Some really good friends of mine have allowed me the pleasure of using them as guinea pigs to expand my portfolio:
Dilemna: His birthday is this weekend and I thought no problem, the whole family is on overload with talents and interests. Maybe that makes it harder lol

He's in his 50s (but very young at heart), they homeschool their kids, heavily environmentally active; he's an architecht/builder ('healthy' homes/structures), the two of them shoot videos professionally-documentaries, he has a great sense of humour so I'm thinkin something that's a bit funny. First suggestion from my sis was a composting toilet, but I looked at pics of those and they're rather ugly lol. I'd rather stay away from a 'simple' toolbox idea unless I can work the idea in with the enviro and videography stuff lol.
I'm trying to see how I can work biodegradable or something in there, there's just so much stuff to draw from my brain is on overload how to combine it all
HELP! ---please (I know i know it's a tall order lol)

I would take one of his fav's and work that into a cake. Doing all or most would make the cake too busy. Unless you are doing a muliti tiered cake.

what kind of cake?

if sheet: poster for their next movie -- the recyclable house

if 3D -- could make a house w/ a recycle symbol on it -- of course house is green. it could be off to one side of the board. Fondant figures of director and camera person, on-camera spokesperson, and a camera making a film. the could build in all kinds of jokes.... such as:
moose eating a corner of the house
bird flying off w/ some part of house or building a nest in it.
etc. (sort of a grown up version of Hansel and Gretel's gingerbread house)

If they have a good sense of humor you could do a tree stump with hands around it.....tree hugger

Ok, first of all I have to say, Antylucifer is a hysterical name to have!!!! hahaha everytime I see one of your posts I crack up at the name. And Doug...that imagination of yours, wild, and amazing!!
How bout a little campsite with tree hugging friends, and another family stuffed into their tiny Toyota Prius?! Ohhh ya, and Dougs house-eating moose. LOL you guys crack me up!!!