Connect with us

Lifestyle

Fresh vegetables and other fresh food can be yours at home with planning, purpose: Connecticut farmers

Source image: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/fresh-vegetables-fresh-food-yours-home-planning-purpose-farmers

With the high price of food today, more and more people are looking into growing their own fresh vegetables at home — and doing more hands-on planning and harvesting as a result.

Joe and Ida DeFrancesco of Farmer Joe’s Gardens in Connecticut joined “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday to explain how to start growing food at home — and how to take on more responsibility for it rather than relying on grocery stores or other outlets when prices are rising.

IS THERE A CHICKEN COOP IN YOUR FUTURE AS EGG COSTS RISE? KNOW THE HEALTH RISKS FIRST

The couple first displayed some very young tomato plants.

“Even in the city, you can grow your own vegetables,” said Joe DeFrancesco, as he displayed container gardening, including pots holding both tomato plants and lettuce plants.

People can harvest their own tomatoes virtually all summer once they properly set up the plants, said the owners of a small family farm during an appearance on "Fox and Friends Weekend."

People can harvest their own tomatoes virtually all summer once they properly set up the plants, said the owners of a small family farm during an appearance on “Fox and Friends Weekend.”
(iStock)

He mentioned that people can find themselves harvesting tomatoes almost all summer long once they properly set up the plants. 

As the plants grow, they’ll need to be transferred into bigger and different pots — and in some cases, people will need to fence in their gardens to prevent wildlife from munching and crunching on them, he said.

THESE ARE THE BEST FOODS FOR YOUR HEART, EXPERTS SAY

“Deer need an eight-foot fence,” he said.

He said that indeed, his small business is finding that many more people today want to do their own vegetable gardening.

Given today's high prices, more people are showing an interest in starting their own home gardens — and they can get started right now, said farmer Joe DeFrancesco on

Given today’s high prices, more people are showing an interest in starting their own home gardens — and they can get started right now, said farmer Joe DeFrancesco on “Fox and Friends Weekend” on Sunday.  
(iStock)

And if that doesn’t work for them, he said, then they can visit their local farmers for fresh produce.

Ida DeFrancesco brought along a chicken from the couple’s farm — and explained that people can try having chickens at their own home in a “stress-free” manner.

THE BEST VEGETABLES FOR YOUR HEALTH, ACCORDING TO NUTRITIONISTS

The farm offers a six-month program, she said, and provides the coop, the feed and the chickens.

But if people “chicken out” and find “it’s not for them,” she said — then “we take them back to the farm,” she said. 

She said it “takes about six to eight months for the chickens,” once they’ve hatched, to begin laying eggs.

In light of the high price of eggs, more Americans are showing an interest in acquiring or renting chickens at home in order to get their own fresh eggs. 

In light of the high price of eggs, more Americans are showing an interest in acquiring or renting chickens at home in order to get their own fresh eggs. 
(iStock)

“It’s a $50 deposit to get you started,” she said.

And then “you figure out which coop that you want,” said DeFrancesco, depending on whether families prefer larger or smaller set-ups.

With four chickens laying eggs, Ida DeFrancesco said people can expect to see about two dozen fresh eggs a week.

With four chickens laying eggs, Ida DeFrancesco said people can expect to see about two dozen fresh eggs a week.
(iStock)

With four chickens a week, she said people can expect to see about two dozen eggs a week.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Rent a chicken” businesses are increasingly cropping up, providing availability for the temporary use of chickens. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

To learn more, watch the video at the top of this article, or click here to see it.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/fresh-vegetables-fresh-food-yours-home-planning-purpose-farmers

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Have your cup and eat it, too: Coffee shop introduces edible cups in an effort to cut down on waste

A retailer in England has taken matters into its own hands to help eliminate waste in the world. 

Zero Green is a sustainable store in Bristol, England, that’s known for being a zero-waste shop — in every respect. 

The store introduced edible coffee cups to its menu so customers can drink their coffee in a wafer cup, then eat it.

STARBUCKS MOVES TO REUSABLE CUPS IN SUSTAINABILITY PUSH

A barista at Zero Green told Bristol Live that the cups are made of wheat and barley. 

“It’s very much like a sort of thick ice cream wafer, so it’s got that kind of nutty, wheaty taste,” the barista said.

Edible coffee cups

The “Cupffee” selections are made from a thicker version of an ice cream cone; they’re said to taste a lot like it and reportedly will last long enough to hold the coffee while it’s enjoyed. “Nice to eat you!” says the wrapper — which is biodegradable.  (SWNS)

The cups have been shown to stay sturdy long enough for customers to drink the beverage within them, according to SWNS. 

“This is as close to a zero-waste cup as we can get.”

It also comes with a thin, biodegradable paper sleeve holder, which can be recycled after the beverage — and cup — have been enjoyed.

Edible coffee cups

A zero-waste store in Bristol called Zero Green has started serving its coffee in edible cups.  (SWNS)

The cups were developed by Bulgarian retailer Cupffee.

It was founded in 2014 with the goal of making the world more sustainable, according to the company’s website. 

STARBUCKS AND MCDONALD’S TEAMING UP TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE CUP

The cup can hold hot and cold drinks and stay strong for as long as 40 minutes.

The cups are also said to be as light as a cookie and are low-calorie, according to the company. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The Cupffee cups come in a small and large size — and they ship worldwide.

Edible coffee cups

A thin biodegradable paper sleeve holder is all that’s left after a customer enjoys a cup of coffee — and the paper sleeves can be recycled. (SWNS)

Some 400 million plastic cups are used per day globally and less than 1% of them are recycled, according to Cupffee. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The barista for Zero Green said the cups are a great zero-waste option for coffee lovers. 

