Indholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2017 i Peppermint Magazine

ISSUE 33 AUTUMN 2017 A few months ago my husband and I started doing an audit of our living situation – a financial audit initially, which quite quickly turned into a personal one. We have been contemplating buying a house and nothing makes you take a good hard look at your life values more than looking at the latest real estate prices. We currently rent a fairly big house that is filled with a lot of stuff. So. Much. Stuff. Buying in the area (and fitting in the aforementioned stuff) would mean either taking out a mortgage for 300 years or significantly downsizing. I would love to reduce our footprint, despite the fact that the thought of squashing six of us into a shoebox that suits our lofty ideals and…

“ We are very lucky because there are still people who worked in this industry around Melbourne who are happy to drop into the factory and help us maintain the machinery or teach us skills and processes” But with the 1970s came a reduction in tariffs, leaving the local industry struggling to compete with off-shore production’s lower costs and larger outputs. That didn’t stop designermakers Myra Spencer and Breeze Powell from launching their own Abbotsford footwear factory in 2014. These talented cordwainers produce unisex high-fashion footwear for their own brand Post Sole Studio, while also manufacturing shoes for local and international labels like Melbourne’s Kuwaii and New Zealand’s Penny Sage. “I grew up in Brunswick and one of our neighbours was a bootmaker,” Myra says of her initial fascination with…

CLÉMENCE ORGANICS BABY + MUM BALM $39.95 Organic calendula-based balm for both babies’ bottoms and mums’ sore nipples. TOOSHIES BY TOM NAPPIES FROM $12-18 Made from plant-based materials like corn and wheat. TOM is working on technology for fully biodegradable nappies, too. THE DIVINE COMPANY BABY BLISS MASSAGE OIL $39.95 Contains organic avocado and coconut oils, plus rooibos tea and lavender for calming massages. LITTLE BAIRN NATURAL BABY POWDER $14.95 Talc-free powder using Australian kaolin clay and organic chamomile powder. VANESSA MEGAN BUBBA SUDS BATH WASH $39.95 With hydrating olive extract plus lavender and mandarin oils. NATURE BABY GOAT’S MILK AND MANUKA HONEY SOAP $4.95 Made from non-allergenic goat’s milk and naturally antiseptic manuka honey. moroccan magic Casablanca-born Myriam Baïssa knows children living in the country’s remote High Atlas Mountains…

1/ COCOWHIP SOFT SERVE This natural dessert creation is whipping healthy foodies into a frenzy. Cocowhip say they are the world’s first vegan and bio-fermented coconut soft serve. Fun fruity flavours include African Mango and Tumeric, Minty Matcha and Super Berry. cocowhip.com.au 2/ SOLIDTEKNICS COOKWARE Heirloom brand Solidteknics are the only company producing 100% Australianmade cast iron and steel pots and pans. The non-teflon chemical-free pans with revolutionary ‘love handles’ design don’t get hot and burn your hands, unlike other cast iron cookware – thank goodness for that. solidteknics.com FROM $89 3/ SPARKKE BEVERAGES Thought booze sparked antisocial behaviour rather than social change? Think again. Sparkke’s alcoholic offerings fund a social enterprise that addresses issues including sexual consent, asylum seeking and gender equality. We’ll drink to that. sparkke.com $60-$70 (16 CANS) 4/…

Shannon Sheedy and her husband Mick felt it, too, back in 2003. Propelled into action, they quit their cushy jobs and took off volunteering in India, where they met a tailor trying to transform the futures of young women artisans through training and employment. That chance connection would change the course of Shannon and Mick’s lives. More than a decade on, the pair’s fair trade homewares brand The Dharma Door supports more than 2000 South Asian artisans, empowering them to trade their way out of poverty – a very worthwhile pursuit indeed. “ I find it incredibly rewarding knowing that every day our work is contributing to improving the lives of these women artisans, empowering them so they’re able to make choices” A couple of years ago, Shannon was visiting…

Which contractor to engage? Which walls should you knock down? What colour should the hallway be? And of course, the most important question that is usually omitted: What impact will all this have on your health and the environment? Because the unfortunate home truth is that our dwellings are often constructed from materials that are harmful to us and the planet. Luckily, these days there are myriad ways to incorporate sustainable elements into your house, including the use of responsible building companies, solar power, natural paint, recycled interiors, green spaces, or even choosing to live in an eco community. We’ve talked to a few experts about the ins and outs of green building design and decorating so you can create an abode that’s something to write home about. THE SOCIABLE…

