SERRV International: Gorgeous Fair Trade Goods

From lovely dangling earrings made from blue-tinted mother-of-pearl discs to elegant recycled glass wine decanters, SERRV International has a wealth of high quality goods created by artisans and farmers around the world. When you buy jewelry, holiday décor and home goods from SERRV, you’re helping to give someone else a better life.

From Serrv.org:

Our work encompasses more than just buying and selling.
We offer prepayments so our partners can sustain their business.
Create new designs so they can build their markets.
Teach new skills so they can develop their craft.
Provide grants so they can expand their resources.

We support equal rights for women.
Guide sustainable development.
And of course, pay a fair wage.

There’s a lot of really great stuff on this website – perfect for gift-giving. Check it out!

Link [SERRV]

10 Fun Father’s Day Gifts for Hip Green Dads

Step away from the ties, stinky cologne and golf-themed tchotchkes, kids. Your dad is sick of getting that crap for Father’s Day, and you’re sick of buying it. Eco-friendly gifts are, of course, the way to go – but don’t fall into the same old trap. Here are some fun green Father’s Day gift ideas that any hip dad, treehugger or not, would by totally psyched to receive.

Organic Home Brewing Kit by Breworganic

Any dad who loves beer will love to brew beer at home – and all the better when they can do it organically with an eco-friendly beginner’s kit from Breworganic. This glass kit contains all the equipment needed to get started with home brewing, from a five-gallon carboy to sanitizers and a how-to book. Choose from a wide variety of beers including pale ale, ESB, Scottish ale, stout and dark lager.

Voltaic Solar Charger Messenger Bag

Palm-sized personal solar gadget chargers are cool, but bags with bigger solar panels that can supply more energy are even cooler. The Voltaic Messenger Bag is perfect for carrying a laptop around town, soaking up the sun’s rays to power a variety of gadgets including cell phones, PDAs, iPods and cameras. The included battery pack stores power until you need it, providing 4 watts of power after 4-6 hours of exposure to direct sunlight.

Strida Go Anywhere Folding Bicycle

What could be better for getting around town in style than the angular, brightly colored Strida 5.0 bicycle? The Treehugger ‘Best of Green’ winner is super lightweight and folds up quickly and easily so you can easily load it in your car, take it on the train or stow it in a closet. It rolls while folded and has the smallest footprint of any full-sized folding bicycle.

Livity Recycled, Organic Hemp, Raffia & Cotton Hats

Modern, fun and green, these hip hats from Livity are made from eco-friendly materials like organic hemp, organic cotton, raffia and recycled plastic. Livity’s fedoras come in a wide range of styles and colors, and they also have a newsboy-style cap.

Blow-Out Recycled Inner Tube Wallet

Bicycle inner tubes are durable and waterproof, so it’s no surprise that they make such a great recycled material for wallets. The Blow-Out wallet is vegan and made to last with six pockets for cards and IDs along with two full-length bill pockets. The interior is made from 100% recycled PET plastic.

Benromach Organic Malt Whiskey

So maybe it’s a bit of a cliché that all dads love whiskey, but we’ve yet to meet a guy that doesn’t. And if you’re gonna drink whiskey, you might as well drink the first malt whiskey to be certified by the Soil Association. Benromach Organic Malt Whiskey is hand made by just two men using traditional processes and working methods, with pure spring water from the Romach Hills of Scotland.

Heather Black Organic Bike Hoodie by 20twenty

While your dad may not ever specifically ask for something “softer than the mane of a unicorn”, which is how clothier 20twenty describes this organic cotton hoodie, he’ll enjoy it nonetheless. And secretly stroke it when he thinks nobody’s looking. It’s printed with a bike, because hey, who doesn’t love bikes?

Casio G-Shock Solar Watch

Why power a watch with a battery when you could just use the sun? Unless your dad’s a vampire, he’ll easily rack up plenty of solar power to keep the Casio G-Shock Solar Watch going. It’s shock-resistant and water-resistant with a 30-page databank, world time, stopwatch, countdown timer, four daily alarms and an auto calendar.

Tuba Organic Cotton Sneaks by Simple Shoes

Everybody needs a good, durable pair of sneakers. The Tuba style by Simple Shoes is made of organic cotton with a heel and toe cap made from recycled inner tubes and recycled PET laces. The sole and bed are made from recycled car tires, and water-based glues are used to hold the whole thing together. Simple Shoes are totally vegan. Get the Tuba in gray-blue, brown or green.

