Go Green With Father's Day Gift Ideas

Find out what gifts organic garden entrepreneurs Daron Joffe and Will Raap recommend for dad.

By: Jeff Stafford

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Photo By: Image courtesy of Farmer D Organics

Photo By: Image courtesy of Tierra Garden

Photo By: Image courtesy of Farmer D Organics

Photo By: Image courtesy of Tierra Garden

Photo By: Image courtesy of Gardener's Supply

Daron Joffe of Farmer D Organics

A growing interest in organic, environmentally-friendly gardening has resulted in a new breed of socially conscious businesses that are changing the way we think about the traditional garden center. One of the emerging leaders in this rising subculture is Daron Joffe, who promotes biodynamic farming and sustainable agriculture through his franchise known as Farmer D Organics, whose products are available online. We asked Joffe to offer up some Father's Day gift ideas from his line.

The Official Lettuce Waterer

When Daron isn’t busy managing Farmer D Organics, he likes to spend time in the garden with Tilden, his two-year-old son who, “loves to water lettuce, add food scraps to the compost pile, eat broccoli straight off the stalk and generally get as dirty as possible,” he says.

The Gold Standard of the Organic Gardening Movement

Daron Joffe aka Farmer D has designed and built biodynamic farms all over the country and shares his knowledge and vision about ecological sustainability in his book, Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities, and Give Back to the Earth. It also makes a great Father's Day present for sustainably-minded garden dads.

Raised Beds on Legs

Among the signature products at Farmer D Organics, one of the most popular is the raised bed on legs. Made of durable cedar, this self-contained garden plot is a convenient way to grow edible plants, and gives you greater control over soil conditions as well as easier access to weeding, fertilizing and watering. It's also great for dads with smaller gardening spaces like patios or decks.

The All-Purpose Potting Bench

A much-needed accessory for the greenhouse or backyard, this custom-made potting station is made from sustainably-harvested Western red cedar and offers three different shelving levels for your potting and soil mixture needs.

Adaptive Gardening Tools

In addition to a line of signature Farmer D products, Joffe's store also carries high quality European garden tools from such renowned brands as DeWit (made in Holland) and Wolf Garten (of Germany). Featured here is an array of multi-change combo tools from Wolf Garten which allow you to switch out handles and tool heads in lengths to suit your height or gardening needs.

For Soil Aeration

Designed to be wedged into the earth in one stroke, this Dutch digging fork from DeWit has rounded tines, which make it perfect for aerating beds or harvesting root crops without damaging them. It is easy to use due to its lightweight head of Swedish boron steel and perfectly-balanced handle, which reduces hand strain.

The Alternative Composter

Another top seller from Farmer D Organics is this handmade cedar composter, which is designed to ensure proper oxygen flow throughout the structure to aid in composting food scraps.

Vegetable Garden Aids

One reason that some European-made garden tools are rising in popularity in the U.S. is because of the versatility of the high-quality craftsmanship, such as these vegetable tools from Wolf Garten (available at Farmer D Organics). The multi-star interlocking system allows gardeners to easily change handles and detachable heads depending on the task required. Among the pictured tools are the soil crumbler (top center), the three tine double hoe (top left) and the bow rake (bottom right).

Weed Warrior

Based on the traditional Dutch hoe, the DeWit half moon hoe features sharp, forged edges which are ideal for chopping and pulling up weeds at the soil level. The 62-inch handle is also designed to reduce stress on your back while weeding.

Will Raap of Gardener's Supply Company

Another entrepreneur who is engaged in positive forces for change through sustainable practices, renewable energy and land restoration initiatives is Will Raap, who serves as chairman of the Vermont-based Gardener’s Supply Company, one of the largest online and catalog gardening retailers. Here are some of Raap’s suggestions for green products for gardening dads on Father’s Day.

Cart Blanche

A best-selling item for over 25 years, the made-in-Vermont Medium Garden Cart can hold up to 400 pounds, or as much as 8 wheelbarrows for a variety of tasks. It is also easy to maneuver over rough terrain due to the big pneumatic wheels and even weight distribution that lets you push or pull it with ease using a comfortable neoprene grip.

Sun Worshipper Support Group

How do you keep top-heavy blooms from standing straight up toward the sun without collapsing under their own weight? Makeshift devices might work for awhile, but there are some better solutions in the marketplace. The Grow-Through Flower Support is one of the best with sizes for 12-inch, 18-inch and 24-inch varieties from coreopsis to mature peonies.

Raised Bed Companion

Raised beds are ideal for growing vegetables, but watering them effectively can be tricky. One streamlined solution is the Snip-N-Drip Raised Bed Soaker Hose System, which is completely customizable. Simply cut the hoses with scissors to the sizes you need, snap the fittings into place and you have a watering system with minimal loss of runoff or evaporation.

The Tomato's Best Friend

These tomato ladders can support over 100 pounds and are particularly effective because of their V-shaped design, which protects the plants from accidental breakage and strong winds.

Have Tomato, Will Travel

Here is a popular item for gardeners who don’t have room in their yard or a plot for growing vegetables. The Tomato Grow Bag allows you to raise your tomatoes in any sunny spot, whether it’s your deck, patio or front porch. The double-layer polypropylene bag provides optimal drainage, lets the roots breathe and keeps the plants in an upright position.