“love making someone feel worthy of being alive again to have someone change their mentality in such a short amount of time definitely has a great impact on me” What’s your background and how did you get into barbering? My family is from Iran but my parents met in the Philippines and moved to Japan, where I was born and raised. We then moved to Canada when I was about seven years old. My family comes from the Bahá’í Faith, a religion that promotes philanthropy and humanitarian work, so that’s the lifestyle and mentality I was raised in. I studied to become a history teacher, but my family encouraged me into barbering because they thought I had an eye for it. At the time, I had a drug addiction. It…

Never fear – these tips from Sustainability In Style blogger Katie Roberts will help you curate a closet full of pretty preloved goodness. RESEARCH LIKE A BOSS If you’re not a secondhand shopping circuit regular, take some time to research what’s in your local area. A great place to start is opshop.org, a website listing Australia’s op shops. But don’t limit yourself to just secondhand stores. For the full gamut of shopping destinations, check for vintage and antique shops, tip or landfill stores and secondhand weekend markets, too. Once you have your plan of attack mapped out, you can make a date with yourself and your besties for a budget-saving shop-a-thon. AVOID FALLING PREY TO OVERWHELM Entering a secondhand store can be sensory overload-inducing. Unlike regular stores, where racks are…

BOOM SHANKAR Colour-loving Queensland label Boom Shankar's winter collection is a riot of 70s-inspired prints and vibrant florals, like this luxe corduroy Mabel tunic – complete with pockets! boomshankar.com.au LHAMI ORGANIC SKINCARE Formulated with organic rose, jasmine and sandalwood oils, Lhami Organic Skincare’s fragrant face oil also has a touch of rosehip and chamomile to soothe and repair skin. lhami.com.au DESERT LILY VINTAGE Sunshine Coast’s Desert Lily Vintage boasts a huge range of bold retro and vintage fashions for fellas and ladies. Mention Peppermint to score 15% off your first purchase! desertlilyvintage.com.au BEAN BAR YOU Chocolate lovers rejoice: Bean Bar You’s delectable Max Milk gift box delivers four handmade and ethical choccie bars from around the world direct to your door. beanbaryou.com.au EVERESCENTS Give your mum the gift of great…

Discover rainforest, hinterland and scenic coastal walks through Noosa including the Noosa National Park, Noosa Trail Network and the expansive Great Sandy National Park. Reach mountain tops, cycle rainforest tracks, paddle the Noosa Everglades or explore the Cooloola Great Walk with giant sand hills, rainforests and wildlife. Book your Noosa adventure at visitnoosa.com.au or phone 1 3000 NOOSA Noosa Residences Save 15% on boutique retreats with ocean views* 23 exclusive boutique retreats, only a 200m stroll to Hastings Street and Noosa’s Main Beach. Award-winning architecture with stunning ocean, hinterland and rainforest views. Save 15% - quote discount promo code “Peppermint”. P 07 5474 6700 E reception@noosaresidences.com Follow, tag share #VisitNoosa! For your daily dose of Noosa inspiration as well as tips on what to see, eat and do in Noosa,…

WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU, DEAR READERS. All writers published in this issue’s Letterbox will receive a couple’s set of 100% bamboo fibre biodegradable products from Brisbane’s Under The Green Fig Tree. Each set includes two dinner sets, two on-the-go coffee cups, and two toothbrushes, worth $86. Time for a picnic! underthegreenfigtree.com.au GET IN TOUCH AT HELLO@PEPPERMINTMAG.COM dear peppermint Dear Peppermint, Upon opening my subscription I will be honest and say I was completely confronted by your cover photo. Even though I ‘say’ real women should be on the front of magazines and I share pictures celebrating all bodies, I was truly shocked to see it on the front page of your magazine. It was interesting how my logical mind liked the picture a lot but my subconscious has been…

They don’t know each other, have usually never before left their hometown, don’t share a common language and can’t read or write. Yet they return home as skilled solar engineers just six months later, capable of single-handedly installing solar lighting across their entire village. India’s prime minister has affectionately dubbed them “solar mamas” and their unorthodox training is all thanks to the unwavering vision of 70-year-old Indian social activist Bunker Roy and his global Barefoot College. “ I think the world’s future lies in these small rural communities, with these extraordinary people who are doing such extraordinary work with very little money but with so much courage and guts ” Half a century ago, Bunker Roy was on a surefire path to becoming a doctor. Or a lawyer, maybe. Perhaps…

