Poll Time Again!

January 27th, 2015 - filed under: Furthermore » Feedback

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Vicious thorns and buttercup buds.

Hello my dears! Just a quick post today, hoping to take the pulse of our little community here. As you all know, grad school is a black hole of time suckage, and since beginning this process a year ago, my blogging has definitely dropped off. As it should!

I do make my best effort to post at least once per week, but since the frequency of blogging has decreased, I think it makes sense to check in with all of you, regarding the content.

So, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I’m wondering if you’d be willing to fill out the poll below?

You CAN vote for multiple categories, by simply refreshing the page. The poll will re-appear and then you can re-vote. So please feel free to vote for all your favorites!





Thank you SO much! And also, if you feel so inspired, I’d love to hear more if you want to elaborate down below in the comments. The good, the bad (I can take it! just be respectful), suggestions, complaints, ideas – all of it.

In general, at any given time, I tend to have an over-abundance of inspiration and thus, about a million different topics I could potentially pursue. So like I said, a little help narrowing the focus is very much appreciated.

Thanks again!

♥

  • Bel

    I love your website, and all of the content, so this was like trying to choose a favourite child, but in the end I went for WIAW as top choice. What I particularly like about your site is the way that you integrate being vegan into a fully-rounded life, and you’re not only a full-time professional vegan (if that makes sense!). In some other sites, it’s clear that the recipes or concepts take, frankly, all day and the authors have the time to do that because that’s all they do – but you offer something much more attainable and realistic in terms of living a vegan life, and this is beautifully illustrated with WIAW.
    I also put a vote in for the personal stuff and Pictures of Things options – as a fellow Science geek, I also love to hear about this side of your life!

  • jenn

    Hi Sayward, I’ve written here to you before… I use to have community when I lived in Maine (where I’m from) and Santa Fe, where I had my two girls. We moved to Maryland about 1 1/2 years ago because the schools in New Mexico are awful and I wanted better for my girls and I wanted to finish my college degree and wasn’t finding what i wanted there, tho I love the dessert and the culture and the moutains and that sky, etc… So here we are in rat race ucky Maryland (Baltimore area) because that’s where their dad is from and his mom lives here so we thought that would help to have some family involved (but it hasnt really because they don’t respect our “crunchiness” ha ha). Well the education system is better but I don’t think/know if it really was a good exchange. Anyway so I have no community and i’m struggling with being here and I look forward to reading your blog, to give me a sense of normalicy and peace that there is tribe out there. So thank you for continuing this space even tho you are stretched thin with your time. Jenn

  • http://www.lovalatte.com/ Emily

    So hard to choose so I voted for a few things! Since I’m a new mama though, the vegan parenting thing really interests me!

  • http://www.theveganchickpea.com theveganchickpea

    i always love when you talk about the ex-vegan movement ;)

  • Sarah C.

    I think it’s pretty spot-on already, honestly. I like your “voice” and your perspective, and I’m just happy to see a post come up from you in my feed, no matter the topic.

  • lleverman

    I like most all of it and even though I disagree with some things; I am very inspired by you and food and re-purposing, etc. Keep it up!! and thank you

  • Karina

    I love your blog and always enjoy reading it, and I also love the pictures! I would love to see more recipes. Thank you for taking the time to do it, especially while in grad school. So appreciated!

  • Cara

    Because I live in S. FL, on a small lot,and a lot of gardening blogs are for a different climate and more land, I enjoy hearing about the way you fit your garden into your space, both the time space and the physical space. I also like WIAW because it gives me ideas for quick meals on the run. Whatever you decide, I look forward to reading what you post.

    By the way, I suggested you try leaf amaranth in your garden & want to reiterate that recommendation. If you enjoy having plants that are nutritious, not fussy, and abundantly self-seed (and birds like the seeds), please check it out.

  • Brandee H

    I love everything. It would only let me choose one but I would have easily picked them all the variety you have is perfect!

  • Kate

    I can’t see any poll…but I like your posts. Glimpses of your life, how you juggle school, work, childcare, friendships etc. Vegan products you’re trying, cool recycling, and/or DIY projects, saving money, goals….I like it all.

  • Aderann

    Hi, I have been reading for quite a while, and also enjoy your style and voice in your posts. The only thing I could add is this: I would love to hear your perspective/advice on being vegan in a non-vegan world. This is the area where I struggle the most. I do not know any other vegans personally and often feel like I am on the fringes of society (if that makes sense). I sometimes feel awkward at gatherings involving food i.e. holidays, weddings, potlucks and don’t know how to deal. I admire your activist style and should probably channel it a bit as I take a very quiet approach that is live and let live; but at the same time – I could probably speak up a bit more (I seriously dread people asking what is in my lunch b/c it is so awkward to say baked tofu on a quinoa salad with nutritional yeast/tahini dressing to my lunch companions who are eating thier McDonalds …ya know?)

    Anyway that is my two cents, and I would love to hear your thoughts in a future post if time allows…..thanks :-)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thank you so much for the feedback Bel! This is *immensely* helpful, so thank you!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thank you Jenn, That means a lot to me. And I know there are a LOT of readers out there in your same position. I’m so glad that there is a little space here where people can come and be reminded that there are other likeminded crunchy people out there in the world! LOTS of them, in fact.

