Opening August 1st!

Just one of several displays of unique birdhouses!

We will open our doors on Friday, August 1st!  Our building actually had two storefronts, and we'll be opening first in the smaller of the two.  Friday is also Maxwell Street Day in Two Rivers, so be sure to stop in and visit us when you head downtown for sidewalk sales and of course the famous ping pong ball drop!

A pallet of Prince seed right after delivery.  Our shelves are stocked with many varieties of bird seed blends, in packages large and small to suit your needs!  We even have a couple varieties that can be purchased by the pound!

 What do we have to share with you?  Click here for our flier.  In short, if you need it in order to enjoy and take care of the birds or squirrels in your backyard, we probably have it, and if we don't have something you're looking for, we can probably order it!  Working with Gold Crest Distributing from Mexico Missouri, we have access to thousands of products from many different companies, along with their knowledge and fast customer service!  Most of our seed comes from Prince, in Marshfield, Wisconsin.  We also have some of our own handcrafted items in the store, many of which are made from reclaimed wood.

Love them or hate them, we have items for the squirrels too, including feeders just for
 them, and deterrents to help keep them away from your bird feeders!

In addition to the bird supplies, we have some fun things for YOU to enjoy as well:  freshly roasted coffee (a unique blend made just for us), local honey, and bird seed brittle from Wildflour Bakery in Milwaukee.

What about the other storefront?  Well, renovations and upgrades continue throughout the rest of the building, including the apartments upstairs.  Gallons of paint have been applied, and new doors and windows have been ordered, along with new flooring for the other storefront and the apartments.  The heating system also requires an upgrade, and a part of the building needs some roof repair.  Once the second storefront is complete, we'll be expanding our business to use both sides.  Visit us often so you can follow the ongoing progress as we grow our business!  We can't wait to see you!

OPENING SOON!

SeedsNBeans officially has a permanent location!  After years of planning and dreaming, looking at several buildings, and many ups and downs, we finally signed the papers yesterday to purchase a building with a better location and more potential than the others we had previously considered!

You've enjoyed our handcrafted feeders and birdhouses for several years now, but in just a few short weeks, we'll expand our offerings to include premium wild birdseed blends from a Wisconsin company, as well as high quality commercially made feeders and houses.  Did you enjoy our freshly roasted coffee at the Dash at the Dunes or Bird Breakfast events at Woodland Dunes this spring?  We'll have coffee beans available as well!  Need a little snack?  We'll also be offering packaged brittle snacks from Wild Flour Bakery in Milwaukee, whose Birdseed Brittle Bars were named best new product at the Bird Expo last fall!  Yum!

What's next?  Let the renovations and updates begin!  Flooring, lighting, plumbing, painting, windows & doors, oh my!  There will be a whirlwind of activity in the store and upstairs apartments over the next few weeks.  Carpets must be pulled up.  New laminate flooring will be installed.  The lighting will be upgraded to more efficient fixtures.  New water heaters need to be installed, and a fresh coat of paint must be applied in the store and apartments!  There are many doors and windows that must be replaced for a fresh new look!

Stocking the store will be the next task.  Lee had the privilege of attending a Bird Expo at Gold Crest Distributing in Mexico, Missouri last fall.  While there, he toured their warehouse and networked with others involved in the birding industry from all over the country.  Later this month, we'll all travel to Gold Crest and go through the warehouse together and select exactly what commercially made feeders, bird houses, and supplies we'd like to offer in the SeedsNBeans store.

Can't wait?  You can still find us at the Manitowoc Market on Saturdays and Two Rivers Market on Wednesday afternoons.  We'll keep you updated on our progress and projected opening date!

Open for Summer Markets--and Looking to the Future

SeedsNBeans has once again moved outdoors for the summer markets, as most of you have already discovered.  Our apologies that the blog has fallen behind, things have just been so busy!

You will find us at the Manitowoc Farmer's Market most Saturdays and some Tuesday afternoons.  You'll find us at the market in Two Rivers some Wednesday afternoons and during some special events.  Like us on facebook, as we'll be working hard to let you know just where we'll be with facebook updates.  We are able to accept credit cards at both market locations now for your shopping convenience.

We still have our porch swing tray feeders available, as well as other feeder styles for birds and squirrels.  Bat houses and bird houses in many colors and designs are on display at our stand every week.  Special orders have become a big part of our business, as we've now made wood duck houses, robin/mourning dove nesting platforms, and even custom signs! 

What about the future?  We are currently in the planning stages of opening a permanent store!  We're so excited!  We have a building in mind and are working to get all the details to come together.  We've met with an electrician, heating and cooling specialist, other business owners, and have made many wonderful friends along the way.  Many of you have asked us about a store during your chats with us at the market, and we thank you for your encouragement and support.  Now, we ask for your prayers as we work through this massive undertaking!  Lee will be attending a conference this fall, hosted by a distributor we hope to work with, to learn more about the beautiful bird business!