But for Gold Coast-based Angela Simson, it’s a time to check in with herself while reflecting on life’s many joys. The “health coach, mama bear, writer and happiness expert” behind The Gratitude Project website says her Sunday evening power hour – spent thinking and journalling about what she’s thankful for and what in her life needs improvement – is her favourite personal development tool. It’s part of an overall gratitude practice that Angela credits for changing lives, both her own and those of the many women she’s coached. “Gratitude is powerful because when you focus on it you’re saying to yourself: Everything I have right now, in my life and within myself, is everything I need. I am enough.” Angela considers her Sunday evening “power hour” so important that she…

Using recycled metals topped with ethically sourced gemstones and diamonds, the Kiwi designer hand-sculpts and hand-finishes every ring, bracelet, necklace and pair of earrings that leaves her Sydney studio. The process brands each piece with the unique mark of its maker, beautiful little blemishes and quirks that are truly one of a kind. “love seeing the transition from a temporary tactile material into something more precious and permanent” How did you first get into jewellery making? I studied fine arts at home in New Zealand and had an art school friend who made small bronze sculptures carved from wax and cast. I wanted to make myself a few sculptural rings so she taught me the basic process of lost-wax casting. I initially made about seven pieces and, just from wearing…

How did the idea for The Street Store come about? It all began when one of our clients, The Haven Night Shelter for the homeless, wanted to bring in donations and generate awareness. We didn’t want to just do the usual cold clothing drive because, while that may make people donate once, we wanted to make them want to donate in the future too. One day, my M&C Saatchi Abel co-founder, Max Pazak, and I were standing on the balcony of our offices in Green Point – it’s a very hip and trendy area of Cape Town, but where you find a lot of homeless people. We saw how the ‘haves’ and the ‘havenots’ cross one another’s paths on the streets, but never really meet. The ‘haves’ fear the homeless…

After seeing firsthand the fallout from chemical dyeing processes in Bali, Celeste dramatically overhauled her eponymous label. Since then, she’s collaborated with organic dye houses and focused on versatile Japanese-inspired designs using natural and organic fabrics. The transformation hasn’t come without challenges, but Celeste is certainly not looking back – in fact, she’s now something of a spokeswoman for the growing global eco-fashion movement. “I had never done the maths in terms of the clothing I was producing. It was like I finally put two and two together” When asked what sparked her love for fashion as a child, Celeste doesn’t hesitate. “My mum’s silver glitter heels,” she says from her home studio in Bondi. “I used to love wearing them and pretending I was Dorothy from The Wizard of…

The future looked bleak. With things increasingly difficult on the land, younger residents were leaving their parents’ farms to find work in the cities, with no plans to return. But then, unexpectedly, this dying rural town engineered a solution – by opening its arms to displaced people in desperate need of a home. “Part of me just wanted to prove that anyone from a different culture, provided they had a rural background, can integrate quite easily into another rural area, no matter which country they’re in” When authorities announced earlier this year that Mingoola’s primary school would close due to a shortage of enrolments, teacher and longtime resident Julia Harpham knew immediately that something must be done to save her town. As the Federal Government cracked down on asylum seekers…

owners MOTHER-AND-DAUGHTER TEAM, JANETTE AND LEAH MUDDLE address 157 ELGIN STREET, CARLTON, VIC 3053 • MILLYSLEEPING.COM brands ANNA VARENDORFF, PENNY SAGE, CHORUS, ROMANCE WAS BORN, SOOT, ELISE SHEEHAN AND MORE “ Most of our labels are Melbourne based and many work within walking or tram distance of our shop” How would you describe your shop? It’s a home-like space with a modest front. Within view or earshot from the main desk are such things as an ironing board, garden roses, multiple coffee cups and rainbow lorikeets chattering over the 5pm traffic. I recently overheard two women being cajoled to enter by their wise gentleman friend; as soon as they began to look at the clothing they were full of exclamations – “how lovely!” and “so different!” If you’re looking for…

The virtues of visiting Queenstown, in New Zealand’s southeastern Otago region, have been championed far and wide. Its down-to-earth southern outlook and ingenuity, combined with an influx of internationals, has produced a melting pot of progressive ideas with a huge pinch of purpose and soul. However, what’s sure to make this resort town queen of your heart is remarkable Mother Nature herself: the swoon-worthy stunning scenery is certifiably second to none. SHOP DECODE The message of this store isn’t hard to decipher: the many racks of funky fashions amid handmade homewares and arty accessories exude style, craftsmanship and care. A local favourite since 2005, Decode stocks many New Zealand labels in its warehouse- style polished-concrete modern shop, including ethical brands Kowtow, Chalkydigits and Elk. Iconic Australian ceramics from Angus &…

