Last month the spotlight was on Mom, now dads are the recipients of green gifts for Father’s Day. It’s easy to keep Dad green, too.
For something he will use every day, how about a green razor? Much safer than the straight razors used decades ago, yet not wasteful like today’s disposables, the Preserve Razor shaves clean and close in an environment-friendly package. Its titanium-coated blades are polished and the ergonomic handle is made from 100 percent recycled plastic, including yogurt cups. www.recycline.com
A man’s face can be sensitive too, so Aveda Men Shave Cream gives a close, smooth shave with comfort. Its rich conditioners — including peppermint, lavender and aloe — pamper skin and provide easy razor glide. The cream also helps prevent nicks, dryness and irritations. Aveda After-Shave Balm for just-shaved skin is a cooling, refreshingly aromatic balm. Its soothing lavender, aloe and chamomile extracts respond to skin irritations such as razor burn and dryness. www.Aveda.com
If Dad travels for his job, he’ll appreciate the “4 Elements of the Perfect Shave (r)” carry-on kit. The unscented version contains: Pre-shave oil, 2 fl. oz.; shaving cream pump, 1.7 fl. oz.; shaving brush; and after-shave balm, 2 fl. oz. Dad can breeze through airport check-in because the kit meets Transportation Security Administration (TSA) carry-on requirements, which is 3-ounce bottles or less in 1 quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-lock bag. www.theartofshaving.com
For fathers who crave gadgets, give a HYmini personal wind turbine, a hand-held, universal charger/adapter device. The energy stored in its internal battery can be used to recharge your cell phone, MP3 player, iPod, PDA, digital camera or other 5V devices. Dad can attach the HYmini to his bike with the HYmini bicycle attachment kit and charge a mobile power supply while on the road at wind speeds above 9mph. www.TerraPass.com
Or, Dad will love the Solio Classic Charger, available in white, black or silver. With one hour of sun, he can harness enough juice to play his iPod for about an hour or get up to 25 minutes of additional talk time on most cell phones. Solio’s compact lightweight design makes it convenient for travel or emergency use. Also available at www.TerraPass.com
If your father quenches his thirst with a brew, let him try organic beer with a sampler package of India Pale Ale microbrews from different certified organic award-winning breweries. The Organic IPA Beer Sampler, now available in a six or eight pack, features two 12 oz. bottles each of Wolovers India Pale Ale, Bison IPA, Eel River IPA, and Fish Tale Organic IPA. Available at Fine grocery stores
Does Dad get a thrill from barbecuing on the grill? Buy him a “Stainless Steel Master Grill Set” that features stainless steel tools with brushed stainless steel handles. The 20-piece set has a multi-function spatula, three-prong fork, marinating brush, four shish-kabob skewers, eight corn-on-the-cob holders, gripping tongs, barbecue knife, grill cleaning brush and two extra grill cleaning brush heads. It comes in an aluminum case that securely holds each tool in place.
Whether Dad serves burgers or brats, a Gourmet Mustard Set will spice things up. The fat-free mustards come in these tantalizing flavors: Green Olive and Lemon Mustard, Chipotle and Lime Mustard, Ginger and Honey Mustard, Roasted Tomato and Balsamic Mustard. Each set includes four 8 oz. jars. Order at ecoexpress.com
For dads who are into fitness and healthy living, a gift subscription to Men’s Health magazine could hit the spot. A one-year subscription costs $24.94 (includes delivery). The Men’s Health Web site, menshealth.com/cda/homepage.do, also offers five free newsletters on topics ranging from “Men’s Daily Health Dose” to “Best Life.” Give Dad a year’s worth of news he can use.
If your dad likes do-it-yourself projects, a bottle of Amazing EcoGlue(tm) has many applications. It’s a water-based adhesive with less than 1 percent VOCs (volatile organic compounds), no animal derivatives, has excellent water resistance and comes in 100 percent recyclable packaging. Amazing EcoGlue bonds to a wide variety of substrates including: wood, stone, metal, tile, glass and cloth. eclecticproducts.com/ecoglue
Speaking of dads and home improvements, The Home Depot has an Eco Options product line designed to be Earth friendly. Specifically, these products offer one or more of the following benefits: sustainable forestry, energy efficient, healthy home, clean air and water conservation. Gift cards are available in denominations starting at $10. www.homedepot.com
Questions or comments — let Eco Gal know at ecogal247@yahoo.com