Table of contents for Issue 48 - Summer 2020 in Peppermint Magazine

MEL BAXTER / MOONSHINE MADNESS A lot of my artwork has been inspired by the flora and fauna of my backyard. It makes sense to be inspired by what is around you and that which rests at the core of your heart: home. It’s been a big year, starting off with the bushfires around our country. The fragility and fortitude of our land and animals were centre stage for all of us to see. This piece is a small, colourful reminder of what we have and what we must help preserve. Art influences our experiences and inspires us on a fundamental level; it carries itself well beyond physical boundaries and opens up discourse between its viewers. moonshinemadness.com.au BROOK GOSSEN 2020 has been a year of heartache yet, with it, so…

Why did you start your Instagram page Chicks For Climate? I started CFC after a London winter heatwave made me realise there were no adults in the room! I felt like climate change was looming, and I couldn’t believe nothing was being done. It seemed as though what was missing was education and awareness so I created a space where people could learn about climate change, sustainability, feminism and intersectionality in an easy, approachable way. Can you tell us about the intersection of sustainability and feminism… Women have always been at the forefront of sustainability – they’re more likely than men to adopt green practices or have eco-anxiety about the demise of our planet. Women, especially in the Global South, shoulder a bigger burden from climate change, and they’re not…

What do dumplings, galahs and mix-tapes have in common? Besides all being a veritable delight for the senses, they also feature on the bright and beautiful designs of Kablooie – a Brisbane-born label that offers slow, personalised and handmade fashion in a size-inclusive range. The brainchild of designer Keneena Fanning, Kablooie promises “unexpected, oversized and playful” designs that see loose, comfortable dresses, tops, pants and skirts covered in happy motifs. With a background in economics and project management, Keneena was perhaps – on paper – an unlikely candidate for fashion designer. However, her love of brightness and pattern (“Colour just makes my heart leap”), combined with an itch to abandon office life and the need for a family-friendly schedule, saw her make the move – first with a range of…

JULIETTE WRIGHT DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER Givit IN OUR CULTURE OF EXCESS, CHARITY GIVIT PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR THOSE IN NEED TO REQUEST AND ACCESS SPECIFIC ITEMS FROM EVERYDAY DONORS, CONNECTING THE ACT OF GIVING WITH THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. Unfortunately, Australia is not the ‘lucky country’ I thought it was when I was growing up. We have poverty, real and unacceptable poverty, in most communities. But we don’t all have to be big philanthropists to make a big difference. I believe we have enough items under the stairs, out in the shed and at the back of our kitchen cupboards to give people the essentials they can’t afford. Although we’re a national charity, we help people give locally. It’s a smart way to give, because if you have a…

When someone is forced to flee their home through conflict, persecution or some other source, they often leave everything behind. Not only their worldly possessions, but also their connections, their livelihood and their future prospects. Before a refugee can start fresh, they first must endure the prolonged state of limbo that comes from living in a temporary camp. “And the reality is, the period of displacement for refugees continues to lengthen,” explains Heidi Christ, global manager of MADE51. In many contexts, refugees remain in camps for years at a time, during which they face a whole host of obstacles. “Refugees don’t have the same legal rights… They often don’t have the right to work, to own property, to farm, or the right to move,” Heidi explains. “And they don’t know…

The Bardon Dress A pattern collaboration with Elbe Textiles Summer is looking bright with our new Peppermint Bardon Dress sewing pattern. We teamed up with Perth patternmaker extraordinaire Lauren Boyle of Elbe Textiles to create this lovely free pattern for you! With a summer-friendly sleeveless bodice, snazzy gathered tiers and the absolute best feature in our opinion, pockets (hurrah!), this looks-good-on-everyone style is the injection of fun your wardrobe needs. Twirl your way through each and every day! We’re also so excited to say that our patterns are now created in partnership with Spoonflower! The world’s largest marketplace of independent designs from global artists, Spoonflower is leading the way in custom, sustainable textile printing. Their on-demand process significantly reduces materials, energy and water, with inks that meet Oeko-Tex 100 requirements…

