Sustainable in the Suburbs

• 26: Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste, Save Money, and Celebrate Sustainably

  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 for enough, use what you have, and enjoy the season without overspending or overbuying. This episode is full of practical tips and real-life inspiration to help your family live a little greener — one meal at a time.TakeawaysPreventing food waste is one of the easiest ways to save money and cut emissions.Plan meals around what you already have — and plan for enough, not excess.A kitchen audit before shopping helps you save money and stress.Changing the way you host can significantly cut costs and reduce waste.Encourage guests to bring containers for leftovers.Abundance is about gratitude and connection, not “more.”Simple shifts in how we plan and eat can make a real difference for the planet.One Small ShiftThis week, try planning the old-fashioned way! Sit down with a pen and notebook before the busy season hits, take stock of what’s in your kitchen, and make a simple plan for what you actually need.ResourcesFoodMeshReFEDHow to Reduce Food Waste Over the Holidays (blog post)6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post + free download)A Simple Kitchen AuditA Beginners Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)Support the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 25: Redefining Sustainable Living — From Zero Waste to Real-World Resilience with Kristy Halderman

  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 now community-based environmental advocacy, Kristy’s story is a reminder that our definition of sustainability can — and should — evolve over time.We talk about what it’s like to live your values in a place where sustainability isn’t the norm, why accessibility matters more than perfection, and how to keep showing up even when conditions aren’t ideal. Kristy also shares her love of trails, her unexpected passion for beavers, and how journaling helps her stay grounded through eco-anxiety and change.This conversation is honest, funny, and deeply relatable — a reminder that sustainable living doesn’t always look the same everywhere, and that progress still counts, even when it’s quiet.TakeawaysSustainable living looks different everywhere — and that’s okayAccess, infrastructure, and community support all shape what’s possibleLow waste is both a personal practice and a systemic issueBuilding a sustainable business brings lessons in balance and resilienceMoney and sustainability are linked — but real change depends on the systems behind themAdvocacy takes many forms — from finance to trail work to quiet persistenceBeavers remind us that resilience and ecosystem health go hand in handCaring for your mental health is part of being a climate advocateOne Small ShiftGo analog. Step away from your screens, pick up a pen, and spend a few minutes journaling — about what’s heavy, what’s working, or what you want to focus on next. Writing by hand can be grounding and clarifying, helping you slow down, ease eco-anxiety, and reconnect with what matters most.Connect with KristyWebsiteInstagramRelated EpisodesEp. 11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women's Personal FinanceEp. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature with Matt HowardSupport the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 24: 5 Sustainable Living Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

  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 guilt, the burnout, and the pressure to both reduce waste and make it all look perfect online. Because sustainable living isn’t about getting it right — it’s about finding what fits your real life.In this personal episode, I’m sharing five common traps we might fall into and why imperfection, flexibility, and community matter so much more than being perfect. It’s a gentle reminder that progress isn’t about what you see online; it’s about showing up, doing what you can, and keeping at it.TakeawaysWhy buying your way to sustainability won’t work  and what to do insteadThe burnout that comes from trying to “do it all” and how to recover from itHow guilt and shame are built into our systems (and why they don’t lead to change)The difference between looking sustainable and living sustainablyWhy messy, imperfect progress creates the most lasting changeOne Small ShiftBefore you buy your next “eco” product, PAUSE. Put it in your cart, wait a few days, and see how you feel. You might already have what you need — or realize you didn’t need it at all.ResourcesHow NOT to Go Zero Waste (blog post)50 Easy Ways to Be More Sustainable (blog post)Household Waste Audit WorkbookA Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable KitchenSupport the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 23: Borrow Before You Buy — Sharing, Renting, and the Circular Economy with LEND-IT.CA

  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. This week I am joined by Tim Sattler, the founder of LEND-IT.CA, a rental marketplace that connects neighbours and local businesses so people can access what they need without buying new.Tim shares how his small-town upbringing and military experience inspired him to create a platform that makes sustainable choices more convenient. We talk about how borrowing keeps value in our communities, why convenience is key to lasting behaviour change, and how rethinking ownership can make life simpler for families.TakeawaysHow a small-town mindset of borrowing and helping neighbours led to the creation of LEND-IT.CAWhy convenience is essential if we want eco-friendly choices to stick.The role of renting in reducing waste, clutter, and costs — especially in suburban homes.How LEND-IT.CA connects individuals and small rental businesses to keep value local.How renting and borrowing locally supports the circular economy.Practical examples of borrowing for family life — from sports equipment and DIY tools to party décor and camping gear.How trying before buying can help families save money and prevent unwanted purchases.One Small ShiftBefore you click “buy now,” pause for a moment. Do you really need to own that item? Could you borrow it from a neighbour or rent it locally instead? Trying before buying is one small shift that keeps money in your community, reduces waste, and helps build a stronger community for all.Connect with Tim SattlerLEND-IT.CA (website)App StoreGoogle PlayFacebookInstagramResourcesLend What You Have, Borrow What You Need (blog post)Circular Innovation CouncilSupport the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 22: From Refills to Resilience — Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell

  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 shop — from the first-time nerves to the “aha” moment when you realize how easy and empowering refilling can be. Julie also shares what it’s like raising teens in a low-waste household, how she’s built community through local partnerships, and what keeps her grounded through the ups and downs of running a values-based business.It’s a conversation about small steps, local action, and the quiet power of community care — a reminder that systems change starts with the choices we make every day.TakeawaysRefill shops make low-waste living simple, practical, and community-drivenRefilling can be intimidating at first, but it’s easy and empowering once you trySustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive — it’s about using what you haveTeaching teens about consumption and waste builds lifelong awarenessCommunity partnerships strengthen local action and keep small businesses resilientBurnout is real in sustainability work, but community and purpose help you keep going Plus, possibly the greatest zero waste birthday idea OF ALL TIME!Connect With JulieBYO Long Beach (Website)Bring Your Own Long Beach (Instagram)BYO Long Beach (Instagram)ResourcesAlgalita Marine Research and EducationCircular Economy MonthHow to Refill in Your Own Containers (Blog post)How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (Blog post)Support the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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