Comments on: Do people who are granola know they are granola?

By: bam bam bigelow

bam bam bigelow — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:36:37 +0000

^^^ that’s purdy granola.

By: HP

HP — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:18:33 +0000

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.

By: Cara

Cara — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:11:45 +0000

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!

By: Janelle

Janelle — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:08:12 +0000

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?

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:01:50 +0000

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!

By: Jena

Jena — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:10:25 +0000

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!)

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:28:15 +0000

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.

By: The Oasis of Unexpected Compliments

The Oasis of Unexpected Compliments — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:38:02 +0000

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.

By: Just Being Funny

Just Being Funny — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:34:27 +0000

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.

By: Nina

Nina — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 19:39:35 +0000

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

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:57:48 +0000

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!

By: KJ

KJ — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:36:39 +0000

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.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 02:05:25 +0000

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.

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 22:38:52 +0000

Spinach Brownies Recipe

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

Heat oven to 350Â°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.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:51:12 +0000

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