Things we dig | Hang it up, Dad

Pops can chill out in this vibrant hammock, woven on foot-looms by men and embroidered by women in Guatemalan villages. They get a fair wage for their handiwork, and Dad gets a swinging-good lounging spot.

$229. www.vivaterra.com

One-stop remodeling

Looking for sound advice on remodeling? This Web site is for you. Created by homeowners for homeowners, www.alphabetlane.com is Seattle-based and can help with all kinds of design questions, advice, tips and — our personal fave — it features other people's "before" and "after" pictures.

www.alphabetlane.com

For the birds

Made from non-endangered cork, this natural birdhouse is for small birds like sparrows. There's no perch on it, which discourages large predators from perch- parking and wreaking havoc. $59. www.vivaterra.com

Toil-less tomatoes

No need to worry about caging your tomatoes or protecting them from ground rot with this planter. Just let 'em hang. Dad can even plant his favorite herbs on top of this planter, which is compact enough to fit on condo balconies. Just make sure it gets adequate light.

$69.95. www.hammacher.com

Dad's kind of vacuum

This powerful 6-amp machine, made by Shop Vac, picks up dirt, leaves and lawn clippings, then shreds it all and deposits it into the detachable 8-gallon bag, creating an organic mixture for making mulch.

$199.95. www.

hammacher

.com