The artwork by Crystal Driedger has been super popular in the shop since it arrived in 2022. Her pins are bright and colourful, her cards and magnets show her painting talent. From her website “My art celebrates the diversity and richness of the natural world, reminding us of the value and importance of the plants … Read more
Well, Avian Influenza is back in the news. Here, I try to provide some insight that might help answer the question… “Should I keep feeding birds or shut down my feeder?” The quick takeaway? It seems to be ok to keep your feeders running as long as you: aren’t on or near a farm with … Read more
Rain Chains are like jewelry for your house! They can add unique character to a home or garden. These are hung where your downspout usually goes so the rain trickles through them. This is neat to watch but it also makes a relaxing sound. They can be left in place year round as ice accumulation … Read more
Easter is coming up very soon! Have a look at some of the unique items you can find in the shop! These beautifully handmade products are a Fairtrade item from overseas and have been produced in a safe and democratic workplace. The producers are paid a fair wage and most importantly the workers have the … Read more
The right piece of art can really enhance the overall feeling of a space. Whether it’s for your home, garden or outdoor spaces you’ll be able to find it at the Avant-Garden shop! We support several Canadian artists: Rugged Coast is a group of Indigenous artists from British Columbia. Murals in Metal are a family-owned … Read more
Our year-round resident cavity nesters are getting busy with courtship and breeding behaviours, well ahead of the migrants, most of whom start returning from their southern breeding grounds in late-April. Behaviours to watch and listen for include calling/singing (nuthatches & chickadees), drumming (woodpeckers), ritualized displays (keep an eye open for dance-like movements between birds), and … Read more
Getting your bird houses up early, preferably in March, gives time for the houses to slightly weather and be ready for the birds’ return. If you get them up too late they may have already found a suitable nesting place. We carry lots of bird houses, some more decorative than practical. Some birds prefer a … Read more
A Spruce Budworm outbreak in northern areas meant a lot of food for Evening Grosbeaks and Purple Finches this year. That, coupled with a smaller mast (seed and nut) crop, means there are more individuals of these species than there is food to support them, so many will move father south than usual this winter … Read more
In a recent episode I went over the benefits of feeding our high-quality suet to your feathered friends, especially in colder months. In this episode I show you some of the suet feeders we carry in the shop. Some are wreaths that hold suet balls, cages with tail props, and squirrel proof suet feeders. There … Read more
Certain needs must be met to for any living creature to survive: food, water, and shelter from inclement weather and predators. These elements work together to form a critter’s habitat. No matter how ideal a habitat may appear to be in one or more of these areas, it will not be used by wildlife if … Read more