Sustainable in the Suburbs | Reduce Waste, Sustainable Habits & Intentional Living

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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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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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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“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Green spaces strengthen our neighbourhoods, connecting us to nature and to each other.

In this episode, I’m joined by Carolyn Scotchmer, Executive Director of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF). Carolyn has spent more than a decade supporting community development through urban greening and community gardening initiatives across Canada. Today, she leads TD FEF’s national granting programs — including TD Tree Days, which for the past 15 years has brought families, volunteers, municipalities, not-for-profits, and Indigenous communities together to plant over half a million trees and help create healthier, more connected neighbourhoods.

Takeaways

• What it means to build a career rooted in environmental stewardship and community impact
• How green spaces support health, well-being, biodiversity, and community resilience
• How collaborations between corporations, not-for-profits, municipalities, and Indigenous communities bring projects like TD Tree Days to life
• The joy of volunteering together — a fun, hands-on way to build connections with neighbours, family, and the nature that surrounds us

Resources

TD Tree Days

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

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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.

Is it possible to raise kids who care about the planet — without adding more to your already overflowing plate?

In this episode, I’m joined by Talayna Zacharias, a sustainability educator and content creator based in Alberta, to talk about what it really means to raise eco-conscious kids in a culture that pushes convenience and consumption.

We dig into parenting with sustainability at the core, how to model care and connection through small, everyday actions, and why curiosity, nature, and imperfection are essential tools in raising eco-conscious kids. Talayna also walks us through the full 7 R’s of sustainability — and we share a few laughs about when reusing becomes… hoarding.

Takeaways

• What it means to parent with sustainability at the centre of everyday family life
• A deeper look beyond the 3R’s — and how their order helps guide practical choices
• Using mindfulness, gratitude, and curiosity to raise kids who care about the Earth
• How to tell the difference between thoughtful reuse and just accumulating clutter
• Why embracing imperfection matters — especially in parenting
• Digital tools to make sustainable living feel more doable for families

Whether you’re just starting your low-waste journey or looking to deepen your family’s connection to the Earth, this is a practical, grounding conversation that will leave you feeling encouraged and ready to take your next small step.

One Small Shift

Create a “reuse bin” at home so your kids can access repurposed materials for crafts, projects, and creative play — a simple way to normalize secondhand and reduce waste while having fun.

Connect with Talayna

Instagram

Workbooks & Printables

Resources

10 Tips for Going Zero Waste with Kids

How to Do a Trash Audit with Kids

No Mow May Explained: Skip the Mower, Feed the Bees, and Help the Planet

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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.

From cloth diapers and thrifted toys to birthday party overload, this is what sustainable living with small kids actually looks like — the joys, the trade-offs, and what makes it doable.

This week, I’m joined by Jessica Nakamura — a local realtor, mom of three (including twin toddlers), and self-described “kinda eco mom.” We sat down in my living room (sharing a mic in a DIY pillow fort) to talk about what sustainable living with kids really looks like in the thick of suburban parenting.

Jessica shares the eco-friendly tips and small shifts that have worked for her family — from cloth diapering and gift-free birthdays to secondhand shopping and passing baby "essentials" between friends — and how she’s learned to let go of perfection along the way.

We also talk about frugal living, budget-friendly sustainability, the reality of overconsumption, and what it means to lead by example without being the “boring mom.” This one’s full of laughs, honesty, and real talk about raising kids, building community, and living a little greener — even when life is loud, messy, and on a budget.

Takeaways

• Making eco-conscious choices with babies, toddlers, and tight budgets.
• Why cloth diapering can work — and why it’s okay to buy the disposables.
• Rethinking gift giving, especially for kids' parties
• How to reduce paper towel use without losing your mind
• The emotional weight of clutter (and what she’s seen in thrift stores).
• Why your local Buy Nothing group is a community game-changer
• Supporting local through real estate and building neighbourhood resilience

One Small Shift

Jessica encourages us to pause before clicking “buy” — and consider borrowing, thrifting, or reaching out to your local library or Buy Nothing group instead.

Connect With Jessica

That Mama Realtor - Website

That Mama Realtor - Perks

That Mama Realtor - Instagram

Resources

Zero Waste Birthday Parties for Kids

Thrift Shopping for Kids

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids

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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.

Food doesn’t come from the grocery store — it comes from the earth. Sustainable gardening is our most direct connection to nature, and one of the most powerful ways we can take climate action right in our own backyards.

This week, I’m joined by Tasha Medve, the gardener and creator behind The Purposeful You. Tasha shares her passion for creating a “food oasis” at home, her best tips for beginners, and why gardening is about so much more than summer harvests. From fall crops to companion planting, we talk about the joy, the practicality, and the deeper meaning of growing your own food.

