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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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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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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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 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.

Takeaways

• Why buying your way to sustainability won’t work  and what to do instead
• The burnout that comes from trying to “do it all” and how to recover from it
• How guilt and shame are built into our systems (and why they don’t lead to change)
• The difference between looking sustainable and living sustainably
• Why messy, imperfect progress creates the most lasting change

One Small Shift

Before 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.

Resources

How NOT to Go Zero Waste (blog post)

50 Easy Ways to Be More Sustainable (blog post)

Household Waste Audit Workbook

A Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen

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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.

Takeaways

• How a small-town mindset of borrowing and helping neighbours led to the creation of LEND-IT.CA
• Why 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 Shift

Before 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 Sattler

LEND-IT.CA (website)

App Store

Google Play

Facebook

Instagram

Resources

Lend What You Have, Borrow What You Need (blog post)

Circular Innovation Council

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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.

Takeaways

• Refill shops make low-waste living simple, practical, and community-driven
• Refilling can be intimidating at first, but it’s easy and empowering once you try
• Sustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive — it’s about using what you have
• Teaching teens about consumption and waste builds lifelong awareness
• Community partnerships strengthen local action and keep small businesses resilient
• Burnout 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 Julie

BYO Long Beach (Website)

Bring Your Own Long Beach (Instagram)

BYO Long Beach (Instagram)

Resources

Algalita Marine Research and Education

Circular Economy Month

How to Refill in Your Own Containers (Blog post)

How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (Blog post)

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Halloween is supposed to be spooky, but the real horror might just be the mountain of waste it leaves behind. Costumes that only last one night, piles of plastic candy wrappers, cheap décor that lasts one season, and millions of pumpkins sent straight to landfill. It’s expensive and wasteful — but it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m sharing how to celebrate Halloween in a way that’s festive, affordable, and low waste. You’ll hear ideas for costumes, candy, decorations, and pumpkins that cut back on trash while still keeping the spirit of Halloween. And as always, it’s about picking what feels doable for you — practical, budget-friendly shifts that reduce waste without losing what you love about the season.

Takeaways

• How Halloween has become one of the most wasteful (and expensive!) holidays of the year.
• Costume ideas to save money and reduce waste
• How to hand out treats without all the plastic.
• Eco-friendly décor tips and why you should skip fake spider webs.
• What to do with your pumpkins after Halloween

Resources

Zero Waste Halloween (blog post)

What to Do With Your Pumpkin After Halloween (blog post)

Seasonal Decor - Making a Trash Pumpkin (blog post)

Ethical Candy to Try This Halloween (Fairtrade America)

Pumpkin Parades (City of Toronto)

TerraCycle - Halloween Treat Wrappers

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What if noticing a chickadee, or spending Sunday offline, could change the way you see your neighbourhood — and yourself?

This week, I’m joined by Matt Howard, a wildlife biologist, writer,  and engaging voice on how we connect with the natural world. Matt has worked everywhere from a tiny island in Alaska to California wind farms, and he now brings that deep ecological knowledge into everyday conversations about birds, frogs, and even the gear we think we need to enjoy the outdoors.

We talk about everything from chickadee calls and suburban bird feeders to wildlife road crossings, community science, and why stories matter just as much as data. Matt also shares how his “Log Cabin Sundays” digital detox practice has shifted his perspective, and what it means to navigate being a middle-aged “influencer” in the sustainability space.

This conversation is both funny and hopeful — a reminder that connecting with nature doesn’t have to be complicated, and that the choices we make in our own backyards and communities really do matter.

Takeaways

• Storytelling can help people connect with science and see nature differently
• Bird feeders and native plants can create vital suburban habitats
• Community science projects let anyone contribute to conservation
• Wildlife road crossings save countless animals and need ongoing support
• Noise pollution is a hidden but powerful threat to wildlife
• Log Cabin Sundays show the value of slowing down and unplugging
• Buying outdoor gear second-hand is one way to enjoy nature without feeding consumerism

One Small Shift

Matt suggests making your next outdoor adventure a little greener by choosing secondhand gear. Whether it’s borrowing from a friend, checking a thrift shop, or repurposing what you already have, enjoying nature doesn’t have to come with new stuff.

Connect With Matt

Instagram

TikTok

Threads

Patreon - Howie's Everything Club

Substack - Log Cabin Sundays

YouTube

Resources

Merlin Bird ID (app)

Safe Nesting Materials for Birds (blog post)

Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America - Leila Philip (book)

Silent Spring - Rachel Carson (book)

No New Things - Ashlee Piper (book)

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What if travel could be a form of care — for the planet, for ourselves, and for each other?

This week, I’m joined by Renee de Ronde, the creator behind Conscious Compass, where she shares slow, nature-led travel experiences rooted in beauty, intention, and connection. We talk about everything from glamping and family road trips to Canadian landscapes and creator community — and what it really means to travel consciously in today’s world.

Renee’s storytelling is gentle and grounded, and her photography will make you want to pack up and head straight for the forest (after you refill your reusable water bottle, of course). This conversation is a thoughtful look at how we experience place, why local adventures matter, and how slowing down can bring us closer to the things that actually make travel meaningful.

Takeaways

• Why sustainable travel is about how we travel, not just where we go
• The connection between photography, memory, and environmental activism
• How local travel — especially in Canada — can be just as awe-inspiring as international trips
• The role of community and friendship in shaping a more connected, conscious life
• Why “buy less” might be the most underrated travel (and life) tip out there

One Small Shift

Renee shares how buying less (and buying more intentionally) helped shift her relationship with both travel and sustainability. It's not about doing without —  it's about doing with care.

Connect with Renee

Conscious Compass – Instagram

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