Part of our family’s commitment to treading a little lighter is to purchase less stuff - especially new stuff. But that doesn’t mean that Father’s Day gifts need be limited to a handmade card or piece of children’s art. If you’d like to surprise the dad(s) in your life with something special, consider the following greener options:
1) A gently-used novel or audio book. I hope that the new B Steet Books that just opened around the corner from my office in San Mateo is a sign that used book stores are a growing trend. If you don’t have one in your neighborhood, consider the “for sale” book cart at your local library or online options. I found 465,000 used books on Oodle, including The Davinci Project at a bargain price ($6.00).
2) A wallet or accessory made out of recycled materials. A Tyvek wallet ($22) made out of recycled coffee bags or this one made out of bicycle tubes ($9.50) are available on Etsy.com.
3) Sports, theater or musical event. Treat dad to a night on the town or tickets to the game. Even better — opt for tickets for the whole family. There are tons of events to search from via your local zip code on Oodle.
4) A new set of wheels. If the dad in your life is in need of a set of wheels to make emission-free transportation a viable option, consider roller skates, a scooter or a bike. I found a used Trek bike on MySpace Classifieds ($125)
5) Family time. If the dad in your life prefers indoor activities, consider a gift that the entire family can enjoy. I found a number of different options on Craigslist from a used ping pong table to a pool table.
When searching for a recycled or gently-used gift, it’s helpful to have a general idea of what you are looking because there are millions of items to search from. It’s a bit like shopping a very large virtual garage sale - but then again, browsing is half the fun.