We also dig into family life: how to get kids involved in gardening, why it matters to raise eco-conscious kids, and how the garden itself can be the best teacher of all.

Takeaways

• How gardening connects us to the earth and why it matters now more than ever.
• Practical tips for beginners, including raised beds, fall planting, vertical growing techniques, and companion planting.
• How to make gardening fun and age-appropriate for kids.
• Reframing “failures” in the garden as part of the process.
• The therapeutic and reflective side of gardening.
• Small, sustainable shifts families can make at home.

One Small Shift

One of the very first changes Tasha made at home was rethinking single-use disposables like paper towels. By simply moving the paper towels out of sight, she created a habit shift that made low-waste living feel more natural. Stay tuned for us losing our minds over dish cloths!

Connect with Tasha

The Purposeful You - Website

The Purposeful You - Instagram

The Purposeful Gardner (Book - pre-order now!)

DIY Arch - Ideal for Vertical Growing (free printable)

Resources

West Coast Seeds

What to Use Instead of Paper Towels: 5 Easy Swaps

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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.

Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean a cart full of new stuff. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m sharing how to get your kids ready for school without wasting money — or creating a mountain of waste.

From supplies and clothing to tech and litterless lunches, you’ll hear practical tips for:

• Starting with what you already have before buying new.
• Teaching kids the difference between needs and wants.
• Shopping secondhand first and making use of community resources.
• Tips for thrifting with and for your kids.
• Choosing durable, repairable, and refillable items when you do need to buys.
• Packing low-waste lunches (and making mornings easier in the process)!

We’ll also talk about mindset — how to push back on the marketing pressure that tells us everything “expires” every August, and instead set your family up for a school year that’s lighter on the planet and your wallet.

And stick around to the end for this week’s One Small Shift — a simple, doable way to make your child’s school year more sustainable.

Resources

How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch

25 Healthy Snacks for Zero Waste Lunches

Thrift Shopping for Kids

How to Stop Shopping on Amazon (And Why You Should)

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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.

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, how her wraps are made, creative ways to use them, and why preventing food waste is one of the most powerful climate actions we can take in our own kitchens. Along the way, we also get into composting, connecting with nature, and the joy of using what you already have.

Takeaways

• Sustainable living can start with small, manageable changes.
• Beeswax wraps are a practical, reusable alternative to plastic food storage.
• How to use beeswax wraps for food storage and beyond!
• Understanding food waste’s impact on climate change is crucial — Canadian households waste $1300 worth of food per year, and 63% of it could have been eaten.
• Food waste prevention tips including meal planning, proper (and plastic free storage), and using food rescue apps to save money and keep food out of the landfill.
• Composting is a rewarding way to manage scraps and close the loop.
• Community and shared interests are key to strengthening sustainability efforts.

One Small Shift

Pause the scroll! Slow down and notice how you feel less overwhelmed, and feel less compelled to consume.

Connect with Chelsey @ Hive to Home

Hive to Home - Shop

Hive to Home - Instagram

Hive to Home - Beeswax Wrap Care

Resources

A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20 to save 20%)

Plastic Free July: 31 Easy Swaps to Reduce Plastic Waste

10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money

1000 Hours Outside

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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 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 goal isn’t to overhaul your shopping habits overnight. It’s about slowing down, paying attention, and finding new ways to shop that feel better for you, your wallet, and the world.

Takeaways

• Why reducing your Amazon use isn’t about guilt or going without — it’s about spending in ways that feel better for you, your values, and your community.
• The real cost of convenience: how Amazon’s business model fuels overconsumption and the plastic waste crisis.
• What “free shipping” really means — and why small businesses can’t compete.
• Practical ways to untangle from Amazon without making life harder.
• The three mindset shifts that helped me: Pause, Buy Local, and Shop Secondhand.
• Small, intentional changes away from Amazon support your local economy, reduce waste, and align with the kind of world you want to help build.

One Small Shift

Try a “pause rule” for online shopping — only place orders on a set day each week (or month) and let your cart sit until then. You might be surprised how many things you no longer want or need.

Resources

• Buy Less, Buy Better: My Favourite Canadian Brands
• Well.ca - Shop Canadian Brands
• Bookshop.org - Support Independent Booksellers
• Facebook Marketplace
• Buy Nothing Project
• Poshmark (invite code SUSTAINABLESRB)
• DePop
• ThreadUp
• Kijiji 
• LEND-IT.CA
  
  

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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.