Heidi Chronicles

Comment by Kyttra

6 April 2007 @ 5:44 am

I recycle everything, donate the rest. I have our families carbon emissions at an all-time low! I too use crazy light bulbs and recycle my grocery sacks. I breast fed my babies and started a protest at Lawrence’s Border’s bookstore when they asked me to leave because I was nursing Darby in the children’s book section. I am a stay-at-home Mom who uses natural and logical consequences as her discipline method and gave her daughters GENDER NEUTRAL names (on purpose). I was a vegetarian for 6 years and lived on yogurt and granola (purchased in bulk at the Whole Foods Store).

I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF A GRANOLA. When you live in Lawrence, you quickly learn that your lack of dreadlocks and hemp sandals coupled WITH YOUR CAREER THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE DRYING YOUR OWN HERBS means you are merely health conscious and environmentally friendly.

Comment by AJ

6 April 2007 @ 8:10 am

I don’t know that I realized how granola you were until I read this. Granted, everything is relative. Move to Portland and you’ll be a lightweight.

With that said, I’m not your recycling nemesis. I have no problem with recycling. I’m recycling glass bottles right now. I have a recycling box under my desk that I filled about two months ago and haven’t taken to the recycling bin down the hall. So now I have to throw my other papers away in a regular trash can. How dedicated are you? Come down here and recycle my trash! Or do you hate Mother Earth?

Comment by candy

6 April 2007 @ 8:18 am

i honestly think kids contribute to granola-ism. I am suddenly starting to realize how little by little i AM GRANOLA TOO!! yay! GRANOLAS UNITE! By the way, i could identify with every single point you made about yourself so i guess i really am granola but never thought of myself as one of “those” women/moms. Oh, and you left out the fact that we use baby slings/pouches. how much more granola can you get?

Comment by ryan

6 April 2007 @ 9:42 am

I don’t think i would qualify as a full blood granola under your criteria, but i do recycle religiously and i definitely know what it feels like to be looked at that way just from not eating any meat for the last decade. I should probably take my plastic bags back to the store, but i am blessed with a recycling truck that will collect them. I too have definitely conjured up conspiracy theories about the recycling truck just being a dump truck with a facade, but i can’t think of any motivation for the city to do that except the appearance of environmental responsibility which my city strives for in exactly 0 ways. I’m also into the new compact florescent light bulbs, but have yet to completely replace every bulb in the house. It feels so wasteful to pull out a working light bulb and throw it away!

Comment by michelle

6 April 2007 @ 9:55 am

First of all, leave Aaron and run off with me to Reykjavik where global warming will make it a tropical paradise in a just a few short years.

Ways that I am granola:
-I PLAN on using cloth diapers for the first few months and then a combination of 7th Generation disposables and Gaiam for the rest of the time after Baby X is born.
-I by organic for nearly everything.
-Nearly exclusively, we use compact flourescent lightbulbs. (Did you know that if every household in America replace one incandescent bulb with a CFL it would be the equivalent of 800,000 fewer cars on the road?)
-I donate/purchase used goods all the time.
-With any product in our house, I try to reduce our need for it, reuse anything we can, and then recycle it.
-I bring home recycling from work and make Wade do it too.
-We use cloth napkins and cloth towels.

Your commitment to the cloth diaper is awesome and I strive to be a good granola mommy like you in 81 days.

Comment by Christy

6 April 2007 @ 10:28 am

Wow, after reading the posts and comments, I feel that i should move away from portland. I’m not granola enough to live here.

Ways that I AM granola, however:
Well, I’m a yoga instructor, that’s gotta count, right?
I own a Vita-mix and make at least one green smoothie a day. (Be not mistaken, i am NOT a raw foodie)
I prefer to drink Organic Coffee (though i still can be found in my old house of worship, St. Arbucks, from time to time)
I recycle.

Ways I am NOT Granola, or as I like to call this section: You can Take the Girl out of Jersey…
I am notorious for leaving every light in the house on.
I can’t fall asleep without my chorus of noisemakers (fan, TV, heater, vaporizer- and yes, all at once)
My car is not doing the environment any favors.
I don’t have a compost. (and yes, this puts me in the MINORITY with most of my friends here)
When it comes to hair and makeup products, I’m mainstream all the way.
I also don’t do most of the things on your list, H. (Well, the cloth diapers are really NA at this point, aren’t they? )

Picture me hanging my head, Charlie brown style. I’m sorry, environment. I’ll try to be better.

