Tabla de contenidos para Spring 2015 en Peppermint Magazine

ON THE COVER: Amanda Callan and Andrew Morris from Church Farm General Store PHOTO: Kate Holmes LOCATION: Church Farm General Store, Billinudgel, NSW For more on Amanda and Andrew and their unique converted home, visit page 92. style with substance! AT PEPPERMINT WE ARE COMMITTED TO PUTTING PROFITS BACK INTO VARIOUS SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARITIES TO MAKE THE WORLD A FAIRER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PLACE THROUGH OUR FASHION CENTS PROGRAM. HOPE FOR HEALTH Hope for Health is an Indigenous health project based on Elcho Island, in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory – home to the Yolngu, one of Australia’s first peoples. Run by development organisation Why Warriors and partnering with One Health Organisation, Hope for Health aims to empower the local community by providing education, resources and workshops to help them…

“There are hundreds and thousands of prints, each one with its own story” After living and working in the Ghanian capital for 12 months, political economist Anna Robertson couldn’t wait to bring armfuls of the ubiquitous textiles back home to Sydney to share with her friends. Sensing an opportunity to introduce authentic wax prints to a larger audience while supporting local industry, she went a few steps further, partnering with a team of tailors to form Yevu – a socially responsible menswear and womenswear label sold through pop-up shops in Australia and abroad. “Wax printing was an import of the Dutch,” Anna explains, “but the Ghanaians have adopted it and made it their own.” The technique is based on batik relief printing, where wax is applied to cotton in intricate…

It’s time to get back to basics by exploring clever products that do multiple jobs, and in turn, help to minimise packaging waste and maximise space in your bathroom. Peppermint has dabbed, smoothed and spread some of the best all-natural multipurpose balms – free from synthetic fragrances, petroleum-derived ingredients, silicone oils and other nasties – from top to toe and everywhere in between, so you can nab yourself a simple yet hardworking product that’ll everything... except, perhaps, that loose cupboard door. TRILOGY EVERYTHING BALM Described by Trilogy as ‘skincare’s answer to the Swiss Army Knife’ and containing ingredients including paw paw extract, coconut oil, echinacea, manuka honey and Certified Organic rosehip oil, this easily transportable pot of sweet-smelling salve is just as lovely as its pretty packaging suggests. It worked…

“I was witnessing intelligent, kind-hearted women running frantically from one thing to the next, and their health was suffering” A demanding professional schedule, caring for family and constantly putting others’ needs before our own, combined with a convenient-but-nutrient-poor diet, can result in burnout and illness – something Australian author, speaker and nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver has described as ‘Rushing Woman’s Syndrome’. We spoke to her about the importance of eating whole foods, the effect breathing has on our brains and how gratitude can help when it comes to finding and maintaining optimum wellness. Tell us about your background and why you decided on a career in biochemistry? I grew up happily and very simply – with chickens and vegetables in the backyard – in a country town in Australia,…

1/ LOVING EARTH CHOCOLATE There’s change in the air at raw chocolate makers Loving Earth. Same organic, fairly traded ingredients, same made-in-Melbourne loveliness – but these bars have a whole new look! Keep your eyes peeled for the bright new packaging featuring cute, illustrated graphics – so you can easily see exactly which delicious flavour you’re about to devour. lovingearth.net FROM $6.27 2/ THE SUPER ELIXIR SMOOTHIE POWDER Packed with vitamins, minerals, herbs and digestive enzymes, this alkalising supplement by WelleCo is formulated by Elle ‘The Body’ Macpherson and nutritionist Dr Simone Laubscher. But it’s not just your physical health that stands to benefit – 45 key ingredients also promote anti-stress, anti-fatigue and general vitality. welleco.com FROM $49 3/ BARHAM AVOCADOS AVO OIL Every avo from this family-run orchard in…

She branded her fledgling label Alchemy, not yet realising how fully she would later grow into the name. The online world she has since created is a wondrous place to be; Belinda’s thoughtful blog posts, images of gathering and natural landscapes, weaving and natural dye work offer an eye-popping place of serenity in a space often crowded with the hurried and contrived. Alchemy is a genuine collection of work and thoughts that perfectly reflects the joyful life Belinda has created. I feel the most content when I’m close to nature. I want to capture the feelings and beauty that I experience when I’m in the natural world... “My work and personal principles are most closely aligned with the Japanese world view of wabi-sabi, which values and embraces imperfection, quietness, simplicity…

