Sustainable in the Suburbs

Some of the most meaningful gifts we give (and receive) aren’t new. They’re secondhand. And yet… so many of us still hesitate. In this week’s episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , Sarah Robertson-Barnes digs into the cultural stigma around secondhand gifts, why it lingers, and why it’s slowly shifting. This episode explores what makes a gift meaningful in the first place — and why secondhand gif...

What if the things we already have — the scraps, the leaves, the little bits most people throw away — are exactly where creativity begins? This week, Sarah Robertson-Barnes talks with Sibia Torres Padilla, the artist and author behind @sibster and Charming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made from Natural and Recycled Materials . Sibia shares how her upbringing shaped her creativity and...

Festive food and drink are an important part of celebrating the holidays, but food waste shouldn’t be.  In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , Sarah Robertson-Barnes shares simple, sustainable ways to reduce food waste, save money, and plan mindful, eco-friendly holiday meals. From meal planning and low-waste hosting tips,  to getting kids involved in the kitchen, you’ll learn how to plan...

What happens when your life changes completely — but your commitment to living sustainably stays the same? This week, I’m joined by Kristy Halderman, whose sustainability journey has taken her from Washington, DC to Montana — touching nearly every part of sustainable living along the way. From going all-in on zero waste and launching an oat milk business, to working in sustainable investing, and n...

Sustainable living isn’t a straight path — it’s a practice that shifts and changes as we do. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about what sustainable living really looks like. I’ve tried just about everything, and while some things worked beautifully (at least for a while), others were total disasters! This episode is a look back at a few of those lessons — the cutlery kits, the trash jars, the g...

Do you really need to own everything? From ladders and camping gear to canning supplies and extra tables, so many of the things cluttering our homes only get used once or twice a year. What if borrowing — instead of buying — became our default? For Circular Economy Month , this episode looks at how sharing, renting, and borrowing can strengthen our communities while cutting down on overconsumption...

What if stepping into a refill shop for the first time could change the way you see your whole community? This week, I’m joined by Julie Darrell, owner and founder of Bring Your Own Long Beach . Since 2017, Julie has been helping her community cut down on single-use plastics, rethink consumption, and find approachable ways to live more sustainably. We talk about what really happens inside a refill...

Halloween is supposed to be spooky, but the real horror might just be the mountain of waste it leaves behind. Costumes that only last one night, piles of plastic candy wrappers, cheap décor that lasts one season, and millions of pumpkins sent straight to landfill. It’s expensive and wasteful — but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , I’m sharing how to ce...

What if noticing a chickadee, or spending Sunday offline, could change the way you see your neighbourhood — and yourself? This week, I’m joined by Matt Howard , a wildlife biologist, writer,  and engaging voice on how we connect with the natural world. Matt has worked everywhere from a tiny island in Alaska to California wind farms, and he now brings that deep ecological knowledge into everyday co...

What if travel could be a form of care — for the planet, for ourselves, and for each other? This week, I’m joined by Renee de Ronde, the creator behind Conscious Compass , where she shares slow, nature-led travel experiences rooted in beauty, intention, and connection. We talk about everything from glamping and family road trips to Canadian landscapes and creator community — and what it really mea...

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now .” Green spaces strengthen our neighbourhoods, connecting us to nature and to each other. In this episode, I’m joined by Carolyn Scotchmer, Executive Director of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF). Carolyn has spent more than a decade supporting community development through urban greening and community gar...

Is it possible to raise kids who care about the planet — without adding more to your already overflowing plate? In this episode, I’m joined by Talayna Zacharias, a sustainability educator and content creator based in Alberta, to talk about what it really means to raise eco-conscious kids in a culture that pushes convenience and consumption. We dig into parenting with sustainability at the core, ho...

From cloth diapers and thrifted toys to birthday party overload, this is what sustainable living with small kids actually looks like — the joys, the trade-offs, and what makes it doable. This week, I’m joined by Jessica Nakamura — a local realtor, mom of three (including twin toddlers), and self-described “kinda eco mom.” We sat down in my living room (sharing a mic in a DIY pillow fort) to talk a...

