The only certainties in life, it has long been said, are death and taxes. We can add to that: Discussions around suet and birds. Detailed debates include most affordable / flavours birds love best / safest and cleanest / how to discourage starlings from gobbling the entire supply in one go. (See bottom of this … Read more
There are many beautiful things in the shop and today we’re showing you just some of the more festive finds you’ll see when you pop in for some holiday shopping! We have the best selection of greeting cards, many of which are made in Canada. There’s many cheerful mugs, tea towels, dishcloths and quirky napkins … Read more
Studies show that 68% of Canadians believe in the importance of shopping local. Which is a powerful economic force, since 66¢ of every dollar spent locally STAYS local. This superpower creates what is called the boomerang effect: Money spent locally means a reinvestment in the community through spending or donations. At Avant-Garden, here’s how we … Read more
You’re invited! On Thursday November 27th we are having our annual customer appreciation event! This day is to say THANK YOU to all our amazing customers over the last 23 years! This is always a really fun and festive day. We will have door prizes, refreshments, hot apple cider, and NO TAX on anything in … Read more
Solmate Socks are always super popular in the shop, especially at this time of year! Aside from fun patterns and bright colours, they’re mismatched with love. The company uses sustainably sourced, eco-friendly fibers. This means that textile waste that would have gone to landfill is upcycled into quality yarns without adding any additional dyes to … Read more
Are your goldfinches packing their migratory bags, have they already headed south or are they only changing into winter clothing? The answer could be any or all of the above. Adult male in pre-breeding plumage, April 2025/photo credit: David M A O’Neill from Facebook The American Goldfinch (AGOL) spends the entire breeding season (May … Read more
Many people come to the Avant-Garden Shop repeatedly for our great selection of greeting cards! We carry over fifty different lines of cards that cover many occasions. We recently did a count of all the lines that are Canadian and local artists, and that number is over thirty! These cards are beautiful pieces of art, … Read more
We have a new artist in the shop! Megan Archer (they/them) is an autistic nonbinary artist based in rural Nova Scotia. They founded Aflame Creations in 2011, and have been single-handedly crafting this unique and vibrant enameled copper jewelry ever since. Every piece is a small story in colour and texture. Each piece begins with … Read more
On today’s episode Brenda is talking about some of the specialized bird seed, blends, and the feeders you can use to attract certain birds. The American Goldfinch is one of our favourite year-round birds. To keep them happy we have a blend of their most loved seeds called NiChip. It includes Niger seed and chips … Read more
With birds migrating south to winter homes, and starlings and grackles pretty much gone, now is a good time to make seasonal changes to your bird feeding routine. Something that new bird watchers may not know is something veteran birders have known for years (and that squirrels don’t particularly like): White millet. A grass seed … Read more