Dad (and Mom) Deserve a Bonus: Here’s Our Father’s Day Gift Guide

Back by popular demand, we thought we’d roll out another curated gift guide, but unlike for Mother’s Day, we think we’re giving you enough time to shop for your Dad (or anyone who’s had such a role in your life) for Father’s Day. Whether they like to eat, garden, wear, build (or clean), here are few ideas to celebrate your father – or any parental figure.

It’s the day after Memorial Day. Is that grilled cleaned yet?

Your parents (or only your dad and mom) just hosted that first post-pandemic Memorial Day cookout, and that grill could use a cleaning. Well, don’t expect Dad to do it! You should step up. Better yet, get busy, and come prepared with a bevy of Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products; leave your parents' house with a gift bag of these products so they are stocked the rest of the year. Unlike the conventional cleaning products out there (which smell noxious) and some of the “sustainable” options (do they even work?) Mrs. Meyers products leave behind that fresh, understated, without the oh-man-the-house-is-now-clean-but-now-I-have-to-leave-the-house scent. Also, if Dad loves tending vegetables or flowers, he’ll appreciate the fact that the company’s current campaign is focused on generating funds to help kids learn about gardening.

T-shirts with messages that shouldn’t be bottled up

Based in Baltimore, Mess in a Bottle and its founder, Kalilah Wright, literally don’t mess around. T-shirts include messages (such as the one shown above) about intergenerational wealth, strong women and challenging norms about appearances make this site a fun visit and a great place to shop online. Onesies, jackets and mugs are among other gifts offered. Mess in a Bottle has worked with Target; let’s hope other retailers celebrate what this company stands for.

Does your dad seethe when the My Pillow Guy appears on TV?

Yes, giving your father pajamas or slippers for Father’s Day is not only cliché, but you should at least wait until the fall and winter holidays. But if your father could use an upgrade for those eight hours a day when he needs sleep - and your budget doesn’t include one of 800 online choices for a new mattress - consider gifting him pillows from One Fresh Pillow. The company offers a subscription service that offers two types of pillows, but the real gift is the fact this company is not shy about its political views on social media. We tested out one of their pillows and it’s definitely comfy. Further, most company web sites are annoying in their tone; this company definitely gives off a likable vibe, and not only cause it shines as the anti-My Pillow Guy.

Lego of those cultural norms, and celebrate Pride Month with Dad

There are many reasons why these $35 “Everyone Is Awesome” Lego sets are a great gift: a parent who just adopted; a Lego fan who has all the spaceships and cityscapes already made by this iconic building block brand; or perhaps you just want to bond with the parental figures for Father’s Day. The company’s vice president of design, Matthew Ashton, is on the record saying he wished he scored a set like this one after he came out, and sums up the design succinctly: “I wanted to create a model that symbolizes inclusivity and celebrates everyone, no matter how they identify or who they love.”

Go wild on Father’s Day with wild nut butters from Wild Friends Foods

Is supporting women-owned businesses important to you, your parents, or, just about anyone? Wild Friends Foods and its line of nut butters check many boxes: It’s a certified B-Corp, runs its own 1 percent give-back program and says it sources responsibly for its ingredients, whether they are nuts, coconut, cacao or honey. If appreciating Dad means he scores a 6-pack of nut butters in the mail, then you’ll score points with a Wild Friends order. Sign up for their email newsletter and they’ll give you another 10 percent off; shipping is free on orders of $49 on up. The chocolate coconut peanut butter is to die and slather for, not necessarily in that order.

Speaking of going nuts, here’s one way to shop locally, give nationally

California’s San Joaquin Valley has plenty of secret gems to visit, and to nosh: Enzo’s Table is one of them. The fourth-generation Italian-American family sells it all: Biscotti including ones made with almonds from local orchards, infused olive oils (the basil flavor tastes like liquid pesto, and the Eureka and Meyer lemon options will disappear in a heartbeat) and if dirty martinis are Dad’s (or Mom’s thing), the Arbequina olives are a must – the only risk is that they may all get eaten straight out of the jar before that first drink is shaken. Other favorites include the almond butter and chile con limon pistachios. The company makes it easy with their flat-rate shipping and packages their products beautifully.

Ginning up for Dad’s Day

Pre-made cocktails are all the rage, and the assortment is overwhelming. Some of the canned and bottled concoctions are impressive; unfortunately, too many are gross. Among the winners is Northern California-based Zaddy’s, the canned cocktails of which check many boxes: The company avoids using plastic within its packaging, participates with 1% For the Planet and donates some proceeds to The Story of Stuff project. Of the three flavors, the favorite is a toss-up between the Gin(ger) Fizz and Corpse Reliever but all work; plus, if Dad (or Mom) is a gin fan, these drinks are a winner – and only have 100 calories a can.

Orchids, grown responsibly

Of course, you should consider giving your father flowers, especially if they are easy to take care of! California’s central coast (from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz counties) is host to the perfect climate for growing many varieties of flowers. Westerlay Orchids, based in the small seaside town of Carpinteria, is a third-generation family business that excels in raising Orchidaceae. If you happen to live on the west coast, Westerlay’s orchids are available at some supermarkets, or you can arrange online to have mom or dad receive a box. The company succeeds when it comes to shipping them skillfully without overdoing the packaging. Further, Westerlay has invested in a bevy of sustainable farming practices and technologies. FYI: Orchids have a small footprint when it comes to care - we’re talking a monthly rinse of the roots and a few ice cubes each week. Easy-peasy.

Bouqs offers countless color pops of joy

We’ve long covered this Southern California company, which has been changing how flowers are sourced, sold and delivered for several years. Bouqs promises to deliver flowers directly from farms in regions such as South America. Customers can visit the company’s site and select a bouquet, and recipients will receive those arrangements relatively quickly. Less storage time means less waste - as much as 40 percent of all flowers marketed in the U.S. end up never sold.

The company has said its flower farming partners can now gain access to benefits such as day care, health care and education for its employees - while practicing “sustainable, eco-friendly farming.” As far as flowers go, this is about as farm-to-table as you can get. Currently, Bouqs is partnering with Maurice Harris, founder of LA-based floral studio Bloom & Plume; together, they will contribute funds to Campaign Zero to fight police brutality.

Image credit: Mess in a Bottle