Sustainable in the Suburbs

• 30: Sustainable Gift Wrapping — How to Use What You Have and Cut Holiday Waste

  Every holiday season, those beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree inevitably results in a giant pile of very fancy garbage in five minutes flat.In this week’s episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Sarah Robertson-Barnes looks at something most of us keep meaning to do better with next year… gift wrapping. From the confusing rules around what’s actually recyclable to the Pinterest pressure of “perfect” presentation, this episode explores why wrapping creates so much waste — and what we can do instead.Sarah walks through simple, low-waste wrapping ideas using things you already have at home, as well as what kids learn from watching us wrap, and how a few small shifts can make your holiday wrapping a little easier and a lot less expensive. Whether you love wrapping gifts or dread it every year, this episode offers practical, accessible ideas to help you reduce waste, save money, and make the season feel more intentional.TakeawaysAlmost ALL wrapping paper is not recyclable, leading to significant waste.The easiest place to start is using what you already have.Reusable wrapping options can make gifts feel special without adding to holiday waste.Practical, everyday items can double as thoughtful and sustainable packaging.Simple, natural touches can elevate gifts while keeping materials out of the trash.Modelling mindful wrapping teaches kids about care, intention, and resourcefulness.One Small ShiftTake five minutes to look around your home and see what you already have that could be used for wrapping this year — paper bags, fabric scraps, jars, twine, whatever’s on hand. Start there, and let the rest follow.ResourcesSustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas How to Clean Pine Cones for CraftingSalt Dough OrnamentsDried Orange SlicesHow to Wrap Gifts with Cloth (video)Zero Waste Gift Wrapping Ideas (Pinterest)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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• 29: Sustainable Holidays with Kids — Minimalism, Presence, and Doing Less with Stephanie Seferian

  If the holidays seem to get louder and more overwhelming every year, you’re not imagining it. From endless ads to the pressure to make everything “magical,” it’s easy to get swept into a season that feels more stressful than joyful. And for parents trying to have a more sustainable holiday with kids, the noise can make it hard to stay grounded in what really matters.This week, I’m joined by Stephanie Seferian, host of the Sustainable Minimalists podcast and author of Sustainable Minimalism. Stephanie brings such a thoughtful, grounded perspective to what it means to step back from the holiday frenzy and reclaim a season rooted in connection rather than consumption.We talk about why less often feels harder than more, how cultural messaging around holiday magic drives emotional spending, and what it looks like to model enoughness for our kids. Stephanie also shares practical ideas for secondhand gifts, simple homemade traditions, and creating a mindful holiday season that actually feels good.TakeawaysHow “holiday magic” messaging fuels emotional and impulse spendingWhat ‘doomspending’ is and why its amplified at this time of yearHow holiday marketing shapes our expectations and buying habitsSecondhand gifts, swaps, and other simple alternatives to buying newModeling “enough” for kids in a season of big expectationsSetting boundaries around marketing, comparison, and the mental loadSlowing down with the season instead of speeding upCreating simple, sustainable holiday traditions that feel goodOne Small ShiftStephanie suggests buying for fewer people. A smaller list means less pressure, less waste, and more room for the parts of the holidays that actually matter.Connect With StephanieInstagramWebsiteSubstackSustainable Minimalism (book)Sustainable Minimalists (podcast)ResourcesSustainability in the Suburbs (Sustainable Minimalists podcast)Is It Okay To Give Secondhand Gifts (episode & blog post)How to Stop Shopping on Amazon (blog post)6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (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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• 28: Is It Okay to Give Secondhand Gifts? Why Thrifted Gifts Are the Most Eco-Friendly Choice

  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 gifts, whether thrifted, vintage, or passed down, often hold the most heart.Sarah shares listener stories, practical ideas, and her own real-life secondhand wins — all to help you rethink what gifting can look like this season. Whether you’re new to the idea of secondhand gifting or already a Buy Nothing pro, this conversation offers encouragement, inspiration, and lots of doable takeaways.TakeawaysCultural stigma around secondhand gifting still exists — but it’s shifting.Intention matters more than whether a gift is new or used.Thrifted and pre-loved gifts can dramatically reduce waste and carbon emissions.Creativity thrives when you step outside the “brand new” box.Secondhand gifts often carry memory, story, and connection.Online marketplaces and local thrift shops offer incredible gifting potential.Community spaces like Buy Nothing groups can spark beautiful gifting moments.One Small ShiftThis year, choose to give one secondhand gift. Let gifting be less about “new” and more about meaning.ResourcesIs It Okay to Give Secondhand Gifts? (blog post)Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids (blog post)How to Stop Shopping on Amazon (blog post)A Very Big List of Sustainable Canadian Brands (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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• 27: Finding Joy in Creative Reuse — Sustainable Crafting for Every Season with Sibia Torres Padilla

  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 resourcefulness, and how those early lessons in “making do” evolved into a lifelong love of turning the everyday into something meaningful. Together, they explore the beauty of creative reuse, the emotional connections formed through making, and how crafting with kids can nurture imagination and mindfulness — especially during the busy holiday season.They also talk about the realities of navigating online fame, what it felt like to publish her first book, and why creating something by hand can be such a powerful act of hope.TakeawaysCreativity and sustainability are deeply connected — both begin with what’s already around us.Creative reuse transforms ordinary materials into art and joy.Making things by hand fosters connection with nature and each other.Publishing Charming Woodland Crafts was a dream realized.The holidays offer a chance to create intentionally, not consume endlessly.You don’t need to be “crafty” to make something meaningful.Beauty exists even in what others might see as trash.One Small ShiftLook at what’s already in your home — paper scraps, jars, pinecones, fabric bits — and see what could become something new. Start with one small, handmade project and let the process be the point.Connect with SibiaInstagramFacebookResourcesCharming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made from Natural and Recycled Materials (buy Sibia’s book!)6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post)Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas (blog post)Seasonal Decor: How to Make Dried Orange Slices (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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• 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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