Jane of the Jungle
- Words by Peppermint
If there’s one woman who’s passionate about protecting the beautiful and biodiverse planet we live on, it’s the internationally renowned conservationist and humanitarian Dr Jane Goodall. To celebrate World Environment Day and Jane’s Australian tour, we’re giving away a double pass to her show at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast at 2pm this Sunday 8 June! Simply leave a comment telling us what action you’ll be taking to reduce your impact on the earth this World Environment Day (Thursday 5 June). And if you’re not our lucky winner, don’t fret! Tickets for the event are still available (and can also be purchased at the door for any last minute decision makers). We had a quick chat with Jane about food issues, the importance of inspiring others and creating positive change in the world…
How can each individual make a difference in the world?
One reason people do nothing is that they contemplate the damage to the environment that we have done (and continue to do), and have a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. “What difference can it possibly make,” they say to themselves, “if I pick up litter, buy organic food, conserve water and so on”. Indeed, if we were alone on the planet our individual actions would make no difference. But we are not alone, and when 100, a 1000, a million and more people start to make ethical choices every day this will start to make a bigger and bigger difference. So, let each of us spend a little time, each day, thinking of the consequences of our choices – what we buy to eat, to wear and so on. How far has each item come, was harm caused to the environment or cruelty to animals, is it cheap because it used child slave labour, factory farmed animals, sweat shops. Do we actually NEED yet another pair of shoes. Another car. Organic food may cost a little more, but then we will value it more and waste less.
Why is it so important to inspire the next generation to care for our planet?
Many of us are working very hard to protect wildlife and wilderness areas – and if the next generations do not grow up to be better stewards of the planet than we have been, all our efforts will have been in vain.
You’re very passionate about food. What are the most important food issues facing the world today?
Crops grown as monocultures, resulting in the loss of biodiversity. The use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Cheap fast foods and the link to obesity. Genetically modified crops. The destruction of hundreds of square kilometres of forest and other environments to grow grain to feed the billions of animals in intensive farms, as more and more people eat more and more meat. And, of course, the industry subjects animals to the most horrible cruelty.
What would you like people to remember this World Environment Day?
That the main difference between us and other animals is the explosive development of our intellect. So how come a creature with such a clever brain is destroying the planet, our only home? Remember that every day, every one of us makes an impact. And we have a choice as to the kind of impact we want to make.
{WIN: If you’d like a double pass to Jane Goodall’s show at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast at 2pm this Sunday 8 June, leave a comment telling us what action you’ll be taking to reduce your impact on the earth this World Environment Day! The winner will be drawn after 4pm on Thursday 5 June 2014.}
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