Handmade Organic Bay Rum Shaving Kit

Yes, we know that shaving kits are normally on the list of stereotypical ‘dad gifts’. But most dads, Yetis and mountain men excluded, do shave and they might as well have some awesome-smelling, organic shaving soap and aftershave to do it with. This gift set by Flying Bird Botanicals contains herbally infused rum and witch hazel for a spicy-sweet scent and smooth, soft skin.

DIY: Make An Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Card

This Valentine’s Day,  give your special someone a gift that’s personal and eco-friendly. In this video, New-York based artist/designer Shiho Masuda shows you how to transform a mailing envelope and magazine pages into a 3-D Valentine’s Day card.

Oxfam America Unwrapped: Give Gifts to the People Who Need Them Most

We’re in the home stretch as far as gift-giving goes – you’re almost left with no option but to see what’s still remaining on the disheveled shelves at Walgreens (sorry, but the answer to that is inevitably an Ove Glove, some candy and a Barbie pocket mirror).  If you still want to give a meaningful gift, however, we’ve got just the one: an eCard from Oxfam America Unwrapped.

Oxfam America Unwrapped allows you to choose a gift item that symbolically represents Oxfam’s work – like a goat, seeds, a bicycle, land irrigation, stocking a cereal bank or even starting a small business. If your recipient is a schoolteacher, you could choose to purchase school supplies for children in need, or if she’s a nurse, you could buy a medical kit.

The item you purchase is a contribution toward Oxfam America’s many programs throughout the world. You purchase an item, a printed card goes to your recipient and the gift goes to those who need it most.

Here’s an explanation of how it works:

As long as your recipient has an email address, you can send them notification that you’ve donated to Oxfam America in their name. A printed card will still follow, albeit a week or so after Christmas. To this, go through the regular purchase process on the Oxfam site and then click on ‘Tell a Friend’ up top. Choose an eCard to send, and in the message section, let your friend know that you’ve donated to Oxfam as a gift to them and to expect a card in the mail. You can also use these Oxfam eCards to spread the word to others about this great program.

Instant feel-good gifts, customized to the recipient’s interests. Instead of rushing around to buy someone a piece of crap they don’t really want, you’re really making a difference – and isn’t that what it’s all about?

Link [Oxfam America Unwrapped]

The Ultimate Fantasy Green Holiday Wish List

There are a growing number of green millionaires and billionaires out there, who have amassed their fortunes by doing good things for the earth. And, after giving a good portion of that money to charities that help preserve the environment, they’ve still got plenty of money to spend on ultimate eco-luxury items like the 7 on this ultimate green holiday wish list. But even if you’re not among the eco elite, you can dream that someday Santa will bring you a few of the following green fantasy gifts.

Tesla Roadster

Why not splurge on a James Bond-worthy, 100% electric, $100,000 Tesla Roadster, the sexiest eco-friendly car on the market? It can travel 244 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack and goes up to 125 miles per hour. The 100th Tesla Roadster was sold just last week to the guy whose shoulder Oprah cried on during Obama’s victory speech, and if you get one for yourself, you’re joining the company of fellow owners George Clooney, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Luxury Eco Vacation to Dubai

The Presidential Suite at the Al Maha Eco Resort in Dubai will set you back a paltry $8,400 a night, appointed with all the luxuries an oil baron might enjoy – only they’re eco-friendly. Guests that stay here will enjoy three large bedrooms, a lounge, a private courtyard and swimming pool, fully appointed kitchen, two mini bars and your very own private staff including housekeeper, security and chef. A trained naturalist acts as your own private guide, taking you on tours of the Al Maha reserve. Al Maha preserves the desert habitat of Dubai and its native species, and has helped protect the formerly endangered Arabian oryx.

Biodegradeable Diamond-Studded LCD TV

The world’s most expensive television is available to you for just $130,000, and the good news is, its glass, aluminum and iron components are all either biodegradable or reusable. The bad news is, it doesn’t seem to use any less power than a normal television. But, hey, it’s studded with brilliant white V VS1 diamonds and white gold, such an important feature to have on a television. When you’re done with this luxury TV by Shaub Lorenz, you can strip it down and have them made into a necklace or something. It’s entirely handmade and has a 40-inch LCD display.

