Over the past 22 years The Avant-Garden Shop has been building up a wide collection of Canadian Made items. As much as possible, we will support local and Canadian artists because this supports our local economy and community. When you shop locally and purchase Canadian made items, we are then able to donate to the … Read more
Suet, seed cakes and cylinders are a great feeding option for the colder months. Birds really love the quick energy boost they get from suet, peanuts and sunflower seeds! There are six different kinds of our premium suet from Mill Creek. They have only the best ingredients that birds love, including mealworms and fruit! Suet … Read more
When the birds are happy, we’re happy! To keep them happy and healthy a good quality seed can make a big difference. The seed at the Avant-Garden shop is fresh weekly from Mill Creek Seed Co. This is a family business specializing in wild bird food. Every blend has been specially formulated using only the … Read more
The Squirrel Buster Nut Feeder is mainly meant for hulled peanuts, but you can use a variety of other nuts, mealworms, or even dried fruit. The newest addition to this feeder is a second smaller mesh that you can interchange. This now allows you to use sunflower seeds! The smaller mesh is also great to … Read more
It might seem like an odd time of year to be talking about birdhouses, but it’s actually a great time to put one up! The birds can get used to a new house now before nesting starts again in the spring. Birds might also use them to roost and for shelter throughout the colder months, … Read more
A Great Time to Fall for Birds Fall migration season is a great time for watching for new and unusual birds as they leave the north, continuing to follow the food in warmer climates. In some cases, their destination is right here in central Ontario, like northern juncos, for instance, whose arrival is the … Read more
Bird Friendly Coffee If you’re wondering what coffee would taste like if it were Smithsonian approved, we can help you find out. We carry 340g bags of beans and ground coffee from Birds and Beans, all of which bear the gold seal stamp of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, the highest environmental … Read more
Fathers Day is this Sunday, June 16th. We’ve got many unique items for Dad in the shop including locally made bat houses! Bats consume a tremendous number of mosquitoes nightly and are a great option for pest control. Ask us for more fun facts about bats in the store, or grab a book on bats … Read more
Recently we brought in some neat toys and tools for the kids. Many of these items can help kids get interested in the outdoors! Help them build and paint their own birdhouse or feeder, or get them helping in the garden with their own set of gloves and tools! There are many nature themed items, … Read more
With spring comes the migration of the Baltimore orioles! These brightly coloured birds visit our area during their breeding season. They don’t stay very long, usually raising one brood then taking off some time in August. However short and sweet, they’re a treat to see and hear in our backyards. We have many different feeders … Read more