peppermint magazine

Sustainable Table has the runs. And no, it wasn’t a veggie curry gone bad. The organisation is hosting a program of charity marathon events this year in an effort to raise money for their Kenyan Compost Toilet project. Why? Well, heartbreakingly, lack of sanitation is still the single largest cause of illness in the world, claiming the lives of some 4,900 children every day. Compost toilets can do wonders in turning this statistic around – and at the same time, also turn human waste into nutrient-rich organic fertiliser so communities can grow their own food naturally. It’s a win-win. To get involved, sign up to participate in either the Great Ocean Road Run (May 19-20) or Run Melbourne (July 15), or sponsor someone doing the legwork for you. Distances are flexible to accommodate all fitness levels and Sustainable Table ethical hampers are on offer if you need incentive to get your friends involved too. So, in the words Sustainable Table themselves, sign up, shoes on, and let’s all look forward to getting the runs together.

There are some things you can do which are helpful in teaching the public about climate change; then there are some which are not. We’ll start with the good shall we… Utilising the data of the two century-long Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) study, developer Nick Orenstein has created an app for iPhones and iPads which literally tracks climate change as it happens. Using colour-coded, moving maps which demonstrate how today’s monthly temperatures compare to historical averages, the free Just Science app is the antidote to disengaging scientific and political rhetoric around the topic, and helps users get involved and interested in what’s happening to the world around them. Also, it’s an app, and people like wasting time on apps – at least this way we’re learning something. (Although it should still be noted, climate change is a lot more complex than just changing temperatures – but hey, Nick Orenstein, we’ll let you get away with it this time). Now, ready for the huge, glowing negative of this whole thing? Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes your weekend just falls into place. Like when the lovely Hayley from Sticky Fingers Bakery, who you may have read about back in Issue 11, launches a new cupcake flavour range and invites you to come and sample them for free. It gets even better when you discover that things like ‘Choc-Chip’ and ‘Banana’ don’t exist in this world, and instead it’s Coffee & Doughnuts, Chocolate Cherry Cola and Raspberry Beret (as good as it sounds) – all made with local and organic ingredients. The new range will be available for all to try later this week, meanwhile there are still Hayley’s tasty, tasty classics to tide you over – as well as full-sized cakes, if you dare. A little birdy also told me that with Valentine’s Day coming up, Sticky Fingers will even do you a special, candy-hearted, loved-up half dozen, delivered to your sweetheart’s door for only $27 (*Melbourne only). We all knew Cupid had a sweet tooth.

As a child, I adored my Faber-Castell coloured pencils: artist sets, watercolours, those cute ones that came in the little tubes… And now I think I know why. In exciting news for my ability to predict the future, the socially-responsible German stationery company is bringing one of my favourite childhood compositions – the smiling trees, smiling mountains, smiling sun combination – a touch closer to reality with the announcement that they have just become the world’s first private company awarded carbon trading approval by the UN. It coincides with Faber-Castell International’s launch of a new sustainable reforestation project in Colombia, just another notch on the belt of their already exemplary environmental record. All this makes them carbon neutral several times over, and this year, thanks for the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism, they will begin dealing in carbon dioxide certificates. But the most interesting fact of all? The Regional Director for Faber-Castell is named – wait for it – Count Andreas von Faber-Castell. Let’s hear it for the Count!

While a reworked Young Talent Time returned to our screens this week, the only young talents we need to know about are the ones who have been busily burrowing away in preparation for today’s grand opening of Evergreen: fresh sustainable fashion at Sydney’s Object Gallery. Showcasing the works of both emerging and established eco designers from Australia and abroad, Evergreen runs from today, January 27th until Sunday, March 25th, giving you plenty of time to head along and admire the designs – both bold and beautiful. But this exhibition is about much more than just pretty dresses: Evergreen aims to educate its visitors on just how difficult it is to transform an industry driven by waste and excess. You’ll learn not only ways in which the exhibition’s designers are burning the torch for more sustainable and ethical fashion, but how you, as a consumer, can too. And we’re all for that!

Sandra Dieckmann, we love you! As if this London-based illustrator and creator of wildly mesmerising animal folks and fairytale worlds couldn’t impress us enough, she also works as a part-time manager of the RSPCA – saving the lives of real animals! A stop by her website and Etsy/BigCartel stores is a must – we’re particularly loving her Endangered Animals Postcard Set, printed on 100% recycled paper and highlighting the beauty of creatures whose presence on this earth is sadly too fragile. With her cat Little Crumb by her side (yep, that’s its real name!), we can’t wait to see what splendid creations the lovely Sandra comes up with next.

Feeling that summer heat? A glass of icy goodness might be just what the doctor ordered! Smoothies are an old favourite but don’t have to be packed with fat, artificial colours and faux flavours (bubblegum flavoured milk? Eek). Smoothie recipes are easy to invent and adapt depending on what’s in season and what you have in the fridge. If you need a helping hand, there are some great websites out there with tips and tricks for creating healthy smoothies made from raw, organic and vitamin-rich ingredients. This recipe for Chocolate Avocado Smoothies comes courtesy of smoothie extraordinaire Amanda Niehaus, author of Easy Peasy Organic. As we say here at Peppermint, it would be unhealthy not to drink one of these. Promise us you’ll try the popsicles too!

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Thanks to Marks & Spencer, British high street fashion just got a little bit greener. The UK power brand has just announced the launch of its new campaign My Urban Green (@myurbangreen), which – in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork – aims at developing and supporting Greener Living Spaces amongst local urban communities. This isn’t something completely new: Marks & Spencer and Groundwork have been burrowing away at this initiative for the past three years, but in 2012 they will be kicking it into full gear with the goal of delivering 850 community green space activities and events across the UK by September, including engaging a whopping 135,000 people to support them. Activities on the agenda include green space maintenance, tree planting, community clean ups and gatherings, all in the hope, says Groundwork Chief Executive Tony Hawkhead, of finding “increasingly creative ways of protecting these much loved local spaces.” Amen. Now who’s going to be the first Australian brand to do the same? {Image from here}.

Good news fabric fans (a.k.a. everyone – who doesn’t like fabric?), the fabulous Fabric Store are holding the summer edition of their much-anticipated biannual sale this weekend. Starting this Saturday January 21st and running until February 12th, all fabrics will be 30-50% off. With stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, best plan your voyage now. Even if that means crossing the country. Or the Tasman Sea.

South Australia, this one’s for you! (FINALLY, we hear you cheer). Up-and-coming designer Kalila Stewart-Davis is showing the big guns how it’s done with her newly hatched, short run fashion label Namoi Designs, prettily incorporating recycled textiles, designer remnants and natural fibres into every stitch. Her latest collection, Legend of The Humming Bird, is packed full of free forms and bright colours, reclaimed beading and trims, and hand painted textiles, all focused, says Kalila, on celebrating “the essence of multiculturalism and the vitality of colour.” To check out her range in person head to The Mushroom Boutique in Croydon, SA, otherwise browse her lovely work online here.