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 12+ 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 six 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.

And in spring 2025, we brought Sage Journal to print.

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

Sage Journal aims to 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

How to: Create a Pollination Garden

A home garden is an increasingly important piece of the puzzle of our planet’s ecosystem. Creating a vibrant and nourishing place for bees and other beneficial insects is easy to do, and effective in even the smallest of spaces.

Read more
How to Grow: Strawberries

Strawberries are super easy to grow and harvest, taking up little space in your garden. They are a ground cover plant and spread rapidly with their runners.

Read more
How to Grow: CORIANDER
How to grow & care for coriander
Arguably the most polarising of herbs. While some are mad about this lemony addition to dishes, others are utterly perturbed by its presence. Whatever your preference, there are a few tricks to growing it successfully through the seasons.
Read more
How to Grow: TANGELO

This messy-to-eat citrus fruit is known for its juicy flesh, and balance of sweet and tart flavours - the culmination of its mandarin and grapefruit relatives. They have few pips and most varieties are easy to peel.

Read more