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 don’t have to hold it all alone — and that small acts of tending and care really do matter.

Takeaways

• How naming and sharing climate emotions like grief, anger, and fear can help us stay connected and engaged.
• The community care practices that sustain Jen’s work — from food rescue to plant swaps.
• The impact of Ontario’s Bill 5 and what it reveals about climate grief and resistance.
• How rescued plants, slow walks, and seed libraries remind us that small acts of care can build connections and sustain a movement.

One Small Shift

Go for a bike ride and notice what’s blooming around you.

Books

ECW Press

New Society Publishers

Facing the Climate Emergency – Margaret Klein Salamon

Earth and Soul – Leah Rampy

Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer

The Serviceberry – Robin Wall Kimmerer

Organizations

Climate Awakening

Indigenous Climate Action

Ecojustice

Environmental Defence

Ontario Nature

Mutual Aid & Local Resources

Community Fridges Toronto

Karma Co-op

Cycle Toronto

Find Your MPP (Ontario) 

Connect with Jen

Five Minutes for the Planet (Jen’s Substack)

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Climate Emotions Retreat

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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.

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 the classroom.
• What to look for when analyzing your waste.
• How mindset shifts can help you reduce waste without overwhelm.
• Why household waste is only one piece of the bigger system — and what you can do about that.

One Small Shift 

This week, just start noticing. Before you download your FREE Household Waste Audit Workbook, just take a short pause when you are about to toss something in the bin. Where did this thing in your hand come from? What else could you do with it? What bin does it really belong in? And what happens to it after it leaves your home?

Resources

If you’re looking for more ways to reduce waste at home, you might also like these posts:

Household Waste Audit Workbook (free printable download)

How to Conduct a Waste Audit With Kids

How to Prevent Food Waste With Kids

11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps

Simple Kitchen Audit Workbook

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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.

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 with “stuff,” this episode will leave you inspired to start small — and think big.

Takeaways:

• Creativity can be a powerful part of climate action.
• Upcycling is about rethinking the potential of everyday items.
• Thrifting, reuse stores, and community sharing build resourcefulness.
• DIY gifts and projects foster joy and connection.
• Gardening and growing food deepen our appreciation for nature.
• Small shifts, like reusing what you already have, are forms of activism.

One Small Shift:

Before you buy new, ask yourself: What could I repurpose or reuse instead? Small choices like using what you have or making gifts by hand help reduce waste and spark creativity.

Connect With Amber:

Sustainably Amber - Blog

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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.

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 — progress is.

From systemic change to simple swaps, this is a great place to start if you’re curious about reducing plastic waste in your home and community. Remember: it’s only single-use if you use it once!

Takeaways

• Your individual actions to reduce plastic really do matter. 
• Plastic Free July started as a small local initiative and now has millions of participants every year - small changes add up to a BIG impact! 
• It's not about being perfect, but thinking about what we can refuse and reuse.
• “Zero waste is more than a plastic bag.” ~ Polly Barks 
• “It's only single-use if you use it once!” ~ Sarah Robertson-Barnes

One Small Shift 

Choose one single-use item you regularly use — and either find a reusable alternative, or find a way to reuse it at least once before it heads to landfill.

Resources

Plastic Free July - 31 Easy Swaps to Reduce Plastic Waste

How NOT To Go Zero Waste

Plastic-Free Pantry - How to Refill in Your Own Containers

10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money

@SustainablyAmber - Upcycles & Creative Reuse

@Sibster - Low Waste Crafts & DIYs

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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.

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 lasting impact.

This episode will encourage you to recognize your existing sustainable practices and inspire you to take actionable steps toward a greener lifestyle — right where you are.

Takeaways

• Sustainable living should be accessible to everyone.
• The suburbs are a crucial area for sustainable change.
• Real-life solutions are more important than perfection in sustainability.
• Sustainable living should fit your life, budget, and values.
• Community is critical for a greener future. 
• Every small step contributes to a larger impact.

One Small Shift 

This week, take a moment to list four or five things you’re already doing to live more sustainably. Recognizing your existing habits can be a powerful first step — you’re already on this journey!

Resources

My Plastic Free Life - Beth Terry

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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.

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 simple tips for reducing food waste, swapping everyday products, thrifting, composting, and building community — plus honest conversations about what sustainable living really looks like in real life.

If you’re looking for doable eco-friendly habits for your home and family, you’re in the right place.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Live a little greener.

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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.