“This is as close to a zero-waste cup as we can get,” she said to Bristol Live. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Microscopic parasite found in Baltimore-area drinking water, officials say

Low levels of a microscopic parasite discovered in a Baltimore-area reservoir could sicken vulnerable residents, the city warned on Thursday.

The microorganism Cryptosporidium, commonly found in lakes and rivers, was found during a routine test of the Druid Lake Reservoir, Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) said in a news release. 

“Please rest assured that our drinking water remains safe for the general population,” the news release said. “This is not related, or in any way comparable, to previous water-related issues.”

While the city said the water is safe for most people to drink, it advised that vulnerable populations, including the immunocompromised, elderly or children, “should consider taking precautions.”

FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE SUFFERERS, GINGER MAY ‘PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE’ IN CONTROLLING INFLAMMATION, STUDY FINDS

boiling water

Residents were advised to boil or filter water, or drink bottled water. (iStock)

The microorganism can potentially cause cryptosporidiosis, which is marked by gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain, according to the city. 

Officials advised vulnerable populations to drink bottled water, boil water for one minute before drinking, and to filter tap water with a filter labeled to ANSI/NSF 53 or 58 standards or a filter designed to remove objects 1 micron or larger.

Pouring water from a Faucet high quality and high resolution studio

The city DPW said the water is safe for most people to drink, though the elderly, children and immunocompromised should consider taking precautions. (iStock)

JAMAICA DECLARES DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK WITH HUNDREDS OF CONFIRMED AND SUSPECTED CASES

Parts of the Baltimore region water system impacted include Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County, officials said.

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium can potentially cause cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms include gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain, according to the city. (CDC/ Dr. Edwin P. Ewing, Jr.)

DPW said it will conduct more frequent sampling for Cryptosporidium at the city’s finished water reservoirs until sampling results can reliably show that Cryptosporidium is not detected.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The city said it will publicly issue the results of all additional sampling tests.

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

For autoimmune disease sufferers, ginger may ‘play a critical role’ in controlling inflammation, study finds

Ginger could play a critical role in controlling inflammation for people living with autoimmune diseases, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado School of Medicine focused on the impact of ginger supplements on a type of white blood cell called the neutrophil.

Their findings indicated that ginger supplements could even help treat people with COVID.

HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS AND THEIR SIDE EFFECTS: HERE’S HOW TO STAY SAFE

The team that conducted the study, which was published in the journal JCI Insight on Sept. 22, was especially interested in an immune response called neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation.

It’s also known as NETosis and is linked to the inflammation that can trigger autoimmune diseases.

Ginger powder

Ginger could play a critical role in controlling inflammation for people living with autoimmune diseases, according to a new study. (iStock)

NETs are microscopic, spider web-like structures that propel inflammation and clotting, which contribute to many autoimmune diseases — including lupus, antiphospholipid syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, the researchers said.

They found that ginger consumption by healthy people makes their neutrophils — a type of white blood cell that fights infections and heals injuries — more resistant to NETosis.

THESE 10 NUTRITION MISTAKES COULD BE TAKING YEARS OFF YOUR LIFE: HERE’S WHAT TO DO INSTEAD.

Senior author Kristen Demoruelle, a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, noted that with many diseases, neutrophils are abnormally overactive.

“We found that ginger can help to restrain NETosis … It is a natural supplement that may be helpful to treat inflammation and symptoms for people with several different autoimmune diseases,” she said, according to the published study.

Woman taking supplement

“We found that ginger can help to restrain NETosis … It is a natural supplement that may be helpful to treat inflammation and symptoms for people with several different autoimmune diseases,” said one of the study’s senior authors. (iStock)

In a clinical trial, the research team found that among healthy volunteers, daily intake of a ginger supplement for seven days — at 20 milligrams per day — boosted a chemical inside the neutrophil called cAMP.

The high levels of cAMP then inhibited NETosis in response to various disease-related stimuli.

“Our research, for the first time, provides evidence for the biological mechanism that underlies ginger’s apparent anti-inflammatory properties in people.”

Said Professor Jason Knight of the University of Michigan, who was a senior co-author of the study, “Our research, for the first time, provides evidence for the biological mechanism that underlies ginger’s apparent anti-inflammatory properties in people,” according to SWNS.

MYOCARDITIS IN YOUNG MALES AFTER COVID VACCINE: NEW STUDY SUGGESTS WHAT MAY CAUSE THE RARE HEART CONDITION

Many people with inflammatory conditions are likely to ask their doctor about the potential benefits of natural supplements — or it could be that they already take supplements, such as ginger, to help manage symptoms, the researchers said.

The team hopes that providing more evidence about ginger’s benefits will encourage health care providers and patients to strategically discuss its use to minimize disease.

Woman with inflammation

The research team hopes to use the study to unlock funding for clinical trials of ginger in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where neutrophils are overactive, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome and even COVID. (iStock)

“There are not a lot of natural supplements — or prescription medications, for that matter — that are known to fight overactive neutrophils,” Knight said, as SWNS noted.

“The goal is to be more strategic and personalized in terms of helping to relieve people’s symptoms.”

“We, therefore, think ginger may have a real ability to complement treatment programs that are already underway.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

He added, “The goal is to be more strategic and personalized in terms of helping to relieve people’s symptoms.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The research team hopes to use the study to unlock funding for clinical trials of ginger in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where neutrophils are overactive, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome and even COVID.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for further comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Continue Reading

Trending