EcoMobile

If you’ve already got a Tesla Roadster and need something a little more streamlined to get around in, you might want to check out the EcoMobile by Swiss automaker Peraves.  This enclosed motorcycle, which can reach a top speed of 202 miles per hour in turbocharged mode, is ultra exclusive: Peraves only manufactures 100 per year. The $77,000 EcoMobile has stabilizing ‘training wheels’ that retract once the vehicle gets moving. It features a gull wing door with integrated sunroof and inside you’ll find everything you would expect from a luxury car, including air conditioning.

Lab-Grown Diamond Stud Earrings

Get the sparkle of diamonds without the guilt by purchasing eco-friendly, conflict-free lab-grown diamonds. These man-made diamonds are actually pretty rare, as only a handful of gem-quality diamonds are grown each month. No giant pits in the earth, no slave labor. This set of Ritani ‘Endless Love’ lab-grown diamond stud earrings feature .67 carat fancy blue diamonds surrounded by .15 carat white micro-pave diamonds set in platinum for $5,160.

Solar-Electric Hybrid Robot Lawnmower

The Husqvarna Automower runs on solar power and electricity to automatically roam your land and cut your grass for you while you lounge around sipping organic cocktails. Depending on light conditions it can handle 1,100 square meters without you lifting a finger. It’s ultra-quiet, can manage rough terrain and it even returns to its charging station on its own. It’ll set you back around $4,000.

Nature Preserve

(image via Forbes Traveler)

For the green millionaire who has everything, perhaps a parcel of land that you can turn into a nature preserve is just the thing you need this year. Follow in Leo DiCaprio’s footsteps by purchasing a private island with the intent of turning it into an ecotourism destination – Blackadore Cay in Belize only cost $1.75 million. Or, you could buy a few hundred thousand acres of rainforest and either manage it yourself or gift it to the country’s government for use as a national park.

10 Drool-Worthy Green Gifts for Everyone on Your List

Show your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers just how hip of an eco-shopper you are with gifts that are stylish, fun, modern and ultra environmentally conscious. Here are 10 green gift ideas that’ll work for pretty much everyone on your list – and you might just want to add them to your wish list, too, since they’re so damn irresistable.

Guerilla Gardening How-To

Surreptitiously beautify your neighborhood with On Guerilla Gardening by Richard Reynolds, the fun and inspirational guide to the practice of gardening plots that don’t technically belong to you. Full of beautiful color photography, accounts of guerilla gardening from around the world and instructions for the beginner, On Guerilla Gardening is an especially great resource for the city dweller longing for greenery.

“Discover the techniques of seed-bombers, the art of effective propaganda, how to love litter, what to grow in perilous circumstances and how to change your community. Let’s fight the filth with forks and flowers!”

$17.15 from Amazon.com

Organic Truffle Temptations

Suck up to your boss or that hot chick in 2A that you’ve been eyeing since October with a gift box of exotic organic chocolates. These all-natural, USDA organic truffles are handmade in small batches in Vermont and come in tantalizing flavors like Aztec (dark chocolate with cayenne, cinnamon, and lime), Ethiopian Coffee (dark chocolate with rich roasted coffee and lemon) and Honey Fig (milk chocolate with wild honey and figs). Eco Express will gift wrap it and send it directly to your recipient, too, so it’s great for those “Oh crap, I forgot Aunt Millie” last minute gifts.

$21.99 at EcoExpress.com

Stylish Solar Panel Bag

A paper thin, flexible solar panel decorates the outside of the Sawyer messenger bag by Noon, charging a battery pack located inside the bag that can supply power for your cell phone, iPod and other small gadgets. On bright, sunny days, the battery will be charged in 6-8 hours. Perfect for the guy who’s always on the go!

“Has 2 side pockets measuring 6×6,” 2 pockets under front flap, 2 pen/pencil pockets, 2 interior zipper pockets, one for lithium-ion storage battery and electronic accessories, interior cell phone pocket and small flat pocket. Leather is Bavarian sourced, chrome-free, naturally tanned and dyed full-grain cowhide. Has protective leather feet, catch lock closure, and sage colored organic hemp/cotton lining.”

