Eco Friendly Gifts for Dad

The holidays are right around the corner. How about scrapping the idea of a new tie or pair of socks, and getting Dad something he can feel good about. Here are a few great green gift ideas that might do the trick:

If you really want a gift that makes a difference, the Nature Conservancy offers a variety of adopt-an-environment style gifts. You can use your Father's Day dollars to protect African grasslands, coral reefs in New Guinea, or even choose specific areas of the US like the Appalachians, Rockies, or our own suddenly endangered coastal forests. Gift packages are available in the $50 range, and include a subscription to the organization's magazine and a certificate that arrives in the mail with some additional goodies (magnets, maps, etc.).

If your Father is into keeping the yard looking great, he might be interested in some solar powered outdoor lighting solutions. Amazon offers a wide variety of landscape lighting solutions that are solar powered. For Dads who have already tried solar landscape lighting and been disappointed by the performance, consider a hybrid. These are typically solar powered LED fixtures with back up CFL's that can be hard wired for those evenings where solar isn't going to do the job.

Solar or Crank powered radios are great for emergencies, or for using outdoors while Dad does his yard work. Some models, like the one offered by Eton also feature lights and a cell-phone charger.

If your Dad golfs like I do, he probably puts one in the drink every now and again. Eco-Golf balls dissolve in water, are non-toxic, and even safe for fish to eat! They sell for $10 per dozen at ecogolfballs.

Portable solar power solutions start at just under a hundred dollars. They're great for tailgating- plug in to your car's cigarette lighter to keep your battery power up while running your radio. Larger and more powerful units are designed to maintain marine or RV batteries, or even power a small cabin. 

How about a digital gift? If your dad has an iPod he'd probably love an iTunes gift card!