Gift certificate make great gift

We examine, lots of new and not-so-new stuff here, at, our editorial offices. Some of it is truly nifty and useful. Here are our top picks to help you make green choices for this year's holiday gift-giving.--Mother

WOLF-Garten snap-on, multihead garden hand tools, including great weeding hoes, a broom, edger end more. $8 to $43 for tools; matching aluminum or wooden handles, varying lengths, $5 to $33. Available from Lowe's, www.omygarden.com or (800) 692-9501.

Umbrella greenhouse, also called a pop-up cloche. Extends the growing season for a modest patch of greens or early tomatoes. Folds and stores like an umbrella; center shaft pushes into the ground; the eight is adjustable for ventilation. $15. Available from www.charliesgreenhouse.com or (800) 322-4707.

Stainless steel compost pails. Much better than plastic for collecting your kitchen compostables. $12 for 1.06-gallons size and $14 for 1.6-gallons size. Available from www.leevalley.com or (800) 871-8158.

The OXO Gel-e stainless steel transplanting trowel features a flexing, non-slip gel handle and easy-cutting serrated edges. $9. Available from www.oxo.com or (800) 545-441 t.

Bionic garden gloves designed by a hand surgeon and made of soft leather. $45. (And worth every penny--we've tried 'em!) Available from www.bionicgloves.com or the Louisville Slugger Museum: (877) 775-8443.

Craftsman Laser Trac Level. This nifty tool casts a laser line on any surface without leaving a mark. $40. Available from Sears or www.craftsman.com.

Hampton Bay outdoor solar landscape lights. Get the holiday glow with solar energy, a truly green way to light up the night. Starting at $15, Available from The Home Depot (www.homedepot.com).

Chopper axe. Splits wood cleaner and faster than regular axes. Moveable wings on each side of the axe head push the wood chunks away from the blade. $70. Available from www.chopperaxe.com or (908) 454-0417.

Bucket Boss. For totin' tools, this dandy canvas organizer fits snugly over any 5-gallon bucket and has 35 pockets to keep everything In order. $13. At Sears and other home-improvement stores.

Earth flag, $30. MOTHER'S all-cotton tote bag, $10. Eco-friendly Mother Earth News coffee, $10 a pound. Available from www.motherearthnews.com or (800) 678-4883.

More Gift Options:

* A massage gift certificate.

* Public transportation passes.

* Free-range, organic grass-fed meats: find suppliers via www.eatwild.com.

* Give donation to an environmental group.

* Give a tree from www.newgrowth.com.

And wrap gifts with the Sunday funny pages to recycle newspaper and save money.