choosing the right feeder and also the most attractive seed to each bird.

Cardinals, woodpeckers, finches and many others each have a favourite food and a favourite style of feeder.

Garden Gate: Episode 3 – Choosing quality bird food

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Seasons Woodland Bird food CHEX TV air date: Fri. Jan. 11th, 2013 Click here to watch this episode of?The Garden Gate. Episode 3 of The Garden Gate discussed the difference between big box store bird food and Mill Creek bird food, which we carry. Birds don’t like stale food any more than you do. Tune in to learn the difference! ?

The Avant-Garden Shop