Paper towels are one of those everyday items most of us don’t think twice about — until we do. They’re convenient, familiar, and deeply embedded in our kitchen routines. But when you slow down and look at what goes into making something designed to be used once and thrown away, it becomes worth questioning.

In this solo episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m talking about how to quit (or significantly reduce) paper towel use in a way that’s practical, flexible, and rooted in real life. I share how paper towels quietly disappeared from our home years ago, why they’re so easy to overuse, and what actually works instead.

We dig into the environmental and financial cost of paper towels, how ideas about cleanliness and convenience shape our habits, and why changing what’s within reach can naturally change behaviour. I also walk through realistic reusable alternatives, storage and laundry concerns, edge cases where disposables still make sense, and what to do if you already have paper towels at home.

The focus is on choosing reusables where they make sense, and how small changes add up over time in everyday life.

Takeaways

• Why paper towels are designed to be overused — and why that’s not a personal failure.
• The environmental impact of single-use paper products.
• Practical alternatives to paper towels that work in everyday homes.
• How small behavioural changes can reduce waste.
• Why using fewer paper towels still matters, even if you don’t eliminate them entirely.

One Small Shift

Take the paper towel roll off your counter and put it somewhere else — under the sink, in a cupboard, or the pantry. Just notice what you reach for instead over the next week or two.

Related Episodes

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

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

33: Fewer, Better Things — How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter and Waste

Resources

What to Use Instead of Paper Towels (all my favourite products)

How to Knit a Dish Cloth (free PDF pattern)

10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post)

A Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)

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Our homes are full of things we barely notice until they start to feel heavy. Duplicate pantry items, forgotten gadgets, drawers that are full of junk... And suddenly, everyday life feels harder than it needs to be.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sasha Mazzuca, founder of Disch and a professional organizer, for a thoughtful conversation about our relationship to stuff — and how choosing fewer, better things can make daily life feel calmer, more functional, and more sustainable.

Sasha shares how years of organizing clients’ kitchens led her to a surprisingly universal problem: the towel drawer. From there, she walks us through how thoughtful design, simple systems, and well-made tools can reduce clutter, decision fatigue, and waste — without requiring a full lifestyle overhaul.

We talk about why eco-friendly products don’t have to be boring or expensive, how paper towels quietly add up in both cost and resources, and why the kitchen is often the easiest place to start building more sustainable habits. This conversation is especially timely for anyone feeling the pull to declutter, reset, or simplify — without chasing perfection.

Takeaways

• Why clutter often comes from delayed decisions and forgotten duplicates
• How professional organizing intersects with sustainability
• Common myths about eco-friendly products — including cost and aesthetics
• Why the kitchen is a natural gateway to sustainable living
• Why paper towels are one of the easiest places to reduce waste
• How fewer, better-designed tools can support lasting habits

One Small Shift

Sasha suggests starting with one drawer — especially the towel drawer. Choosing tools that actually work, fit neatly, and get used every day can reduce clutter, waste, and mental load far more than we expect.

Connect With Sasha / Disch

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Resources

What To Use Instead of Paper Towels (blog post)

10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post)

A Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (e-book - use code PODCAST20)

5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps (previous episode)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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If the week between Christmas and New Year’s leaves you feeling overstimulated, scattered, or unsure how to move forward without just adding more pressure, you’re not alone. After a season filled with noise, expectations, and stuff, it can be hard to find your footing — especially when the cultural message is already shifting toward doing more, fixing more, and buying more in January.

This week, I’m joined by Gillian Gabryluk, founder of Sileo Health & Wellness and host of the Be Still and Live podcast. Gillian shares a grounded perspective to what it looks like to slow down, reconnect with ourselves, and move into the new year with intention rather than urgency.

We talk about overstimulation, the myth that “more” will make us feel better, and why there’s nothing we can add to cart that will fix the feeling of overwhelm. Gillian explains why stillness is a form of strength, and offers gentle, practical ways families can create calmer rhythms at home, especially during winter.

This conversation is a reminder that sustainable living often begins long before the recycling bin — with clarity, values, and learning to want less.

