Our Top Picks for Father's Day
Tradition says dads love novel gadgets, innovation, and hands-on tools they can use. We searched the green earth for the coolest eco-friendly gizmos, toys, and power tools for the traditional dad.
We found out along the way that women aren't the only ones with beauty secrets. Turns out more men than ever crave a little pampering and will go out of their way to enjoy massages, facials, and manicures. You may want to add an organic pampering to Dad's wish list.
No one wants a favorite activity or tool to put their loved ones in harm's way or have a negative impact on the planet. So this Father's Day, give him the things he loves, but make them green.
All of his favorite things can be found in an eco-friendly alternative. Whether your Dad is an outdoorsman or a desk jockey, you'll find something here to make him smile - and brighten our planetary future.
1. Toys for the Big Boys
All boys love toys, even when they're 6-feet-tall. You'll find grown-up toys galore in our Fair Trade Shop. Check out the dinosaurs, dogs and frogs made from nuts, bolts and bike chains at One World Projects. And the luxurious, art boxes, chess sets, and silk ties at Global Exchange. For an artful flare in an everyday item, try the handpainted coffee mugs from Guatemala and the handmade leather or wooden bar coasters from Two Hands World Shop.
2. A Touch of Nature for the Outdoor Lover's Office
Not everyone is lucky enough to live in the country surrounded by oak trees and wild places to restore the spirit. If Dad works in the city or in an apartment building, a touch of nature can soothe him on the most stressed out day.
But take care: that pretty potted plant at the florist shop is most likely a pesticide plume. No one wants Dad unknowingly inhaling chemicals that are known carcinogens and neurotoxins. Instead, give Dad a gorgeous, organic potted plant from your local organic gardener or health food store.
If your town doesn't have sources of organic plants, order an organic wine grape or olive tree Bonsai plant from Organic Bouquet. Organic Bouquet also carries a pleasing selection of Father's Day gifts, including organic bouquets, organic cookie tins with peace and earth symbols, fruit and nut baskets, wines, cheeses, and more.
3. Free Energy for the "Power Hungry" Male
Hardly any guy can resist the allure of a new electronic gadget, gauge or gizmo, and Dad will do backflips when you tell him they're free to operate.
Father's Day is a great opportunity to start your family on the solar path. The budget conscious Dad will get a kick out of running the patio lights, backyard radio, outdoor oven, cell phone and laptop charger, battery charger, and more, from the power of the sun, without spending a dime!
What Dad doesn't love a backyard Barbeque? With a solar oven, you can turn any hot summer day into energy independence day, using the heat of the sun to cook instead of air-polluting charcoal and the toxic lighters we use to ignite it.
Another cool gizmo for the power hungry male is a killowatt-hour meter. Plugged into an outlet and appliance, the meter tells you exactly how much power your appliances use and how fast. If any of those appliances can be run from batteries, pick up a solar battery charger and run them for free, as long as you like.
You can find these cool solar gizmos and more at a solar supply store in your town or online. Check out the solar offerings at: www.gaiam.com
4. Make Your Handyman Happy and Green
The Green Building movement has swept the country, inspiring many a homeowner to seek out recycled materials, low toxin paints and glues, and energy conservation technologies.
Help your favorite handyman go green by locating a green building supply store in your town or online. You can preserve his health and the entire family's with nontoxic finishes, cabinetry supplies made from natural materials without toxic glues, flooring made from natural and recycled materials, and more. For Low VOC paints (lower volatile organic compounds, or chemicals, to off-gas into your home), try the Dunn-Edwards store in your town.
No, w e're not suggesting you give your man a stack of flooring for Father's Day! Try a gift certificate instead.
5. Natural Objects from Earth and Outer Space
A meteorite may be as green as it gets, since it's made by nature - and in outer space! Appeal to any man's inner science geek or adventure hound with a real meteorite from outer space or a responsibly harvested natural object from Earth.
You can also find meteorite impact glass called impacticites, meteorite jewelry, and moon rock here: www.aerolitemeteorites.com .
On the same theme: If you go with a geode, gem, or other natural object, consider the mining practices of the company you choose. Some pay no heed to the damage they do; others take great care to minimize their impact and market only objects that aren't rightfully part of the public trust. Visit www.brilliantearth.com for jewelry made from responsibly mined gems. A used natural object is better, because it causes no new damage to own it.
6. Scents and Non-Scents that Make Sense
A nice bottle of after shave or cologne is a classic Father's Day gift. And everyone likes to smell good - or at least unoffensive - to the folks nearby. But many people suffer headaches, fatigue, depression, runny eyes and nose, sore throats, and worse, after being exposed to the chemical perfumes in common shampoos, after shave, and colognes.
