The Green Parent

Father’s Day is right around the corner (Jun 15th). Need a gift that’s as perfect for dad as it is for the planet? Try out these eco-cool ideas to show dad how much you care.

No Impact Gifts

• Save paper, stamps, and the planet, by sending dad a Father’s Day Ecard
• Give him a Charity Choice Gift Card that he can redeem to support one of his favorite nationally recognized charities.
• Tickets anyone? Give dad tickets to his favorite concert, movie, museum, or art show.
• Whip up a batch of dad’s favorite treats. Try these recipes for Grilled Antipasto, Banana and Pecan Pancakes, Crispy Rice Treats, or Beef Jerky.
• Plant a tree, flower, or garden together.
• Make dad a computer slideshow of his favorite photos and homemade artwork.
• Here’s an idea from Green Halloween‘s Corey Colwell-Lipson: make dad a treasure hunt or hike of pre-hidden notes that recount memories or share “dad-gratitudes” to let dad know how special he is.

Eco-Savvy Gifts

Book-Worm Dad:Give dad a great green read to entertain and inform him this Father’s Day. The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth Friendly Living is a great choice for dads who want to raise kids without trashing the planet. It includes interviews with his favorite environmentalists as well as how-to instructions for building an eco-friendly birdhouse or getting the best fuel economy out of his car. Or try American Earth, a fascinating anthology of environmental writing edited by eco-hero Bill McKibben (he’s also interviewed in The Green Parent.) American Earth includes a foreword by Al Gore and the insightful writings of inspirational environmentalists such as Henry David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, John Muir, Rachel Carson, and Michael Pollan.

High-Tech Dad: For dads who love their gadgets, try the Bamboo Phone/PDA Charger that lets him organize and charge all of his personal electronics (like cell phones, PDAs, Mp3s, and digital cameras) in one location. It’s made from eco-savvy bamboo and with all of his chargers plugged in to one power strip, he’ll be able to eliminate “phantom” energy use with the click of a button. Or give dad a CEIVA Digital Photo Frame and he’ll have easy access to all of his favorite shots without the eco-impact of film, photo printing, and albums.

Young At Heart Dad: What dad wouldn’t love his own race car or viking ship? Give him the eco-friendly version with a solar-powered Race Car or Valient Viking Ship that you two can put together. And don’t forget to challenge dad to a backyard race!

Outdoorsy Dad: Whether your dad loves to hike, paddle, or ski, he’ll love the a Solar Backpack that holds all of his essentials while using sunlight to charge his iPod, cell phone, or PDA. Or try
a Watergeeks filtered sports bottle made from BPA free plastic that filters tap water for dads on the go.

Sensitive Skin Dad: Help dad take care of his skin with products that are as gentle on his face as they are on the planet. Try vedaDUDE’s line of natural skin care products for men. Each product is made from organic ingredients like organic aloe leaf juice, organic green tea, and organic bilberry extract.