Slowly, using bits and bobs salvaged from here and thrifted from there, they transformed their house of God into a cosy family home, and its barren churchyard into a lush organic veggie garden. When their crop began producing more than they could eat, the couple set up a ramshackle roadside stall, never guessing it would soon morph into a thriving business. “We feel really lucky to be able to do what we’re doing. We haven’t really thought ahead, it’s just been a frenzy of renos and soap and hot sauce.” Even before they met, Amanda and Andrew shared a slightly odd obsession with collecting religious iconography. Not that they felt particularly religious themselves. They’d just developed a fascination with old-school Jesus and Mary pictures rummaged up at tip shops and…

Step into spring with your very own pair of sweet, stylish and suitable-for-every-occasion shorts! This cute and casual option is perfect for popping to the market, going out to dinner and everything in between, and the paperbag waist detail gives a bit of visual interest and is easily adjustable for maximum comfort on those days when one cupcake just isn’t enough. We made ours in a light, versatile blue linen, but they would also look great featuring an eyecatching pattern or in a vibrant block colour. Wear with shirts, casual tops, sandals or flats and sport these super shorts all over the place! Download our free pattern by the talented folks at Pattern Runway, and get ready to stitch up this new wardrobe staple. photo EVA CARTER model SARAH BUTLER…

CHALKYDIGITS This flattering lightweight top from sustainable New Zealand brand Chalkydigits is a must-have for that in-between-seasons weather. Available in dusty blue and olive, it’s a wardrobe staple! chalkydigits.co.nz EVERESCENTS These handy travel-size hair products from organic hair care company EverEscents will give you smooth, silky locks while you’re on the road. Ready, jet set, go! everescents.com.au ERE PEREZ Bat those big lashes with bestselling Natural Almond Oil Mascara, the original natural product that launched the Ere Perez range. Smudge-proof and chemical-free! ereperez.com ALPEI This super-soft Fair Trade, Pima cotton ‘Georgie’ blanket is handmade by artisans in Peru and features delicate diamond lace and a handcrocheted border. Perfect for snuggly babies! alpei.com.au HONEYBEE WRAP These ingenious beeswax wraps save plastic waste along with your lunch. Wrap them around sandwiches and…

the art of slow living How do we find balance in a world that is constantly spinning? A question frequently !asked by those facing corporate career burn out, it’s now pondered by!many in the!millennial generation. There’s a simple answer too, and it’s found in slow living – a lifestyle centred on exercising choices filled with purposeful intent. Most of us live without conscious intention. We work long hours and complain about our jobs but don’t do anything about it. We buy things we don’t need because we can. We eat junk food because it’s easy. But why? Living fast isn’t ingrained in us; it’s only been since the Industrial Revolution that we’ve learned to live this way. Before that, our lives were set at a leisurely pace. This age of…

kateholmesphotographer.com.au KATE HOLMES photographer I’m a mama, dancer, yogi and freelance photographer from Bangalow, northern NSW. I am also an avid tree climber, leaf collector and admirer of the moon. Slow living means... staying in the moment and being aware of bird song, moon shine and the myriad of simple treasures life has to offer. shemakesmagic.com KOREN HELBIG writer I’m an Aussie freelance journalist based in Spain. I love honesty and authenticity, little acts of unexpected kindness and telling stories about passionate people doing good in the world. Slow living means...pausing regularly to check in with my heart and faithfully following its guidance, even down wildly unconventional paths. NICOLETTE JOHNSON photographer I’m a photographer who was born in England, raised in the American Southwest, and I now live and work…

on wings of waste LONDON-BORN, SYDNEY-BASED INSURANCE BROKER AND COMMERCIAL PILOT JEREMY ROWSELL IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF ON AN AMAZING JOURNEY: THIS OCTOBER, HE’LL FLY SOLO FROM SYDNEY TO LONDON IN AN AIRCRAFT POWERED BY PLASTIC WASTE THAT’S BEEN CONVERTED INTO FUEL. Determined to reduce pollution in our oceans, Jeremy has teamed up with Australian not-for-profit Ocean Ambassadors to raise money in support of their efforts to educate small island nations about plastic waste. With the help of UK company Cynar’s innovative plastic-to-fuel technology and the support of David Attenborough, Jeremy’s preparing for the flight of a lifetime. What was your inspiration for the ‘On Wings of Waste’ trip? I was amazed by the courage of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm flying the Pacific and Bert Hinkler…