Stay tuned....

Indoors for the Winter

SeedsNBeans has moved indoors, to the Main Street Market, for the winter.  You'll find our collection of birdhouses, bird feeders, squirrel feeders, hand-turned canes, planters, and other custom work at the market from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.  New to our offerings this winter are birdhouse kits.  Our kits include pre-cut wood, all hardware, and assembly instructions.  Birdhouse kits are a fun way to spend some quality time with the children in your life. 

SeedsNBeans on youtube!

SeedsNBeans has had a busy summer, expanding to the Manitowoc Farmers Market as well as continuing in the Two Rivers Market. You'll find us at both markets most Saturdays, at Manitowoc Tuesday afternoons, and at Two Rivers Wednesday afternoons. A satisfied bat house customer recently visited the Manitowoc Farmers Market with his camera to film the market for youtube. You'll find the SeedsNBeans display right at the beginning of the video. Keep watching to see some of the quality offerings at the Manitowoc Farmers Market! Shop Local!

Bring on the Hummers!

I recently came across a tip aimed at attracting hummingbirds to your feeders: Purchase a hanging basket in full bloom right now. Choose a red flower, specifically a type that attracts hummingbirds. Petunias and fuschias are both good choices. I chose petunias because they can take more sun, though they will require a great deal of water to keep the flowers going. Put out your hanging planter as soon as possible to lure in hummers as they search for nesting sites. Place hummingbird feeders nearby. I have seen hummers in our yard when certain plants/shrubs are flowering, but have not had great luck keeping them around. I currently have a basket of red petunias hanging outside in an effort to increase our hummer traffic. It already seems to have attracted more butterflies right up by the house! As with any feeder, be sure to clean your hummingbird feeders regularly. Keep in mind that sugar water will not last as long in direct sunlight. I've also had issues with keeping the stoppers/feeding tubes in the bottles when I put feeders in the direct sun, so I'm going to place mine near the petunia basket, but out of the direct sunlight. Stay tuned for photos later this week!

Spring is Here!

Spring is here and SeedsNBeans is ready! We've been busy building a variety of unique bird houses, bird feeders, including our unique porch swing feeder, bat houses, and even butterfly houses for your garden! Many birds are out looking for nesting sites already, and will choose locations with food and water sources nearby. If you want to lure them to your yard for summer viewing, it is important to get started now! SeedsNBeans has feeders and birdhouses to make your feathered friends happy this spring. Come see us at the Manitowoc Main Street Market on Saturday mornings, or check out our Etsy listings here.

Christmas Shopping at Main Street Market

Birdhouses are a perfect Christmas gift for the birdwatcher on your Christmas list. Brightly colored and functional, our birdhouses will add color to your yard over the winter, provide a roosting space for the birds during the winter months, and will invite birds to nest in your yard in the spring. SeedsNBeans has moved our winter sales to the Manitowoc Main Street Market, located on 8th Street in Manitowoc. The market is open on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm through December 17th. It will be closed December 24th and 31st, but will reopen on January 7th. Stop by to see our latest work and pick up a gift or two. Give us a call or send an email to order a pound of our holiday blend coffee. SeedsNBeans coffee is an excellent holiday gift for any coffee drinker on your list. Or, pick some up to serve to your holiday guests with your favorite Christmas cookies!

New Birdhouses!

They're unique and gorgeous! They could be inhabited by finches, nuthatches, wrens, or other small birds. They would make excellent gifts for any bird lover.

They are made from reclaimed cedar, and decorated with a reclaimed hinge and drawer pull (both purchased from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore). Each one is unique thanks to natural variations in the cedar pieces used (some have curvy edges on the roof), and also thanks to a unique nature scene decorating the front of each house. The nature scene (clipped from a magazine) is glued down and covered with several layers of a clear finish to protect it from the weather. It is recommended that an additional layer of clear finish be brushed or sprayed on each year to prolong the beauty of the birdhouse.

How can you purchase one of these beauties? Shop on Etsy, stop by the market to see us on Saturday mornings, or stop by the house! Special orders are welcome!

Why Would I Want to Encourage Bats to Live in MY Yard?

We've been surprised at the interest in and popularity of bat houses at the market this summer. We started out with a couple, sold out, and have since made more, in several sizes and designs. We've found that when it comes to bat houses, there are two reactions: "Bat houses! Cool, I've been wanting to put one of those up!" Or, "Bat houses? YUCK! Who wants bats around, anyway?"

I have to admit, I'm not terribly fond of bats. They're just kind of creepy. However, they are very beneficial creatures to have around. According to Bat Conservation International, they are important pest controllers, pollinators, seed dispersers. Believe it or not, a single brown bat can eat as many as 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour! Imagine how many of the little pests a whole colony of bats could take care of in an evening!