FRANK & DOLLYS Add some colour to your life with the new Home Coming collection from Frank & Dollys, hand-printed on 100% cotton. frankanddollys.com EARTHYARD Introduce essential oils into your home with this Starter Gift Set from earthYARD featuring ten oils designed to inspire earthyard.com.au BUSH MEDIJINA Bush Medijina’s nourishing Calming Miracle Pack draws upon First Nations’ traditional knowledge of native botanicals. bushmedijina.com.au ETIKO These natural rubber thongs help raise funds for organisations like Sea Shepherd, Animals Australia and Free The Bears. etiko.com.au 2020.DESIGN Hand-dyed and printed using traditional wax dyeing techniques, this soft linen shirt is part of the new unisex offering from 2020.Design. 2020.design KOSSALII Hand-block printed using non-toxic, water-based inks, this sturdy bucket bag is made from Baltic linen and heavy organic cotton canvas kossalii.com NATURE Marrying…

(IN)VISIBLE PORTRAITS Oge Egbuonu The feature-length debut of filmmaker Oge Egbuonu, In(Visible Portraits) examines what it means to be a Black woman in America – speaking to an ensemble cast in a bid to dismantle the labels placed on Black women throughout history. Powerful interviews with authors and academics shine a light on the experience of Black womanhood, and are interspersed with the poetry of Jazmine Williams and the visual art of Victoria Cassinova. KISS THE GROUND Narrated by Woody Harrelson Narrated by the dulcet tones of Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground is an environmental movie with an unusual positive message – that, by drawing down atmospheric carbon and actively regenerating the world’s soils, we can stabilise the climate, avoid a food crisis and secure a future for our planet.…

let’s plant the future When it comes to the fight against climate change, every tree – and every action – matters. That’s why we’ve partnered with non-profit environmental charity One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every Peppermint subscription sold. Because although the problems our world faces may seem overwhelming, we know we can work together to create real, lasting change – one tiny seedling at a time. Now, when you take out a subscription, you’ll be helping to plant trees in vulnerable communities around the world, including North America, Indonesia, the Amazon rainforest and Australia. The simple act of planting trees helps to restore biodiversity, support reforestation, protect endangered wildlife, provide sustainable jobs and income and, crucially, store carbon from the atmosphere in a bid to prevent global…

PRINTS CHARMING The brainchild of Nerida Hansen, Future Folk Designs is the new kid on the block teaming uplifting statements with punchy artwork in its collection of labels, stickers, decals and prints – with a range of eco-printed t-shirts and accessories on the way. Partnering with like-minded artists like Lisa Congdon, Brook Gossen, May Gibbs, Jennifer Bouron and more, the range will liven up any room – big or small – with a focus on sustainable matters, gender and racial equality, plus physical and mental health. futurefolk.com.au WIN A WALL DECAL AND STICKER PACK! SEND YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS TO YESPLEASE@PEPPERMINTMAG.COM BY 11 FEBRUARY 2021 WITH ‘FUTURE FOLK’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE. GOOD LUCK! HEART AND SOLE Inspired by the resourceful Balinese artisans he met on a surfing trip in…

MAKING WAVES Last year, haircare heavyweight Kevin Murphy committed to producing their bottles from 100% ocean waste plastic, which they estimate will save a projected 360 tons of plastic from the ocean each year. And that’s just one of their many sustainability initiatives – they’re involved with everything from innovative water-saving shower heads and salon waste management, to philanthropic programs that donate to charities working with breast cancer, climate change and Indigenous youth suicide prevention. With biodegradable and hi-tech natural ingredients, your locks will love them too. Kevin, you’re our mane man. kevinmurphy.com.au (ABOVE: NEW SCALP-SPA RANGE TO SOOTHE, PURIFY AND CLEANSE SCALPS) HERE COMES THE SUN We’ve found your new sol mate! This natural, Australian-made reef-safe sunscreen from P4O (People4Ocean) is made using solar power with nourishing organic oils…

“I’m a collector, a scavenger, so working with found textiles is so exciting – it informs the psychological and emotional content of the artwork.” Tell us a bit about your art… I make sculptural works and installations using all forms of found fabrics, including worn clothing and textiles, fibre such as sheep and alpaca fleece, and cat hair. I work with methods of patchwork quilting, wet-felting and dressmaking, and I draw on my technical sewing and cutting skills. What do you love about found textiles? I’m a collector, a scavenger, so working with found textiles is exciting – it informs the psychological and emotional content of the artwork. I aim to live gently on the earth, which has led me to seek out, use and revere materials that come to…