HANZ DE FUKO GEL TRIQ If you like your locks short and shiny, treat them to this extreme hold gel by Hanz De Fuko, favoured by David Beckham. It keeps structured styles in place with natural plant extracts and certified organic ingredients. $15.00 hanzdefuko.com BHAVE BOMBSHELL BLONDE SHAMPOO Infused with keratin and organic argan oil and free from parabens and sulphates, bhave neutralises brassy tones and puts the bombshell back into your blonde. $32.95 bhavehair.com available from beautyheaven.com.au PURE HAIR FOOD FEED YOUR HAIR Tame those tresses with this lightweight smoothing serum, which gives your locks a dose of moisture and shine. It’s also vegan and cruelty free, so let your hair down! $28.90 purehairfood.com.au YAROK FEED YOUR DO This delicious concoction of pure, organic botanicals, including zesty lemon peel…

ONE> It is important to realise that the way we eat, drink, move, think, breathe, believe and perceive impacts our need to rush, and therefore whether the body is making stress hormones. Bring awareness to all of these factors in your life and consider where you need to make changes. TWO> Reduce your consumption of caffeine – consuming too much is a sure-fire way to feel stressed and rushed, as it results in the release of adrenalin, one of the body’s stress hormones; this is of particular importance if you feel jittery when you consume it. Swap coffee for green or herbal tea and notice if you feel calmer and more energised an hour later after a week of doing this. THREE> Incorporate a breath-focused practice in your life, whether…

SUPERROLEMODEL sylvia earle She's spent some 7,000 hours underwater-the equivalent of nearly 10 months of her life-and has witnessed first-hand a terrible truth: Our Seas are dying. Yet Sylvia believes it's not too late to save the blue heart of our planet. Through her non-profit organisation Mission Blue, Sylvia is creating a global network of marine protected areas or, as she prefers to call them, "hope spots." “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea - no matter where on Earth you live” Sylvia was just a toddler when she first visited the beach, yet she remembers the encounter well: a rogue wave knocked her clean off her feet. But rather than feeling frightened, the experience left her exhilarated. After so boldly…

“I love the fragility of the medium. Once that kiln door closes, all you can do is cross your fingers and wait.” What is your background and how did you get into making art and ceramics? I have no real formal training in art – just the odd class or mentoring session here and there. I have loved drawing since I was a tiny child; it’s been my one constant love, I think. I was the classic nerd scribbling quietly in the corner. Ceramics, on the other hand, was something I fell into. I remember seeing a feature on a local news program about kids’ ceramic painting classes in Brisbane, and my mum took my sister and I along. Mum has always been creative, and she started going to the…

“I want to show others how a bit of creativity can transform old toys into something special to be treasured for many years” Having recently lost her job due to budget cuts, she soon found another way to keep herself occupied. Paintbrush in hand, she began transforming these unloved items into sweet, wholesome toys that she would have loved as a child. Her ‘tree change dolls’ are now highly sought after, selling for large sums on Etsy (and auctioned for charity each month), and her project has inspired parents around the world try their hand at transforming old toys destined for landfill into precious playmates to be loved forever. What sort of aesthetic are you aiming for with your Tree Change Dolls? I try to make each doll look like…

Taking an abused, barren patch of land and working tirelessly over decades to transform it into a healthy, abundant, thriving ecosystem through his ‘beyond organic’, pasture-based farming philosophy, Joel is the role model for a new generation of farmers – inspiring people around the world to take their land, and the future of food production, into their own hands. We spoke to Joel while he was giving a series of workshops at Taranaki Farm in Woodend, Victoria, to find out where his passion for local food production comes from, how his pasture-based system works and just how he’s proving that it is possible feed the world without compromising the health of the planet. “Not only can our system feed the world, ultimately it’s the only one that can” Where did…

“We come from a bloodline of traders and makers so it was perhaps inevitable that we ended up here, running our own business, making and trading” owners: ROWENA, JULIANA & ANGELA FOONG address: 74 DARBY STREET, COOKS HILL, NSW 2300. (02) 4926 4883. HIGHTEAWITHMRSWOO.COM.AU brands: HIGH TEA WITH MRS WOO, ALCHEMY PRODUX, NORTHERN LIGHT, POLLI, WINGNUT & CO AND SOPHIE MORAN How would you describe your shop? Our store is a warm, welcoming and charming little sanctuary. When you walk inside, you leave the street and step into a slightly different time – you slow down. You find yourself in a heady place filled with texture and treasure. It’s a place where you hold onto things – a thought, a moment, a scent, a light – and find beautiful, useful…