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE PRIZE! 101 Organic Gardening Hacks Shawna Coronado (MURDOCH BOOKS) Convincing an organic veggie patch to stay alive isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world, but this bunch of genius hacks from American gardening expert Shawna Coronado (who’s also a photographer, blogger, TV personality, radio show host and a whole bunch more) will help your food forest flourish. Shawna’s eighth book is packed full of tips and tricks she’s dreamed up since quitting her fancy-pants sales job in favour of a more natural life. Learn clever ways to upcycle everyday items, garden timesavers like self-watering containers and how to grow from food scraps. Subscriber exclusive! If you’re a current subscriber, email us at yesplease@peppermintmag.com with ‘Gardening’ in the subject line by 14 May 2017 to go in the…

anything’s possible Managing a social enterprise that aims to awaken people to their individual power is challenging. Trying to convince people that they already have what they need to solve their problems can be fairly disruptive to a certain mindset. “I’m certain I don’t!” some reply. In cultures immersed in the blame game, too many of us are conditioned to believe that the causes and answers to our problems lie in the hands of another: God, the government, perhaps even the opposite sex. Through my journey with The Possibility Project, I have come to believe that the key to transforming problems is gently convincing ordinary people how extraordinarily powerful they are. Our work with slum dwellers who have purposely transformed endemic social injustice has opened my mind and heart to…

WIN! GET THE DRIFT If you look for jewellery that tells a story, you’ll love Spindrift – a nature-inspired range that aims to fuel your inner wanderlust and transport you to places you’ve not yet been. Prioritising the use of recycled materials, including recycled sterling silver and handcollected sea glass, alongside a fully traceable supply chain, the Sydney-based company was founded by British-Australian designer Natasha Wakefield and is a proud member of 1% For The Planet. spindriftcollections.com Win one of three Swell Lines rings worth $55 each! Email your details to yesplease@peppermintmag.com by 14 May 2017 with ‘Spindrift’ in the subject line. seeking adventure Exploring the outdoors is about connecting with nature, so it makes sense to kit yourself out with gear that respects the earth. This Sydney-based company offers…

After three months of sunshine and air conditioning, chances are your skin’s feeling a little on the sensitive side. But we can help you mask the problem, so to speak. No matter what your dermatological drama, from clogged pores to redness, we’ve found a face mask to help restore your visage to virtuoso condition. These all-natural and chemical-free concoctions will bring more than a smile to your face, so get ready to pamper your pores in time for the cooler months. ACURE MAGICAL WONDERFLUFF Don’t be fooled by the whimsical name – this mask means business. An overnight hydrating booster laden with argan and gardenia stem cells, chlorella and argan oil, Wonderfluff is suitable for all skin types. “Wait, stem cells?” I hear you cry. “Aren’t they grown in labs?”…

“I’m extremely passionate about producing the best gluten-free donut that will appeal to everyone” But in 2014, wholefoods enthusiast Kate Williams came to the rescue of donut devotees everywhere: she launched Nodo, which creates 100% gluten-free, freshly baked donuts packed with natural ingredients and possessing that fantastically fluffy texture you thought could only be achieved with regular flour and a deep fryer. With a bricks-and-mortar cafe in Brisbane and a growing list of stockists, Nodo is on the rise. “I suffered from digestive issues my whole childhood and didn’t find out the cause until my early 20s,” says Kate, who was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2007. “After undergoing a massive lifestyle change and transforming my diet, I was finally free from the issues that had weighed me down my…

After carefully screen-printing her eclectic, often nature-inspired illustrations onto cotton and linen fabrics, the versatile designer then turns her hand to sewing comfy tops and dresses or cute cushions, scarves and purses for her label Togetherness Design. It’s a mammoth job, hand-making products from concept to completion like this, but Esther loves the creative freedom that working for herself brings. “My aim is to make thoughtful pieces that stand the test of time and aren’t subject to trends or the fast fashion machine” How did you end up working in textile design? My love for making things started at a young age, as my mum encouraged me to draw, taught me to sew and took me to pottery classes. When I left high school I briefly thought of studying science…