EXCERPT FROM ‘THIS ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE’ BY SARAH WILSON, PUBLISHED BY MACMILLAN AUSTRALIA. “Wanderer, there is no path. The path is made by walking it.”— Antonio Machado I remember many years ago a friend sat with me on my couch and we were trawling through the tangled detritus of my recent failed relationship with some on-again-off-again bloke. The to-ing and fro-ing of the messy grief and blame had argued itself to a standstill, and my friend put down her wine and turned to me. “And… what are we going to do about it?” she asked. Her implicit message was brutally and helpfully clear. Be in pain, do the pain. And… move forward. She’d recently done The Landmark Forum. She was all over brutal confrontation. We can always add…

“The impact of COVID-19 has seen demand for food relief reach an alltime high, with so many new people turning to charities for support for the first time in their lives.” The food we eat has the power to determine our health and wellbeing. It can nourish (or deplete) the environment. It can bring people together and bridge divides. But, between the climate crisis and the pandemic, it’s evident there are glitches in what we may have assumed was a well-oiled machine – Australia’s food system isn’t resilient to shocks (and shocks upon shocks) and it isn’t serving all people equally. Where Australia is performing well is in production. In response to empty supermarket shelves from widespread panic buying, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences published…

Serves 8 CAKE INGREDIENTS 1 pineapple150g almond meal250g desiccated coconut1 teaspoon baking powder6 eggs250g caster (superfine) sugarToasted coconut flakes, to serveNatural or Greek yoghurt, to serve Makes 350ml SYRUP INGREDIENTS Skin from pineapple500ml water220g caster (superfine) sugar1 star anise4 allspice berries2 cloves¼ teaspoon black peppercorns METHOD Preheat the oven to 160°C and line a 30cm loaf tin with baking paper. Cut the skin off the pineapple and set aside, then cut the flesh and core into small cubes and blitz them in a food processor until smooth. You’ll need 400g of pineapple puree for the batter. Whisk together the almond meal, desiccated coconut and baking powder in a large bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs and sugar on medium speed until…

Hope. For its mere four letters, it has immense gravitas. I’ve written about hope multiple times before, in previous issues. I’ve spoken of how I’ve always considered it ‘my word’, and how it’s emblazoned on the wall in upcycled signage letters in my lounge. I’ve explored many aspects of it previously and so, I have to admit, dear reader, I worry you may be sick of hearing me beat that drum. But here’s the thing: I won’t ever give up hope. I will continue to have it, to push it and to go back to it, even when it seems that all has been lost. Let’s be clear here: I am not bouncing out of the right side of bed every day with boundless optimism and a positive outlook –…

What’s the biggest hurdle for families going zero waste? The greatest initial hurdle is to change the way you and your family think about waste. We live in a world of convenience and so many of us are time-poor, but my book, A Zero Waste Family, is about how we can reduce waste in our homes in 30 days. It’s a recognition that reducing our waste also means saving time. Set systems in place such as a trash command centre – a carefully labelled rubbish zone that has recycling, soft plastics and landfill bins. Where’s the easiest place to start? Start with the quick wins, such as creating a zero-waste kit for each member of your family. It’s something they can put into their handbag or their backpack, and will…

KILLJOY alcohol-free online retailer You should never feel bad for not drinking alcohol, or succumb to nights of plain soda water and sad postmix cola. Leaning into the joy of being the designated driver, Killjoy Drinks is the latest brand righting this wrong. They’re launching an online store of curated non-alcoholic beverages to spice up your alcohol-free life – think non-alcoholic gin, zero-proof wine and regret-free rum from indie makers and distilleries all over the world – inspired by founder Kat Brophy’s year of booze-free living. Goodbye hangovers, we hardly knew ye. killjoydrinks.com RETURNR reusable takeaway Looking for lunch on the run minus the plastic waste? The innovative Returnr lets you take away your food or coffee in borrowed, stainless steel containers that are then returned for a refundable deposit.…