Comment by rachel

6 April 2007 @ 10:29 am

come visit us in Eugene and you shall know granola. we have three different recycling trucks (regular, glass, yard waste), more bicycles than cars, and women are allowed to go topless any time… even if they aren’t breast feeding.

it is pretty cool… but i am getting a little tired of the vegan desserts sold down the street. I don’t even know what vegan cake is made out of!

Comment by Erin

6 April 2007 @ 12:25 pm

Wow! I guess I’m granola too Heidi, you should get Kiwi magazine. It’s subtitle is Growing Families the Natural and Organic Way.

Comment by Nina

6 April 2007 @ 12:54 pm

You can make brownies with spinach, too. My kids love them.

Comment by michelle

6 April 2007 @ 1:17 pm

OH! And I totally take the bus. I don’t drive. Like ever.

Comment by AJ

6 April 2007 @ 1:43 pm

Nina – thank you for your comments; you’re no longer welcome here. Please grab your spinach on the way out.

Comment by Jen & Elias, Gaby Baby & Lady Sadie

6 April 2007 @ 2:08 pm

What did I call you? Mother Earth? It was a compliment. I’m just jealous of your granola zeal since I have none. There is no way I’m a granola. My children shunned my boobs and greedily gulped bulk formula bought at (gasp!) Sam’s Club. I couldn’t figure out a sling if my life depended upon it, but I do use a Bjorn. I rarely recyle, but I do shred a lot and donate my magazines does that count?? I’ve NEVER wanted to be a doula nor attend anyone’s birth that I’m not related to. I DO wear sensible shoes, but I won’t wear Birks. I refuse to pay extra for organic anything, because instead of having recycling nightmares I have organic nightmares. I think they charge you extra just to put a little sticker on there that says “organic”. It’s all coming from the same mass produced farms out there. I wouldn’t know Love and Logic if it hit me in the face, I just tell my kids No and Stop that right now. Elias would like us to use those long lasting bulbs (because he’s cheap and no other reason) but I hate the color of the light it puts out so I only allow them in the kitchen, garage and office. I drive an SUV – two of them actually. I use disposable diapers and disposable wipes, but I do draw the line at the disposable washcloths and bibs – even non-Granolas have SOME concerns about waste. I use Free and Clear detergent because we have sensitive skin issues, but I don’t have front loaders that use less water, etc. Those suckers are expensive! I AM thinking about making the brownies with spinach because I’ve heard good things and my kid won’t eat anything green right now.

Jen

Comment by Laura

6 April 2007 @ 3:51 pm

Okay, the good news is, I’ve been to the city dump to get recycled mulch : ) and did see the trash guy sorting all the recycling into appropriate bins. So, at least in Olathe, you can sleep easy that your recycling is really getting recycled.
I, too, am a confessed granola and getting more-so every day. (except the SUV I drive – can’t get a 6′4″ hubby in a hybrid anyway)

Lots of organic food in our house – the bonus being Reece hasn’t had an ear infection since we switched to organic milk so NO TUBES!!!
Recycle, recycle, recycle – Reece can even take out the recycling himself
Long lasting bulbs in most rooms
Stopping the use of certain plastic containers because of their leeching abilities
Buy from the local farmer’s market during the summer and ride our bikes to get there
Complain to all our family members who don’t recycle.

Laura

Comment by Nina

6 April 2007 @ 4:38 pm

Spinach Brownies Recipe

You won’t even know you are eating spinach! That means you, too, AJ.

Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9″x13″ pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Squeeze out the liquid from a thawed box (10 oz.) of chopped frozen spinach. Place spinach, 1/4 cup applesauce, and 1/3 cup carrot juice in blender and puree.

In a large bowl, combine a box (21 oz.) of family-style brownie mix, 3 eggs, and the spinach mixture. Stir until well blended. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake 40 minutes. Makes 24 brownies.