Nine years ago, Peter started Yealands Family Wines – the world’s first winery to be carbon-zero certified from inception – in Marlborough, New Zealand. Since then, his passion for sustainability has been infused into every bottle. Utilising a number of highly innovative and often unconventional techniques, Peter and his team are producing wine in partnership with nature, creating award-winning drops while raising a glass to a cleaner, greener winemaking industry. “It means different things to different people. To us, it’s more about using your common sense: doing what’s right, putting in more than you’re taking out.” Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and progressive outlook, Peter pioneered Greenshell mussel farming in New Zealand and established a successful deer-breeding farm in the Marlborough Sounds before he and his wife Vai turned their…

“ Many people are feeling we need to slow down and reconnect with a natural way of life” After feeling concerned about the state of the world, Tracey Bailey launched Biome in 2003 to empower individuals to make a positive difference by purchasing responsibly sourced, non-toxic and sustainable products. Now heading up four thriving shops across Brisbane plus an online store, Tracey’s making it easy to choose everyday items that are better for our health, producers and our planet – helping us vote with our dollars for the kind of world we want to live in. Tracey grew up in Dysart, a coal-mining town in Central Queensland. It was a quiet, family-oriented upbringing with “lots of sport, riding our bikes everywhere and swimming at the town pool”, which gave her…

How did ‘The Big Issue’ magazine get started here in Australia? The Big Issue magazine launched in Australia in 1996 to give homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people the opportunity to earn an income. Back then, a small group of vendors sold the first copies on the steps of Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station. Twenty years later, more than 6500 people have earned over $24 million through selling the magazine. Our model is based on the UK’s successful The Big Issue magazine, but street publications are a global movement recognising the need to give homeless and disadvantaged people opportunities to help themselves. What is your overall mission? The Big Issue develops social enterprise solutions to help homeless and disadvantaged people change their lives. We are best known for our popular street magazine,…

This beautiful vintage-style skirt is just the thing for lazy autumn afternoons spent wandering about town. Head to our website to download this exclusive Peppermint pattern and sew your own!…

In researching first explorers’ journals, Bruce discovered evidence that Aboriginal peoples were semi-sedentary agriculturalists, debunking the common hunter-gatherer perception and rewriting the history books as we learned them (or perhaps didn’t) in school. With this new knowledge, a group called Gurandgi Munjie has formed several new farming plots, creating an Aboriginal-led food company – a collaboration between Bruce and Indigenous groups across the country – that’s bringing native Australian grains back from the brink of extinction and milling them into flour to make bread. Australian bread. Aboriginal bread. The oldest bread in the world. “We have to get rid of this ethic where man is supposed to have dominion over the earth ... we have to learn our place” Bruce’s family roots stretch across southeastern Australia – he has Bunurong,…

As fighting intensified, particularly in the capital of Aleppo, hundreds of innocent families were caught in the deadly crossfire. A world away in the peaceful Barossa Valley region of South Australia, ceramic artist Ilona Glastonbury felt compelled to act. Harnessing the power of Instagram, the mother-of-two inspired more than 240 fellow Aussie artists to join her Clay for Aleppo online auction, raising more than $34,000 – and rising – for needy Syrians in just two whirlwind weeks. It was a video depicting the heroic work of Syria’s White Helmets volunteers that first spurred Ilona into action. When bombs rain down on Syrian neighbourhoods – sometimes as many as 50 mortars a day, many of them rusty barrels filled with nails and explosives – these brave Syrians run toward the destruction,…

The former chef launched her popular My Darling Lemon Thyme recipe blog in 2010 after discovering she and her children are gluten and dairy intolerant. “It’s important to know where my food comes from – eating unprocessed, local and seasonal food ensures this,” she says, while urging us all to obsess less about what we eat and instead take time to enjoy meals with loved ones. ingredients 105G (¾ CUP) FINE BROWN RICE FLOUR 120G (¾ CUP) POTATO FLOUR 25G (¼ CUP) COCOA POWDER 1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA 1 TEASPOON GROUND CINNAMON 1 TEASPOON MIXED SPICE 200G (1 CUP) UNREFINED RAW SUGAR 25G (¼ CUP) GROUND ALMONDS 80G ROUGHLY CHOPPED DARK CHOCOLATE ¼ TEASPOON FINE SEA SALT 3 CUPS GRATED ZUCCHINI (FROM APPROX. 2 MEDIUM) 3 LARGE FREE-RANGE EGGS, LIGHTLY…