Emma Sage

Hey, I’m Emma.

The camera-shy editor and founder behind Sage Journal.

I come from a line of gardeners, always able to call my mum or nana to chat about what to plant where, figure out why a plant is turning up its toes, or to see if there’s a cutting going spare. I know not everyone is this lucky.

When we bought our first house twelve years ago, I quickly realised what a struggle it was to find local garden inspiration and advice. I wanted relatable stories, aspirational projects, and connections with knowledgeable gardeners — both new and old.

So five years ago, I started Sage Journal. To share stories of hands-in-the-dirt, soil-on-the-clothes gardeners. People who are sometimes failing, often succeeding, and always asking questions.

My aim was to create Aotearoa’s most trusted gardening resource. Now, with a large local following, and growing engagement from Australia and beyond, we’ve not only become the home for gardeners, but for design lovers and nature-inspired creatives too.

This year (spring 2025) we are bringing Sage Journal to print.

It will be a publication where knowledge — especially the kind passed down through conversations in the garden — can be shared and preserved.

Sage Journal will continue these discussions with our ever-growing, like-minded community, and we want you to be part of them.

With love and dirty fingernails,
Emma Sage x

Emma Sage | Sage Journal
How to get rid of rats and mice in the garden | Sage Journal x Goodnature
How to get rid of rats and mice in the garden
A comprehensive guide for gardeners when it comes to dealing with rats and mice in the garden (or inside!) — in partnership with Goodnature. Rodents are part of the not-so-glamorous side of gardening and tending to the land. They love your edible harvests and compost bins — and, particularly in autumn, they're looking for shelter and food to stash for the colder months ahead. 
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Te Whare Māra: The Garden House — Pōneke Wellington

Te Whare Māra - The Garden House - blurs the lines between landscape and architecture. This Wellington garden exemplifies landscape design that boasts beauty, sustainability and meaningful spaces to inhabit and enjoy.

Designed by local.

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How Chelsea Thorpe blends landscape, creativity & comfort | Black House Studio
  Then came the newly built accommodation studio. Set against the backdrop of Gisborne’s landscapes, Black House Studio goes beyond the conventional notion of accommodation. It effortlessly marries architectural elegance with the natural splendour that envelops it. Chelsea’s interview with us invites you to appreciate the thoughtfulness and creativity that converged to shape Black House ...
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