I love magazines, but, as I have written about before, my days of buying physical copies of magazines are pretty much over. However, down time during lockdown has seen me craving magazines, so I have been turning to copies that I have either sourced through my local library (as physical or digital issues) or have had handed down to me from friends. These magazines have been quite a comfort to me as they don’t require a huge amount of concentration (had to keep my wits about me for home schooling!) but they provide plenty of entertainment and escape.

One thing has become abundantly clear, however, and that is that not all magazines are created equal. I have found myself turning away from the titles with content that doesn’t appeal to me, and towards titles with content that does.

For example, I am decidedly not interested in the comings and goings of celebrities, am not drawn in by how to lose 5kg fast, and am absolutely turned off by displays of consumerism, fast or seasonal fashion, and an advertisement on every second page encouraging even more consumerism. Instead, I am interested in stories about the world, about life, about nature, about thinkers and change makers past and present, about small, sustainable, or ‘slow’ businesses, and about the work of creators - whether they be writers, artists, designers, or crafters (or anything else). I am also interested - not surprisingly - in sustainability. I could read about sustainability in all its forms all day.

As you’d probably expect, the pool of magazines mirroring my values and interests isn’t huge, but there are plenty for me, and they have been bringing me joy over the last 3 months. If your interests are anything like mine, you might want to check some of these titles out.

Peppermint magazine might just be my favourite. Peppermint magazine is an entertaining, enriching combination of home, travel, food, personal enrichment, fashion, health, current affairs, and slow- and eco-living – among other things – all through the lens of ethics and sustainability. It’s also one that you’ll want to hold on to, if you do choose to buy a physical copy.

Dumbo Feather. I love Dumbo Feather because it is all about stories – stories from and about real people, all with a good dose of ethics and sustainability. It will keep you occupied for hours.

Junkie magazine looks at eco-design and fashion, along with some food, home and ethical living content, all with a focus on reducing, recycling, reusing, repurposing and overall, rethinking. It’s engaging, and inspiring.

Breathe is more focussed on wellbeing and mindfulness, but in a way that is very complementary to eco-living and sustainability. It also features articles on creativity, health and travel. It’s like a comforting cup of tea.

Wellbeing magazine is a bit of an Australian institution and I have been reading it for almost 30 years. It has more of a mind, body and spirit emphasis, but natural health and ethical living go hand in hand, so it is satisfying read. 

Be Kind is a British publication, but it can be accessed and read online. It covers a broad range of regular topics – including the environment, sustainability, creativity, and community - plus one feature topic, which makes it is a particularly engaging and entertaining read.

So that is my personal shortlist. Of course, are many other titles focusing on sustainability and environmental issues within tight niches, for example, on permaculture, organic gardening, subsistence living, and on sustainable architecture and design, to name just some. These all can open up new worlds of information and education for us. Happy reading.

See you next time! - Elise

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Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.