Sustainable in the Suburbs

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Sarah Robertson-Barnes

14 episodes

21 hours ago

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 all-around eco-nerd in the best possible way. We talk about what inspired her to start Hive to Home,...

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Episodes (14/14)

Sustainable in the Suburbs

13: Beeswax Wraps 101 - Plastic-Free Food Storage with Hive to Home

6 days ago

1 hour 1 minute

Sustainable in the Suburbs

12: How to Quit Using Amazon — and Why You Should

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 walk you through how my family has shifted away from using Amazon — and how you can, too. The goa...

1 week ago

18 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women’s Personal Finance

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. We also explore the role community plays — not just in sharing resources, but in building resilie...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 6 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

10: How to Refill in Your Own Containers for a Plastic-Free Pantry

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 overcoming barriers to refilling (including how to choose the right containers and understanding ...

3 weeks ago

21 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

9: From the Land, Not a Lab — Skincare, Sustainability, and Self-Care with Rebecca Ogilvie

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 pushes us to hustle. They talk about the complexities of sustainable packaging, what it means to buil...

1 month ago

37 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

8: 5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps for Sustainable Living

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 perfection. Check out the links below for Sarah’s go-to reusables and top plastic-free kitchen tip...

1 month ago

16 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

7: Rethinking Zero Waste and Building Community Care (with April Dickinson)

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 in climate action, and why economic degrowth might be the shift we need. From local connections to g...

1 month ago

48 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

6: Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Start Here.

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 Elizabeth Johnson. We’ll talk about how your skills, your joys, and the needs of the world can come tog...

1 month ago

20 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

1: Can You Be Sustainable in the Suburbs?

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 of the climate conversation, and how building community and shared responsibility can make a lasti...

2 months ago

14 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

5: How to Navigate Climate Emotions and Build Community Around You (with Jen Knoch)

How do we hold the grief, rage, and love that come with caring deeply about the climate crisis and still keep going? In this conversation, I’m joined by my friend Jen Knoch, a Toronto-based sustainability advocate and the creator of the Climate Emotions Retreat, to explore what it looks like to feel these emotions fully, stay rooted in care, and take meaningful action alongside others. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, inspired, or somewhere in between, this episode is a reminder that you d...

2 months ago

1 hour 5 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

3: From Trash to Treasure: Finding Joy in Upcycling (with @SustainablyAmber)

How do you turn “trash” into treasure and find joy in the process? In this conversation with Amber (@sustainablyamber), we explore how upcycling, thrifting, and creative reuse can spark climate action and community connection. You’ll hear how Amber got started, why she’s passionate about helping others value materials, and how everyday acts of making, reusing, and sharing can help us build a more sustainable life. If you’ve ever wondered how to get started with creative reuse or what to do wi...

2 months ago

1 hour

Sustainable in the Suburbs

4: How to Do a Household Waste Audit

What we throw away tells a story. When we take time to look at what’s going into the bin (and why), we can start making more intentional choices, one small shift at a time. This week on Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’ll guide you through how to do a simple waste audit. It’s a great starting point if you’ve ever wondered where to begin with low-waste living. And it’s a powerful reminder that every small step adds up! Takeaways How to do a simple waste audit at home, at the office, or in t...

2 months ago

14 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

2: What Is Plastic Free July? (And Why Zero Waste Isn't the Goal)

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 Free July over the years, how she approaches it now, and why “zero waste” isn’t the goal — progre...

2 months ago

15 minutes

Sustainable in the Suburbs

Trailer: Welcome to Sustainable in the Suburbs

We all care about the planet — but sustainable living can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start? Welcome to Sustainable in the Suburbs, a podcast for eco-curious individuals and busy families who want to reduce waste, live greener, and build a more sustainable home — without the guilt or pressure to do it all perfectly. I’m your host, Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a sustainability educator, writer, and suburban mum who’s passionate about practical low-waste living. Each week, you’ll get simpl...

2 months ago

1 minute