    I go through periods of feeling incredibly isolated as well, so I really understand and empathize. But you’re doing the right thing, in seeking out remote community. My blogs and podcasts are often the only thing keeping me sane!

    ♥

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    That’s getting a lot more votes than I expected, which is awesome! I have lots to say so you can definitely expect more of those kinds of posts in the future. =)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Yes! Definitely want to cover more of that in the coming year. Thanks Caitlin!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thanks Sarah, that’s great to here!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thanks Linda! Disagreement is good! ;-)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thanks for the feedback Karina. I try to save the recipes for only the very best of the best, which is why I don’t post a ton of them. But I’ll keep that in mind and set aside more time for recipe development. Thanks!

  • Sarah

    Hi Sayward! I remember a while back you said something about possibly writing a post about being a woman in her 30s, about how your experience differs from popular perception, about your growth. Since you just celebrated your birthday (happy, happy birthday!), this might be a good time for this sort of reflection. I would so love to read it. As a woman in her late twenties, you are a role model for me of the authenticity and grace I’d like to cultivate as I move into my 30s. Any advice or insight would be appreciated. :)

  • Rebecca Carnes

    I find all of your blogs interesting:) But of course my vote would be vegan kiddos/parenting… you are totally my go-to for that topic! Like Bel said below what you write about is absolutely attainable, realistic and soooo very helpful!

  • lleverman

    Oh my Sayward, somehow I did something wrong in the poll. I did not disagree much. I love almost everything except your views on religion and don’t read much about raising children vegan (mine are grown). So hopefully, you will see that I love most all of it.

  • Sonjah Arr

    I’ve been lurking for a long time, and I love everything. I particularly enjoy any time you break it down with the science and would enjoy more on that front. Something I’ve been curious about as Waits grows up (adorably and with style) how you decide as an open minded mother and as part of a coparenting team how much of his/your life to place online. I want to be clear, I haven’t seen anything I think is strange or bad. Have you had discussions about bullying or how his lifestyle might be funny to others? I have no kids, so I don’t know when something like that might be age appropriate but I’m very interested in children’s development.
    Keep it up! It’s all been great!

  • Betty

    I first stumbled upon your blog when I was looking for homemade laundry detergent many years ago, B.C. (before child). I have followed your blog ever since and it’s one of the few honest ones where you write about life as it happens to you – the good and the bad. I was glad when you came back from your lengthy hiatus and to see your life getting better and better with the two loves of your life in it, makes me happy. I enjoy coming to your little sanctuary blog and like to read about everything you care to share. I am not vegan, however I have made some choices towards eating less meat and shall continue to be inspired by your recipes.

  • Sheena

    I love it all. The parenting posts, WIAW, and personal posts are my favourites.

    PS Saw this and thought of you: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Do-Splits-3551904#photo-3551904

  • Anie Robberts L.

    I agree! :) I also agree with Bel, WIAM is fun, and Le Love list too.. gratitude about small things and reflections. I love what you do. Thank you! xx

  • Miet V

    I love your blog as it is, and as a mom of two young children (my oldest is right about the same age as Waits), I especially like your posts on parenting. One specific thing I’d be very interested in hearing is your position on vaccinations. Seeing as you are a crunchy mom and a scientist, I would love to hear your opinions on this. I personally feel very torn on the issue.
    Keep doing what you’re doing!

  • http://apedestrianswildride.blogspot.com/ la

    Hi Sayward, I love your site! It has a nice balance of clean, grateful living; celebration of the people around you; and food. I like your entries for wildcrafting and making fermented items…. plus as a fellow exPortlandriate some of your posts remind me of home.

    Keep posting when you can, and I’ll read it happily…. and if you’re ever in San Jose, come say hi!

  • veronika

    I think the vegan lifestyle/childrearing is pretty priceless. In addition to the blog writing, I feel compelled to once again plug the “vegan pregnancy guide” that you wrote! Especially since I’m in the process of reviewing it again :) It’s really such a great a resource! Many thanks for the work you do!

  • Pingback: Pictures Of Things + Le Love List | Bonzai Aphrodite

  • Ren

    As a longtime reader, I’ve always enjoyed the WIAW portion of your blog as it gives us a glimpse into what a day of vegan eating is like (and I love vegan food porn. Not going to lie. ;)). Your approach to it has always been very realistic and honest vs. some of the glossy, fantasy world type set ups other bloggers approach it with (if that makes sense? No offense to them!).What I’ve really enjoyed lately are your posts in the past year with your commitment to authenticity. I think the best blogs are the ones where you not only speak your truth but live it, whether it be good or bad. So many blogs are superficial, and never really explore uncomfortable topics in order to present their life and/or lifestyle as 100% perfect. I admire your honesty and your ability to venture into that realm of potentially uncomfortable subjects while remaining respectful of others in the process. I wish more bloggers would take up that kind of attitude towards their blogging. :) Keep up the awesome work!

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