I’m naked, floating in a warm pool. It’s pitch black and I can’t see the back of my own hand, let alone a path to spiritual enlightenment. The cascade of technicolour lights and gentle spa music has given way to a barrage of my own thoughts and they’ve led me to an unsettling truth: I’m naked and alone… Is this what it takes to become the optimal version of myself? It’s not nearly as morose as it sounds. First developed in 1954 by medical practitioner and neuropsychiatrist John C Lilly, float tanks, also known as Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy, have been en vogue in recent years – re-entering our culture as a mainstream therapeutic experience used by professional athletes and anxious editors alike. The goal of the float is to…

One of my earliest memories of learning about Aboriginal people at school was that they could not count and had no ‘useful’ knowledge. Growing up and still to this day, I am frequently reminded that I should be thankful for colonisation for all the wisdom and technology it provides us. I know these conceptions are based on an assumption that First Nations societies were, and are, lacking compared to western institutions – a belief I know is simply not valid. The intricate complexities of this world always fascinated me. From a young age, maths brought me so much joy. I didn’t know it when I was little, but every time I would hear a racist stereotype regarding Indigenous people, a small fire would ignite within me. I disengaged from school…

THINGS YOU’LL NEED Fabric (felt, woven natural fibres, nothing with stretch… we used Kunin eco felt made from recycled plastic bottles) Thread Stuffing (lightweight scrap fabric can be used – cut into small pieces) Scissors Hand-sewing needle Pins Tape measure or ruler Large, blunt knitting needle or chopstick Chalk or pen (optional) Sewing machine (optional – with an 80 or 90 universal, depending on fabric) INSTRUCTIONS Cut out your pattern pieces. Fold your fabric in half, right sides together. Pin the pattern pieces onto the fabric and cut as many as directed. Cut nose, beak and bill in a single layer. Trace around the eye piece with chalk or pen, rather than pinning and cutting around the pattern piece. Stay stitch the top curved part of the separate body pieces…

LIANDRA SWIM Celebrating Yolngu woman Liandra Gaykamangu’s connection with the natural world, the range features digital prints on recycled fabric tops and bottoms which can be mixed, matched, reversed and adjusted! liandraswim.com MIMI KINI Got a body? Good! Slap on a Mimi Kini and you have a bikini body, baby! With XS-6XL sizing, cool prints and a portion of proceeds going to the Global Women’s Project, these babes bring the swimsuit sass. mimikini.com.au SALT GYPSY Surfing is challenging enough without worrying about ethics. Enter Salt Gyspy’s range of UPF50+ minimalist styles – all ethically made in Australia using regenerated nylon so you can hang ten, care-free. Surf’s up! saltgypsy.com HAKEA SWIM Hakea’s ethically produced swimwear lives up to its Aussie native flower namesake, known for its beauty and resilience. Designed…

FIRE FLOOD PLAGUE Australian writers respond to 2020 Edited by Sophie Cunningham Globally 2020 has been a lot, to say the least, but Australia’s year got off to a particularly harrowing start when catastrophic fires and floods preceded the pandemic. This anthology is a collection of responses to the year that changed us all – uniting the original writing of Australian authors including Tim Flannery, Nyadol Nyuon, Christos Tsiolkas and Melissa Lucashenko. Serving as a cultural record of this historically remarkable time, the book is a testament to both hope and human resilience. RECONNECTED A COMMUNITY BUILDER’S HANDBOOK Andrew Leigh and Nick Terrell Despite our hyperconnected online world, most of us report feeling more separated from each other than ever before. So how can we turn the tide? This handbook…

James Danaskos OWNER 4/241 COMMONWEALTH STREET SURRY HILLS NSW Tell us about the inspiration behind Shift Eatery… The inspiration and motivation came from my own vegan journey, which started five years ago. I wasn’t able to find a vegan cafe with options like I had before going vegan, especially with great coffee. So I set off to put my 15 years of hospitality experience to good use and produce a place that ticked all the boxes and helped people make the shift by providing an array of options that would please even those most skeptical of veganism. Have you noticed the public perception of veganism change? We’ve been open for three years now so every few months a different catalyst for trying vegan food will pop up and we’ll see…