Takeaways

• Why the constant noise of modern life leaves us feeling overstimulated
• How shopping, scrolling, and clutter become default coping mechanisms
• Why “more” — more doing, more buying, more fixing — rarely brings relief
• How winter naturally invites reflection and a slower pace
• How values-based living often leads to consuming less
• Why small shifts are more sustainable than big overhauls

One Small Shift

Gillian suggests practicing the pause — especially when the urge to scroll, shop, or add something new shows up. Often, the calm we’re looking for is already available once we slow down enough to notice it.

Connect With Gillian

Website

Instagram

Be Still and Live - Podcast

Resources

How to Create Eco-Friendly Holiday Traditions (blog post)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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After releasing 31 episodes — something I am frankly amazed at — I wanted to take a few minutes to look back on this first year of Sustainable in the Suburbs. What’s worked, what’s been harder than expected, and what I’ve learned along the way.

In this short solo episode, I reflect on how the podcast has shaped my own thinking around sustainable living, why some conversations have resonated more than others, and how this show has slowly become a deeper, more community-focused part of my work. I also share the five episodes you’ve returned to most — a mix of topics that says a lot about what we’re collectively navigating right now.

Finally, I invite you into what comes next. As I start planning for 2026, I’d genuinely love to hear what you want more of — the questions you’re sitting with, the topics you want explored, and the conversations that would support you where you are right now. 

Takeaways

• Sustainable living works best when it fits into real, everyday life.
• Slowing down and reflecting can lead to more intentional choices.
• Community care and connection are central to meaningful climate action.
• Food waste prevention continues to be one of the most impactful areas to focus on.
• Intentional spending can support local economies and broader systems change.

Top Five Episodes of 2025

1. Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women’s Personal Finance
2. How to Quit Using Amazon — and Why You Should
3. Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste, Save Money, and Celebrate Sustainably
4. Beeswax Wraps 101 with Hive to Home
5. 5 Sustainable Living Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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.

Takeaways

• Almost 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 Shift

Take 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.

Resources

Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas 

How to Clean Pine Cones for Crafting

Salt Dough Ornaments

Dried Orange Slices

How to Wrap Gifts with Cloth (video)

Zero Waste Gift Wrapping Ideas (Pinterest)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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.

Takeaways

• How “holiday magic” messaging fuels emotional and impulse spending
• What ‘doomspending’ is and why its amplified at this time of year
• How holiday marketing shapes our expectations and buying habits
• Secondhand gifts, swaps, and other simple alternatives to buying new
• Modeling “enough” for kids in a season of big expectations
• Setting boundaries around marketing, comparison, and the mental load
• Slowing down with the season instead of speeding up
• Creating simple, sustainable holiday traditions that feel good

One Small Shift

Stephanie 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 Stephanie

Instagram

Website

Substack

Sustainable Minimalism (book)

Sustainable Minimalists (podcast)

Resources

Sustainability 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)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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.

Takeaways

• Cultural 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 Shift

This year, choose to give one secondhand gift. Let gifting be less about “new” and more about meaning.

Resources

Is 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)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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.

Takeaways

• Creativity 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 Shift

Look 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 Sibia

Instagram

Facebook

Resources

Charming 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) 

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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.

Takeaways

• Preventing 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 Shift
This 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.

Resources

FoodMesh

ReFED

How to Reduce Food Waste Over the Holidays (blog post)

6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post + free download)

A Simple Kitchen Audit

A Beginners Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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.

Takeaways

• Sustainable living looks different everywhere — and that’s okay
• Access, infrastructure, and community support all shape what’s possible
• Low waste is both a personal practice and a systemic issue
• Building a sustainable business brings lessons in balance and resilience
• Money and sustainability are linked — but real change depends on the systems behind them
• Advocacy takes many forms — from finance to trail work to quiet persistence
• Beavers remind us that resilience and ecosystem health go hand in hand
• Caring for your mental health is part of being a climate advocate

One Small Shift

Go 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 Kristy

Website

Instagram

Related Episodes

Ep. 11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women's Personal Finance

Ep. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature with Matt Howard

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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.