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
Flavours From My Italian Kitchen Garden: Bri DiMattina

Recipe developer and gardener Bri DiMattina’s book, Nostrana, sets out to rekindle the joy of the home garden and kitchen. Nostrana means homegrown, ours; growing food with the intent of sharing it with others.

In this interview Bri shares her keys to starting and enjoying the edible garden journey —

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How to: Create a Thriving Edible Backyard — Kath Irvine

Kath Irvine is a renowned organic gardening and permaculture expert and author. Through her writing and consults, she helps people create productive, beautiful and, most of all, easy gardens. 

In this interview, Kath shares her gardening wisdom, including the importance of starting small, slowing down, taking notice and following your intuition.

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Christall Lowe: Our life of kai
Christall Lowe (Ngāti Kauwhata, Tainui and Ngāti Maniapoto descent) is a Manawatū-based food stylist, photographer and recipe developer. In this interview Christall shares what was behind the creation of her book — Kai: Food Stories & Recipes From My Family Table, along with stories of her wider family’s plentiful edible garden, and the effect of nature has on her creative practice…
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34 Drought-tolerant plants for dry gardens

By early summer in some gardens you may struggle to keep your plants from becoming victims to dry soil and severe drought, especially if they are new plants or plants with lots of new growth. Find out what will thrive in the garden in drought conditions…

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