$377 from NoonSolar.com

Sexy Chainless Bike

The Soho chainless bike by Trek is an ‘urban assault vehicle’ that’ll help you get around the city in style. “The 8-speed belt drive features a Gates C-Drive carbon composite belt that is brutally tough yet cleaner than any chain you’ve ever owned. All Weather Tested roller brakes along with features like a rubber top-tube bumper, puncture-resistant Bontrager Hardcase tires, and matching fenders give you an edge on whatever the city has planned for you.”

$990 from TrekBikes.com

Recycled Glass Hoop Earrings

These hoop earrings by Kathleen Plate for Smart Glass Jewelry are made from 100% recycled wine bottles with stainless steel ear wires. They’re big, dramatic, shimmery and come in an enticing hue of green (also available in amber). Each pair is hand-cut, so the exact shape and size varies, but they measure around 2 ¼” in diameter. And, for $5 extra, Delight.com will package them in a lovely recycled box approved by the Save the Forest foundation.

$42 at Delight.com

War on Plastic Tote Bag

The grenade-shaped outer shell of the ‘War on Plastic Bag’ sends a message of how serious you are about avoiding plastic. The roomy green bag is big enough to carry two to three times the amount that a plastic bag would, and it’ll get used again and again, unlike those petroleum-based planet-polluting disposables.

$17 from ShopWillow.com

Bamboo To-Go Ware

Make sure you’re never stuck with using disposable cutlery again with a set of bamboo utensils in a recycled plastic case. It’s just the right size to keep in your handbag or briefcase. “The unique holder for this utensil set has been produced by CONSERVE, an NGO project in Delhi.  It is made entirely of recycled plastic!  CONSERVE employs ragpickers to collect discarded plastic bags and repurposes them into incredible designs and products.”

$19.95 from To-GoWare.com

Handheld Wind & Solar Power Gadget Charger

The Hymini is a handheld mini green power station for small gadgets like cell phones, digital cameras, PDAs and mp3 players. It harnesses wind power and solar power to charge up 5V digital electronics, and can also be plugged into the wall or into your computer’s USB port. Comes with 1200mAh lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery, AC/DC power adapter, USB transfer cable and 5 mobile phone connectors. Hook it to the handlebars of your bike with the optional bike adapter kit for ultra efficiency.

$49.99 at VerdantComputing.com

Japanese Motorcycle Vegan Wallet

Why carry a boring plain black wallet when you could have a fun graphic diagram of a vintage Japanese motorcycle? This wallet by Tinymeat is totally vegan, with artwork and paint chip swatches sewn between two layers of vinyl. It has a large money pocket and four smaller pockets for IDs and credit cards. “Tinymeat™ is a global design house creating readymade and bespoke accessories constructed of vinyl, art and love. They have a long-standing commitment to grow their brand in an ethical manner by supporting independent artists from around the globe and producing their goods in-house in Portland, Oregon.”

$14.95 at OrganicallyHappy.com

Luxe Recycled Handbag

Ecoist does the recycled candy wrapper thing right, with handbags that look like chic designer creations rather than sixth grade craft projects. The ‘Diva Clutch’ is sleek and stylish, self lined, strong, sturdy and water-resistant with a magnetic snap closure. It’s fair trade – hand made in Peru and Mexico.

$92 at Ecoist.com

Moms Urged to ‘Greenify Your Sex Life’

Try not to picture your own mom when you read this: Mom Logic, a website devoted to providing information and community for ‘Moms from all walks of life and all stages of motherhood’ has a few sex tips that can help turn mom’s romps between the sheets into eco-friendly fun.

Hey, just in time for Mother’s Day shopping! Give mom a gift of the sort that therapy bills are made of. Okay, guys, maybe these items are better off being purchased for the mother of your own children rather than the one that bore you.

Among the products featured are organic massage oil, bamboo sheets, more massage oil, organic lingerie (“Toss the ol’ granny panties for an eco-friendly pair”) and the pictured ‘love toy’, as they put it. Available in original or travel size!

Let’s just hope the kids’ rubber ducky bath toy doesn’t get accidentally confused with this ‘discreet massager’ decked out like a leather daddy in an underground NYC club or they might have some confused young ‘uns on their hands.

Link [Mom Logic]

Photo credit: Big Teaze Toys