Green Minded Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Have you thought about making this Father’s Day different than all the others? One way to do this is with some practical gifts that lean towards the eco-friendly side of life. Some are for the moment and others useful items dads can utilize in the days, weeks and years to come.

Either way green gifts can inspire him to lead a healthier lifestyle which in its essence is what going Green is all about.

That being the case here are a few suggestions for green minded Father’s Day gifts that all dads everywhere would love.

1.      Online subscriptions: Although most of us get our information from the internet a lot of dads still buy newspapers and magazines routinely because online sites charge for certain articles which are only found in print. This ends up producing a lot of extra waste and clutter around the house. When that’s the case a great Father’s Day gift is full online subscriptions to some of dad’s favorite news, arts, or entertainment hubs. To put the icing on the cake toss in a portable device that’s light yet has a wide enough screen so he can comfortably read his favorite columns from anywhere.

2.      Organic Fair Trade Coffee: A digitized version of the morning newspaper wouldn’t be complete without a good cup of coffee. However, in order to make sure those beans are chemical free and that worker’s rights in the lands where coffee is grown are upheld make sure it has both Organic and Fair Trade certifications.

3.      A Bicycle: A bicycle is the perfect green gift for every dad because unlike a car it doesn’t create pollution. Even if it’s just riding down the street to do a few local errands as opposed to going on an entire trek it allows him to get a little fresh air and exercise during the day.

4.      Healthy pots & pans: Non-stick pans have always been convenient to cook with because they clean easily but depending on the type of material they are made from they may secrete poisonous chemicals at high temperatures. If dad likes to cook but his non-stick pans fall into this category surprise him with new ones that have a clean bill of health.

5.      Soda water machine: Sometimes dads tend to drink a lot of soda consuming ingredients which don’t contribute well to their weight and which can cause other health problems.  Alternatively, all those empty bottles add up to a lot of plastic waste, even if most can be recycled. Getting him a soda water machine with reusable plastic bottles and natural flavorings is the perfect substitute for his bubble cravings and help keep hi health in check.

6.      Ceiling fan: If you are planning on doing some interior remodeling consider installing a ceiling fan in your dad’s home office or the living room where he likes to sit. It will help with circulation, use less electricity than an air conditioner, and can provide a nice breeze without drying him out.

7.      Herbs: An herbal starter kit can go a long way, especially at the beginning of summer. It will have time to grow into a thriving patch that dads can use when they are cooking up a storm with their new pots and pans. Herbs can also be healing when feeling under the weather.

8.      Toiletries: Many shampoos, conditioners, aftershaves, and lotions contain chemicals which often get absorbed through our skin and potentially affect a person’s health. Replace dad’s old products with safe ones made form natural ingredients.

9.      Snacks: Healthy snacks can make all the difference when getting through the day. Put together a nice presentation of granola, local fruit, various kinds of nuts, and some natural chocolate for him to sample. Chances are he’ll find something he likes and will probably start snacking better in general.

10.     Father’s Day card: Whatever gift(s) you decide to get your father don’t forget the all important Father’s Day card. It can be made by re-purposing old pictures and be a true piece of art from the heart or a simple card made from recycled paper. Either way the fact its Green minded will help the love shine through.

Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs about green topics for pros across the U.S. like remodeling in Austin, TX</a> and heating contractors in Orlando, FL.