Spare Dad -- and his coworkers -- the unwanted side effects by going green.
Green body care products are made from organic, natural ingredients extracted directly from plants and other gifts of the earth. Many are completely unscented, minimizing the menagerie of competing aromas assaulting our senses daily. For those who prefer to leave an impression, others are gently scented with natural flower, herb, and spice extracts -- including the musk so many men adore.
Explore the world of aromatherapy and essential oils at Aromaland, Sweet Organics and Naturals, and the other vendors in our Green Store. Open up a whole new world of chemical-free scent by introducing Dad to organic shave cream, shampoos, aftershave, and colognes.
7. Soothe His Stress With an Organic Spa Treatment
Many cities are blessed to have body care professionals who use only natural, organic products for everything from massages, to manicures, to facials. And more men are getting in on the pampering act. Visit www.coopamerica.org, where you'll find a searchable database of green businesses across the United States. If you're lucky, your search will deliver at least one all natural spa in your town.
If not, why not give Dad a lavish spa treatment at home?
Fill the tub with hot water and body-soothing bath salts from Aromaland or Sweet Organics and Naturals . Place colorful, organic, floating candles atop the water and surround the tub with more candles. Play his favorite, relaxing music; set out his favorite wine or treats; and pile a stack of organic, cotton towels next to an organic terry robe from Gaiam.
He'll enjoy some rare private time, surrounded by pure, natural scents, sounds and suds. After the bath, treat him to a backrub with organic massage oils. Your man will feel like a King!
8. Serve the Overworked Dad Organic Breakfast in Bed
Treat Dad to the kind of early morning pampering normally reserved for Moms - breakfast in bed! And spare him the chemical pesticides, growth hormones, and other unwanted ingredients by going organic. Most every medium-to-large town is home to a major healthfood grocer, and the smaller ones usually host farmer's markets, both of which carry organic groceries.
Buying locally grown food is best for the environment and economy, because a lot of environmental damage is done in the transport of food across country. Consider the amount of gasoline used by the trucking industry to move produce quickly from one side of the country to the other; and the additional pesticides required to keep insects off that produce in transit.
If there are no organic markets in your town, you can order some of the delectable elements of a scrumptious organic breakfast from the companies here at Idealist Gifts. Try White Peony tea known for its sweet woody flavor; wild salmon, rich in Omega -3 and fatty acids; an array of delicate wild organic blueberries (shipped overnight from Vital Choice); and divine, organic, fair trade cookies.
9. Recycled, Organic and Art Duds for Hip Dudes
If a great tie or suit is what you're after, don't overlook the consignment or secondhand store. Buying gently used clothing reduces your "carbon footprint" - the amount of energy and other resources you personally use. Whenever you choose to reuse a product instead of buying it new, you're helping to reduce the pollutants from production and transportation of new products.
He doesn't have to look like Mr. Green Jeans or the forest ranger to dress green. Lots of second hand clothing stores cater to young hipsters and urban sophisticates, and many are highly selective about their merchandise. You can find everything from zany, artful ties, to sturdy leather gear, to three-piece suits in top name brands.
If the Dad in your life doesn't give a flip about fashion, go the next step and choose a nonprofit thrift store like Goodwill. That way, your purchase is not only green, but it's socially responsible as well, helping to create jobs for the unemployed and handicapped.
If your father is a fashion hound and wouldn't be caught dead in reused clothing, he can still dress green. How many of us consider the toxic chemicals used in the dyes, finishes and fibers of common fabrics? Dress organic with stores like Gaiam. And for the Dad with exquisite taste, check out the handmade silk ties from Laos at Global Exchange.
10. Greener Greens for the Gardening Guru
If your Dad likes to dig his digits in the dirt and bring the backyard to life, save him - and your yard - from petrochemical poisons. Many people unknowingly battle health impacts from hazardous yard chemicals. Even at recommended amounts and with safety gear, these chemicals simply don't belong in the human body. Consider giving Dad an organic gardening starter gift basket, book, or class.
It's easy to become an organic gardener these days. Nearly every town has an organic gardening association or permaculture guild offering workshops and other resources to make it easy.
Online, Gaiam has everything you need and then some, with their hemp garden gloves, recycled materials birdhouse, biodegradable lawn bags, rainwater collection barrell, human powered rotary push mower, recycled glass wasp catcher, and natural cedarwood pest control.
