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June 18, 2015

Thanks, Dad

T-minus four days. That is, four days until Fathers’ Day. Every year on the third Sunday of June, we celebrate our Dads. The men in our life who are great for terrible jokes, comforting hugs, and sage advice.

If your dad is a gardener, as mine was, think outdoors for gifts. And even if he isn’t particularly fond of the traditional idea of “gardening”, there’s a good chance he takes a lot of pride in his lawn and yard trees.

Here are a few gifts I would like to get as a dad and that I think my Dad would have appreciated. Maybe your Dad will, too.

The Perfect Wheelbarrow
2015_wheelbarrow

For the heavy-duty gardening dad who enjoys a beverage during his outdoor activities, Home Hardware has the perfect wheelbarrow. Light, rugged, stable, and a 7 cubic foot capacity to boot. I love that I can stand it up and wheel it around with ease. Two wheels make this wheelbarrow perfect for every terrain.

 

pivoting_handles2Consider pairing it up with a few handle grips for easy wheelbarrow tipping. Especially great for those with arm, back, or wrist injuries.

 

 

My Favourite Gloves
gloves_January

I call these my favourite gloves because they are. After torture testing them in my garden, I haven’t used anything else. The full grain leather palm and reinforced fingertips mean they last a full season at least. I especially enjoy the Velcro closure to keep the dirt from getting in at the wrist. An obvious choice for the gardening dad.

 

Feeding the Birds
If your Dad is a bird lover (and many are, including me), a bag of seed and a new feeder will go a long way. If you know what kinds of birds he feeds, pick out a seed. If you don’t, a gift card is always a good option (and offer to accompany him so you know for next year).

Bird lovers are always interested in a new feeder. This is one of my favourites since it does a fantastic job keeping out the squirrels.

The Tomato Dad
blog_Feb11For the dad who grows tomatoes, surprise him with a few spiral stakes. They’re all I use with my 200 tomato plants. No need for plant ties or twine – just keep twirling the plant around the stake. Take advantage of the tomato plant’s natural affinity for being sort of vine-y but not enough to be called a vine.

Pair up the tomato stakes with some Bordo Copper Spray. An absolute necessity when growing tomatoes. Watch the video.

Finally, if you won’t be visiting your Dad this Fathers’ Day, give him a call. It means so much more than you can imagine.

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About Mark and Ben


Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
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