Brenda Solmate socks are super comfy but also very Eco-Friendly. The socks are made from recycled cotton, bits are reused and made into cup cozies, door mats and even puppets! Over the years the company has been successful enough that they purchased a local mill that was going to close. This preserved many jobs in the … Read more
Fall migration has already begun for some bird species. As birds leave their northern breeding grounds to head south for the winter, the numbers of birds and species of birds that will pass through or arrive in this part of Ontario will increase quite a bit over the next month or two. If you haven’t … Read more
On this episode I highlight the fun and quirky work of J.P. Schoss and Brenda Tucker, owners of and creators at Dog Bite Steel. JP and Brenda met blowing glass at The Ontario College of art 30 yrs ago. Brenda was a professional porcelain artist and already had a successful business. JP integrated into that … Read more
At The Avant-Garden Shop we carry as much Canadian made product as possible. We know it’s important to support local! We also look for quality products that are going to last! On this episode I talk about quality concrete, plastic and UV protection. If you’re going to invest in a product, it’s worth investing a … Read more
Providing birds with water is an important part of any garden. Both for drinking and for bathing. Birds are especially attracted to moving water, so if you can add a dripper, spraying hose or water wiggler, you`ll attract birds more quickly to the bath. In addition moving water prevents mosquitoes from laying their larvae in … Read more
We carry a wide variety of hats. All made in Canada! UVA/UVB protection, fun, colourful and hey-you’ll look good! Mad Cap Hats, Tilley hats, Puffin gear, Lorainne Wake (BC), Sanibel (QC) and Flapjack hats for kids! Keep your head, ears and neck covered to protect from sunburn! Hat designs change regularly so we don’t normally … Read more
William boyd fraser (bill) is a sculptor from Bethany, Ontario. Bill has received Ontario arts council grants for his making and teaching. and has completed university education to the point of a master of arts in contemporary art history. We’ve had a few different items in the shop from Bill with these beautiful birds being … Read more
On this episode of The Garden Gate Brenda chat’s with Heather Nisbett from “Intricate greetings” about this beautiful and fascinating item now available in the shop! A couple years ago, Heather and her husband embarked on a holiday to Vietnam, excited to experience the culture, scenery, history and food, and they were not disappointed! They … Read more
On this episode of The Garden Gate I offer a few tips about hummingbirds and some tricks to help you attract them! A hummingbird flaps its wings up to 70 times per second; its heart rate can reach 1,260 beats per minute. Hummingbirds can extend their long, skinny tongues twice as far as the bill, which helps them reach nectar deep inside … Read more
How it all started! Co-founder Oliver Harwood was asked to teach an elementary school class how to carve soapstone. The first class was a hit and grew to 33 classes in the first year. In the last two years they have grown to teach more than 10,000 students in more than 300 schools. They have … Read more