Comment by Jamie

6 April 2007 @ 8:05 pm

I have to confess to the internet and universe that I too SUCK at being a granola….
I did however create a Texas National History Project in the 10th grade titled “The Earth Has Rights Too.” It was all about the recycling movement and dedicated to President Roosevelt and his save the trees and parks movement. I got 2nd place at state. Does this make me less of a horrible person?
I’ve been reading Michelle’s blog (who so doesn’t know me) lately and feeling really horrible about my SUV driving/non-recycling/disposeable diaper using/way too many loads of laundry and dishes/non-organic buying/ruining the earth self. I did look into getting a recycling bin yesterday but am at a loss on how to do it since we don’t pay for our trash service.
After watching Penn & Teller’s HBO show where the debunk the “recycling myth,” I began to think there might be a trash dumping/organic buying conspiracy too.
I did however, buy my first organic product at the store yesterday-a carton of organic vanilla yogurt.
Perhaps I can be helped.
Please don’t hate me universe.

Comment by KJ

6 April 2007 @ 10:36 pm

Heidi, you’d be pretty normal in here in Portland, although leaning to the granola side of things. I’m definitely not considered granola here. On a side note, the term “granola” brings to mind the women who staged a tit-in my junior year trying to get the city of Tucson to allow women to go topless if they so desired. As one guy in my MCB lab put it, “Why can’t the blonde cheerleaders be staging this?”

Ok, ways I’m granola:
I recycle what I can and I hate that it can’t include yogurt containers or otherwise recyclible things that have had food in them. I love that my curbside recycling can is bigger than my trash can.
I do only full loads of laundry whenever possible. The next washer and dryer will be an ultra-energy efficient model.
I buy organic when I can afford to and garden as organically as possible (beer traps anyone?).
I biked Caitlin to preschool and walk to pick her up from school now unless it is absolutely pouring, and then only because I have the baby with me.
I pay more for my electricty to have it come from renewable resources to help create market demand.
I’m into baby wearing, breast feeding, and clear boundries with logical consequences as a parenting philosophy.

Ways I’m not granola:
I don’t use compact fluorescent bulbs…yet. My main gripe there is that they don’t make a 3-way bulb and it drives me nuts not to have 3-way bulbs in my 3-way lamps.
I use disposable diapers because contrary to popular belief, the engery input/output is a wash as far as disposables versus cloth is concerned, although if we ever get to a point of harvesting methane from dumps as a fuel source, disposables might be ahead.
I gave up my fuel efficient Dodge Colt (31 mpg in city at 11 years old) for my minivan because the car seat didn’t fit in back if someone was in the passenger seat.
There are plenty of additional ways…I like my American lifestyle. That said, I am conscious of my family’s footprint and work toward continually minimizing it.

Comment by Karen

7 April 2007 @ 12:57 pm

Heidi-my friend Megan referred me to your blog as I am now in early pregnancy and starting to write about it. Loving it so far. Thanks for your perspective and sense of humor. I relate to the glass recycling issue, as I live in Shawnee and they won’t take it curbside. We have an extra bin and collect the glass until it gets full enough to take up to the drop off place near Metcalf in OP. Just have to burn some extra carbon-based fuel to get there. I could only aspire to be as granola as you!

Comment by Nina

7 April 2007 @ 1:39 pm

You can measure how granola you are by whether or not you put nutritional yeast on your popcorn or not.

Comment by Just Being Funny

7 April 2007 @ 7:34 pm

Get a haircut, ya hippies!

Just kidding, really, anything that is kinder to the earth is definitely a good thing in my book. I use the compact flourescents when the incandescents croak, and I try to donate anyhting that I no longer use if it is still serviceable. I even steal things from the trash just to deliver it to the recycling bin, to make up for my younger years when it was perfectly acceptable for me to throw things out the window of a moving vehicle. (The trash-sifting is only performed when I know I will be near a sink to wash my hands afterward.)

I have just been looking for a good time to use the aforementioned “haircut” phrase, sorry about that.

Comment by The Oasis of Unexpected Compliments

9 April 2007 @ 4:38 pm

Hopefully my incognito name will disguise my persona, as I am not anywhere CLOSE to granola (but I’ll wear my North Face vest to Whole Foods on sample day). Questions I have for the 19 Tree Huggers ahead of me if the topic is still active:

-While I like compact bulbs for closets, garage, etc., has anyone noticed that the light they put out is that of a medical clinic? Too sterile for me. I like a soft glow.