READ A YEAR OF PRACTICULTURE Rohan Anderson You’ll find plenty to love in the pages of this gorgeous cookbook and candid country living tale. The second publication from Rohan Anderson, one of our favourite food writers and foragers, A Year of Practiculture combines wholesome seasonal recipes with stories from Rohan and his family’s lives in their rustic home in country Victoria. The book traces Rohan’s preparations for the changing seasons over the course of 12 months as he grows, forages and hunts his own food and shares the highs and lows of living so close to the land. From spring’s broccoli pappardelle to winter’s roo tail with roast pumpkin mash, Rohan’s hearty recipes showcase a bounty of seasonal produce, and are interspersed with short essays that reveal his food philosophies…

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through a feed of beautifully curated Instagram images – then looking up and realising that an hour has gone by in a flash and you’ve been ignoring the real people right in front of you? Social media brings us so many joys – connection and conversation with like-minded individuals, a never-ending stream of inspiration and prettiness, and a way to temporarily escape from dull surroundings (I’m looking at you, dentist’s waiting room) to name just a few – but it can also be horribly addictive. Connecting to wifi can leave you feeling disconnected to the people who really matter, and, eventually, unplugged from yourself. That’s why for this Assignmint we’re urging you to disconnect (from technology) to reconnect (with yourself and others)! Try going…

Nestled at the mouth of the Brunswick River, the protected sandy inlets and clean surf beach provide a sun-soaked backdrop for locals holiday-makers of all ages. A tiny town it might be (although the numbers swell significantly during local festival times when it becomes a base camp for gumboot-wearing, wristband-adorned party-goers), but Brunswick Heads is brimming with enough unique local finds to keep you captivated for days, while still retaining its authentic, calming, coastal vibe. SHOP You could start (and end) at the ultimate in treasure hunts, Clem’s Cargo. A huge warehouse stacked to the ceiling with used furniture and collectables, they also serve coffee and locally made treats if you need a break between hunting. Right next door is Sentimental Treasures, with a small but high quality selection of…

Fully grown adults emit squeals of glee when their request to sit at the indoor swings is granted. Ayurvedic golden lattes arrive at tables with smiley faces dusted on top. Welcome to happiness retreat Serotonin Eatery. The brainchild of Emily Hazell, this cafe in Melbourne’s Burnley uses a medley of exercise, sensory design and nourishing food, thought to naturally trigger the happiness hormone serotonin, leaving visitors’ minds and guts positively chipper. “What I’ve found is that people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel” From the menu to the interior design and the accompanying exercise and education programs, 25-year-old bright spark Emily has carefully considered each element to craft a happiness experience that she hopes will resonate with her customers. “During my teenage years and early…

Soon, a different team will take over, block-printing the fabric with Zandra’s designs and sewing it into garments. Here, each woman is recognised as a skilled craftsperson, not just a cog in the great garment-making machine. This is the story of how People Tree’s latest collection was made, as told to The Guardian by journalist Lucy Siegle, and it’s a textbook example of how the UK/fapan-based clothing label (the world's first to be Fair Trade Guaranteed) has done business for the past quarter century. "Fashion is a tool for change, "says Safia Minney, People Tree's Founder and CEO. "And it can be very powerful." “I learned that normal people can change the world and change popular opinion, however entrenched it is” It’s a long way from Rajshani on the banks…

Every plant collection will sit pretty inside this framed pocket wall garden! Perfect for brightening up your space with flowers or cultivating bunches of fragrant herbs to liven up meals, this clever addition to your pad, porch or garden can also be made from salvaged or recycled timber. Roll up your sleeves and think inside the square! Project THE LITTLE VEGGIE PATCH CO you will need: • FELT POCKET WALL GARDEN UNIT (found at most nurseries) • WOODEN DOWEL • DRILL SET • 2 X 50MM (2IN) BULGE HEAD • SCREWS • MEASURING TAPE • 4 X CYPRUS TIMBER LENGTHS: 3M X 70MM/19MM (9FT 10IN X 2¾IN/¾IN) • CIRCULAR SAW • 25 X 40MM (1½IN) TIMBER SCREWS • 4 X 90° FLAT JOINING BRACKETS • 12 X 15MM (½IN) TIMBER…