Food doesn’t come from the grocery store — it comes from the earth. Sustainable gardening is our most direct connection to nature, and one of the most powerful ways we can take climate action right in our own backyards. This week, I’m joined by Tasha Medve, the gardener and creator behind The Purposeful You . Tasha shares her passion for creating a “food oasis” at home, her best tips for beginners...

Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean a cart full of new stuff. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , I’m sharing how to get your kids ready for school without wasting money — or creating a mountain of waste. From supplies and clothing to tech and litterless lunches, you’ll hear practical tips for: Starting with what you already have before buying new. Teaching kids the difference between...

Let your reusables look reused. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , I’m joined by Chelsey Schmuland, the owner and maker behind Hive to Home in Nova Scotia. Chelsey creates beautiful handmade beeswax wraps as a sustainable, renewable alternative to plastic food storage — but that’s just the beginning. She’s also a backyard chicken keeper, bread baker, waste diversion enthusiast, and al...

We know it’s a problem, we just don’t know how to stop. Here’s how to start... In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , I’m talking about how to quit Amazon — or at least drastically reduce your reliance on it — in a way that’s actually doable. We dig into the real costs of convenience, from environmental harm to the engineered scarcity of Amazon’s business model. But more importantly, I’ll...

Money choices are climate action too. This week, Regina Moore and Angela Rozmyn from Women’s Personal Finance join me for a thoughtful, honest conversation about the overlap between money, sustainability, and community care. We talk about spending in alignment with your values, why “enoughness” can be such a powerful mindset shift, and how boycotts and intentional choices can be forms of protest....

Bringing your own containers to refill shops, markets, or even cafés is one of the easiest ways to cut down on single‑use packaging. It saves money, keeps your pantry organized, and helps shift the way we think about consumption. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , I’m sharing how to make refilling feel like second nature as a sustainable living practice. You’ll hear practical tips for...

This episode is an invitation to slow down — to reconnect with yourself, with nature, and with what truly matters. Sarah sits down with Rebecca Ogilvie, founder of The Detour Co. , a sustainable skincare brand rooted in care and connection. Together they explore the quiet magic of routines that nourish rather than extract — from sourcing ingredients to creating space for rest in a culture that pus...

The kitchen is one of the biggest sources of household waste — but it’s also one of the easiest places to start making a change. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , Sarah shares five practical, affordable, and genuinely useful swaps to help you cut down on plastic and reduce waste at home. From ditching paper towels to upgrading your containers, these swaps are all about progress, not...

When we talk about sustainability, we often focus on what we’re buying—or not buying. But what if it’s really about something much deeper? In this episode, I’m joined by April Dickinson ( @zerowastedork ), a thoughtful voice in the zero waste space who thoughtfully challenges the consumer-driven model of sustainability. We talk about the evolution of zero waste living, the role of community care i...

Climate change feels HUGE — and it is. The problem is urgent and complex. And when you start looking for solutions, it can seem like there’s an endless list of things you should be doing. All of them are important, and that can feel completely overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple framework I often come back to refocus my efforts: the Climate Action Venn Diagram from Dr. Ayana Elizab...

Can you really be sustainable in the suburbs? In this inaugural episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs , host Sarah Robertson-Barnes shares her personal journey and offers practical, relatable ways to embrace eco-friendly living — even amidst the challenges of suburban life. You’ll hear why sustainable living is about small, manageable shifts (not perfection), why the suburbs are an essential part...

Plastic Free July isn’t about perfection — it’s about paying attention. In this episode, Sarah discusses where this global movement came from, why it matters, and how small shifts in your everyday habits can help tackle our plastic problem. This challenge is about so much more than giving up plastic straws or bringing a tote bag to the store. Sarah also talks about her own experience with Plastic...