-How many recycling bins must I purchase and have disappear before I am exempt from curbside recycling?

-Will someone please make sure Miss Spinach Brownies and I are invited on separate nights?

This is not a question, but an observation: As I finished reading the comments, I TOTALLY GOT IT: I think that you guys aren’t so granola as you are PARENTS who are NESTING for your kids on the grandest possible scale. I admire and envy that all at the same time. I pledge to be better about this stuff.

Comment by AJ

10 April 2007 @ 7:28 am

Regarding the disappearing recycling bins, I have a secret. Spray paint your initials on the bin. It’s ridiculously WT, but nobody will dare touch them because they can’t use them without you knowing they stole your bins.

Comment by Jena

10 April 2007 @ 10:10 am

I am a granola from a family of granolas. It has only recently become hip (I realize the use of the word “hip” shows my age) and more acceptable to say. As I see it there are many types of granola people. In my case, you do not have to be a Mother with children. Reusing or re-purposing and sharing your castoffs with others helps everyone. I don’t understand more people don’t do this. Yes I have been known to take what my neighbors call trash and recycle or give it to someone who can use it. We eat organic for the most part. I want to support those who have made the decision to grow and raise organic. I also feel that we as a country waste food. Use what you buy or grow. My Dogs eat better than we do. Check in to the pet food called “Pet Promise”. All natural- no byproducts and they support the small farmer. Okay I am going to stop right here…I am not a writer, I do not blog, I am not good at this. All I am trying to say….Good for you for being a granola. We could all do better in this area. And yes, Ryan thinks some of my “granola” behavior is kinda strange. He does contribute too. Just yesterday he “returned to the earth” some bread and green beans! If the critters don’t eat it the soil will enjoy it. (yes i realize i just commented on wasting food!!! We are working on this!)

Comment by Jenn

10 April 2007 @ 1:01 pm

So has anyone noticed that its kind of expensive to be granola. I think one of the requirements for being granola might be that you have to be in at least the upper middle class, because if your not, can you really afford to shop at Whole Foods and eat organic most of the time? I know that I’ve tried shopping at Whole Foods and almost passed out at the price of some of the produce, Yikes!

Comment by Janelle

10 April 2007 @ 4:08 pm

I would have never thought of myself as “granola” until I was referred to this today. Athough I do not hug trees or drive a hybrid, I guess we do compost, have used CF bulbs since 2001, and I reuse my grocery bags as trash bags. I carry baby C in a sling when she will let me, too.

And isn’t Nina’s spinach brownie recipe pretty much the one my friends used for pot brownies in college?

Comment by Cara

12 April 2007 @ 11:11 am

These comments are hysterical. I’m pretty sure I’m NOT granola. Although I did buy a compact car rather than an SUV 2 1/2 years ago but now that I have a double stroller I’m beginning to think I need a bigger car, perhaps an SUV. Because the stroller won’t fit in my car at all. My husband has an SUV so I take his when I need the double stroller. I guess I should look into a sling. I’m all about the disposable diapers and wipes. I used to have a friend who reused ziploc bags and I thought that was ludicrous, just get another one. We use those special lightbulbs and they do have a funny color, but if it means changing them less then I’m all for it. I don’t buy organic, I also think that it might be a conspiracy – wasn’t it on dateline once? I vaguely remember. Also, isn’t the Whole Foods on Shawnee Mission closed right now because of all the rats that had inside? I religiously recycle cans at home, we drink way too much diet coke and lemonade light. I really do try to turn off lights when I leave a room, but my husband is always complaining about it so apparently I’m not very good at it. You can make brownies with spinach? I like my sweets sweet! But all that aside, I do want my kids to grow up on an Earth that isn’t completely contaminated so I promise to be more aware and try to make better choices. Thanks for the inspiration Heidi!

Comment by HP

8 November 2008 @ 12:18 am

i go camping, eat psychedlic mushrooms and lay on the dirt while i stare up at the stars and watch their revolution in the sky. its an intensely spiritual experience, brought to you by mother nature.

Comment by bam bam bigelow

12 November 2008 @ 12:36 am

^^^ that’s purdy granola.