Building a Sustainable Future Together | Sarah Patterson

Join us as we explore how to build a sustainable future together with Sarah Patterson, president of Common Earth and Sustainable Orillia. In this insightful episode of the Behind the Village podcast, Sarah shares her journey from urban Toronto to the community-driven life in Orillia, highlighting how embracing sustainability and fostering support systems can drive meaningful change through the climate crisis. Climate change involves everyone.Discover the work being done by Common Earth to promote systems thinking and post-carbon living, and learn about Sustainable Orillia's initiatives to inspire community involvement, from local events to conservation efforts. Sarah discusses actionable ways to address climate change, reconnect with nature, and build stronger, more inclusive communities in Simcoe County and beyond.With valuable insights on how individual choices and collective action can make a difference, this episode is a must-watch for anyone passionate about sustainability, local businesses, and creating a better future. Common EarthWebsite: https://commonearth.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commonearth_/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0JvbqbdW3sA9pUhywk0-gSustainable OrilliaWebsite: https://sustainableorillia.ca/Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/SustainableOrilliaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainableorillia_yc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk9yZtF3VGFb3PPg6h95hlAThe Villager MagazineWebsite: https://villagermagazine.caFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagerCommunityNews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillagermagazine/Newsletter: https://villagermagazine.ca/subscribe/Chapters00:00 - Intro00:24 - Sarah Patterson, President of Common Earth and Sustainable Orillia02:35 - Importance of Community and Climate Change Connection 03:30 - Why Sarah Left Corporate Banking and Pursued Sustainability 06:23 - The Concept of Community in Modern Society 10:48 - Addressing Root Causes vs Symptoms of Crises 13:25 - Common Earth's Mission20:24 - Systems Thinking Explained25:07 - Connection Between Humans and Nature 27:20 - Choosing How to Respond Emotionally and Practically 30:08 - Sustainable Orillia Initiatives37:48 - Identifying the Main Cause Behind Social and Environmental Issues41:14 - Root Causes of Environmental Issues43:00 - Challenging Societal Norms and Questioning Expectations44:59 - Importance of Relationship and Learning from Indigenous Wisdom46:16 - Accepting Nature’s Uncontrollability and Our Role in It47:50 - Future Goals for Common Earth and Sustainable Orillia 51:20 - How to Get Involved