Tooled Up: Gifts for the Girls
Though tools are traditionally the domain of the males, there are an increasing number of tools aimed at the fairer sex appearing on the market.
Take one of the most masculine pieces of equipment of all time – the Swiss army knife. Ever since the boy scouts were formed the penknife has been an essential piece of kit for any straight guy. Infinitely useful with their various corkscrews, blades, pliers, toothpicks and tweezers, there are few men who don’t own at least one of these.
However, Victorinox, the company behind the classic Swiss army knife have in recent years sought to double their customer base by making penknives aimed most definitely towards the ladies. The classic knifes are now available in more female colours (think: pink) as well as more compact, elegant designs that would slip into a handbag. Other innovations that target the female market include the SwissCard, a credit card sized multi-tool that fits neatly into a wallet and contains the essentials such as a nail file, mirror and scissors.
Other companies have also sought to feminise what has always been considered the domain of the male. In a bid to encourage more ladies to take matters into their own hands (and not to have to rely on the man of the house to put up those new shelves), there are now specially designed girls tool sets. The main difference in a tool set for the girls and a tool set for the guys is the colour; the ladies’ kits tend to come in pink or in floral designs and some even come in a stylish hand bag style case, which not only looks good but is also bound to keep the men’s hands off your tools.
The auto-industry is also recognising that females offer a significant market to tap and as such have begun to offer female-specific roadside tool kits containing all the essential emergency supplies such as jump leads, mobile phone chargers, screwdrivers, hammers and ratchets – again available in pink.
The move into the female market has generally been very well received, though there are some hardy feminists who feel that pink tool kits are patronising and have pointed out that women don’t need tools to be pink to be able to use them.
However, the feminised tool sets continue to attract girls into this traditionally male dominated area and for the fairer sex, and the manufacturers alike, that can’t be a bad thing.
Organic Gardening Gifts Online
Organic gardening gifts online are plentiful and, with a bit of imagination, can be found in highly unlikely places. You can, of course, give organically grown flowers – a bunch of roses or a wildflower bouquet. You can give an organic live plant, nicely displayed in a natural basket. You might even give a gift of organic tea.
Organic gardening gifts online don’t stop there, though. As the popularity of organic gardening grows, the number of gifts for the gardener also grows.Organic Gardening Tools
Organic gardening calls for tools that chemical gardening does not. Anyone doing organic gardening will enjoy receiving unique tools. For example:
1. Compost Container: Small-scale organic gardening does not require a large compost pile. A compost container, made from recycled plastic, can recycle kitchen waste into organic compost without a compost pit or pile.
2. Worm Factory: This organic gardening gift is another efficient way to compost. Just put worms, their bedding, and some scraps of food in the worm factory’s bottom bin. Stack other bins on top, with more food scraps in each. As the worms finish their meal on the first floor, they move upward to get more food. Their castings in the bottom tray, an excellent organic fertilizer, can be harvested. A handy spigot on the bottom tray drains off compost tea.
3. Compost Crank: If your gardener does use a compost pile or pit, a compost crank makes a good organic gardening gift. He or she will simply have to crank the corkscrew tip into the pile and pull out to aerate the pile.Earth-Friendly Organic Gardening Tools
Organic gardening gifts online also include some regular tools that are earth-friendly. Think of mowing the lawn with a push mower to reduce pollution. While pushing, wear lawn aerator shoes to keep the lawn aerated so that nutrition and water get down where the roots can use them. Someone who is “into” organic gardening will also appreciate a tree and shrub root irrigator kit. It saves water while being sure organic fruit trees and shrubs receive deep watering.Ergonomic Organic Gardening Tools
Organic gardening requires more work than chemical gardening. Ergonomic tools will be appreciated by an organic gardener. Sets of ergonomic tools with a convenient canvas bag can be found at many online gardening supply stores.
We found a unique organic gardening gift online – an ergonomic gardening tool called a detachable ergonomic gardening tool set. One handle can be used with every tool in the set.
A wearable gardening stool lets your organic gardening friend rest feet and back while gardening. Even with hands full, the stool is always available.Organic Gardening Seeds or Seedlings
Organic gardening gifts online include organic seeds or seedlings, too. A home window garden kit set we saw would be a great gift for an organic gardener. Each set has four window garden cans, with everything you need to grow organic seedlings on a window sill. You add water and sunlight, and transplant the plants when they are big enough.
Any organic seeds or seedlings would be a good organic gardening gift. Herbs are always nice – fragrant and useful.Organic Gardening Books
A book or two on organic gardening is a good idea, especially for the beginner. Find a beautiful and informative book, and your organic gardener will spend happy hours reading.Organic Vegetables Mail Order
An ongoing gift of organic vegetables by mail order is also good. Find one of the online organic sites that ship via next day in the U.S.Just for Love
One organic gardening gift we found online would be fun to give, especially to someone you love. The “Amazing Message Plant” comes in its own planter, ready to grow. The recipient pops the lid, waters the plant, and places it in a sunny location. As it grows, the plant reveals the message “I love you” on its leaves. Can’t Decide What to Buy
It can be hard to choose just the right organic gardening gift. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. If you can’t decide what to buy, check online gardening supply retailers for gift certificates. You can often get them in denominations of $25 or $50. Order one or more, and place them in a nice organic gardener’s greeting card.