A lot of people are concerned about the risk of disease from exposure to bats, rabies in particular. However, since rabies can only be spread by direct contact with an infected animal (generally from bites), the risk is very minimal. Children should be taught never to handle any wild animal.

For more information on bats, bat conservation, and installing a bat house, visit Bat Conservation International. They also have guidelines for safe and humane bat exclusion. Help the bats! Put up a bat house on your property today! Our bat houses are built according to guidelines provided by Bat Conservation International.

To market, to market . . . with coffee!

New bat houses and a limited supply of two special flavors of coffee are on display at the market today! South American blend is a blend of coffee from Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala. Strawberry Creme Delight is a special flavor that smells heavenly and would taste great with strawberry pancakes or strawberry shortcake. Get yours before it's gone! Only $12 per pound of delicious freshly-roasted beans!

Visit us at the Market!

Today was the first day for SeedsNBeans at the Two Rivers Farmers Market!
Birdhouses, birdfeeders, squirrel feeders, bat houses, planters, chairs, and tables, oh my!

We hope to have our coffee available at the market in the next week or two. Stop by and see us on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, and on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

Bird Houses and Feeders on Display!

Lee dropped off some houses and feeders at a store called "For the Birds" in De Pere today. Many of the items in the slideshow above are now for sale at the store. It's a fun little shop full of supplies for wild birds, including one of a kind items you won't find at the popular chain stores. It is owned by a wonderful woman who is very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. If you're in the area, check it out! You won't be disappointed.

Our First Etsy Sale!

We are pleased to announce that we have made our first Etsy sale! One of our swing feeders sold this morning and will be on its way to Rhode Island tomorrow. Check out our listings for yourself! You could be our next customer! Spring is here, and the birds and squirrels are actively enjoying the feeders in our backyard. Wouldn't you love to attract more birds to your backyard?

Squirrel Peanut Feeder

"If you can't beat 'em . . . Feed 'em!"
Order this cedar squirrel feeder and enjoy the squirrels instead of fighting to keep them out of your bird feeders. Fill the glass jar with peanuts, and watch squirrels climb in to enjoy their snack. Made from 1 inch cedar, this feeder will provide you with years of entertainment. $35 retail.

New Bird Houses For Sale

We now have new birdhouses available. They are all pictured in the slideshow above this post. The one featured in this post could be used by bluebirds or nuthatches. It has a 1 1/2" hole, and has an easy-open feature for end of the summer cleaning. The feeders are made almost entirely of reclaimed wood, either from old barn board, or cedar scraps leftover from building fences and other items. All except the woodpecker feeder have a chain at the top for hanging in a tree. The woodpecker feeder should be mounted to a post or tree. Please see ordering instructions at the top of the page, along with information on some freshly roasted coffee that you can enjoy while watching your feathered friends. Contact us at SeedsNBeans@live.com with any questions.

Why SeedsNBeans?

So, why would someone choose such an odd combination of products? Coffee, bird feeders, bird seed? It all started one crazy afternoon after visiting a quirky little store that specializes in wild bird feeders and bird seed. The conversation went something like this:

"It's too bad we don't have a store like that near us."

"Why don't we start one?"

"Oh, no. It would have to have a cafe area where people could sit, and sip coffee and watch the birds . . . . . and we could call it SeedsNBeans!"

And SeedsNBeans was born. Of course, the physical shop is a long term goal, sort of a dream, if you will. The online store is just the beginning!

The Perfect Gift

The perfect gift for that Wisconsin Badgers fan! (Or fans of any other teams sporting red and white as their team colors!) They retail for $20 each. We can paint these in any color combination you desire! Progress on our online store is chugging along. Our swing feeders are now available in a lawn and garden center in Mishicot, and we have a graphics designer working on a logo for us. Any questions? Email us at SeedsNBeans@live.com.

Porch Swing Screen Feeder

Local sales of our birdfeeders is going well. We have them in a shop in DePere, a barbershop in Two Rivers, and have also sold a few just by word of mouth. It's tough to keep up with the demand! Pictured above is one of our feeders. It's a miniature porch swing modified to create a unique screen feeder. They would work well for sunflower seeds. The photo above is stained. We have also painted them green and gold (Go Pack!) and red and white (Go Badgers!). They can also be left a natural light wood color with a polyurethane sealant to protect the wood. They retail for $20.

Bird Seed and Coffee Beans

Coming soon:

Online store for bird seed, feeders, & supplies, along with delicious coffee beans in an assortment of flavors. Subscribe to this blog for updates. We have lined up a coffee supplier, and are currently in the process of getting the appropriate business licenses and taking care of the necessary legal details. We're also working on building some great feeders!