Garden Gate: Episode 186 – Nature gifts & activities for kids (Mar 13 2020)
Bored yet? We have some ideas to keep the kids busy.
Avant-Garden Blog
Garden Tips: Begone, Vile Interlopers! (on Grackles & Starlings)
Common Grackles and European Starlings are unpopular with many, because they raid bird feeders and leave nothing for other species. I’m often asked how to solve this problem. If you adjust the seed you offer and the types of feeders you use, you can successfully exclude these unwanted species and attract the ones you want. … Read more
Garden Tips: Marching Into Spring
The days are getting longer, and the Northern Cardinals and American Robins are singing up a storm! Things start getting busier in March in the bird world as our year-round-resident cavity-nesting species start courtship and breeding behaviours. Male songbirds use song to define and defend their territories, as well as to attract females. Woodpeckers use … Read more
Garden Gate: Episode 185 – By Hand show new products (Feb 28 2020)
In addition to visiting the Toronto Gift Fair every year we also attend the By Hand show. This show is in Brampton and hosts ONLY Canadian artists. It’s so amazing to see all the talent and creative genius of these artists. We have added cards by Lisa Martini-Dunk a Peterborough artist, more beer glasses from … Read more
Garden Gate: Episode 184 – Toronto Gift Fair and new products for the spring (Feb. 14, 2020)
Every year we visit the Toronto Gift Fair along with 1000’s of other retailers looking for new and exciting things for the shop! We are always on the look out for Canadian made and this is just one of the places where we’re able to find a few things, although the majority of items at … Read more
Garden Gate: Episode 183 – Best places to bird in Peterborough with Michael Burrell (Jan. 31, 2020)
On our last episode of the Garden Gate we met Michael Burrell and he told us about the book he and is brother recently had published. On this episode we delve a little deeper into places locally that are his favourite birding hot spots. Including the Lakefield lagoon!
Garden Gate: Episode 182-Best places to bird in Ontario (Michael Burrell) Jan. 17, 2020
It’s no secret: Ontario’s rich natural landscape and diverse wildlife provides some of the most exceptional birdwatching Canada has to offer, attracting thousands of bird-lovers each year. In this user-friendly guidebook, local experts Mike and Ken Burrell show us why. Outlining thirty of their personal favorite spots at which to enjoy the province’s birding, … Read more
Making a life is more than just making a living
I left a job with Peterborough GreenUP almost 20 years ago to help start the Avant-Garden Shop with my then business partners. My primary focus (and worry) at that time was, of course, on whether or not I could actually make this new venture work. That fact that the store is now in its 18th … Read more
Garden Gate: Episode 180 – Artist Christine McGrath (Dec 20 2019)
https://youtu.be/1Erkdispsyo Bibelot Design Studio was started in 1994 by Christine McGrath and her husband Reid Maltby. They began by designing jewelry, but since have evolved into creating a line of fresh, modern home accents using glass, textiles and wood veneer. Each piece is handcrafted from start to finish with great attention to detail. There are … Read more
Garden Gate: Episode 179 – Ideas for Christmas (Dec 6 2019)
On this episode I share a few of our most popular Christmas gift ideas. Michel Design is a company from the US and they have designers working hard to come up with beautiful patterns and fragrances for their line of soaps, napkins, placemats, aprons and so much more. Always a customer favourite! You can find … Read more