Latest news with #vegetablegarden
France 24
07-08-2025
- General
- France 24
Gaza farmer grows vegetables in tent city to 'survive another day'
Abu Jabal, 39, has turned a small patch of soil near the family's tent in Gaza City into a vegetable garden, where he tends to rows of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, surrounded by tens of thousands of other Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Hamas war. "Our bodies need tomatoes, cucumbers," he told AFP. "And these products are expensive here. Not just expensive -- they're not even available. There are no tomatoes, and even if there were, we wouldn't have the money to buy them." The displaced farmer has cultivated the sandy plot of 120 square meters (about 1,300 square feet), using seeds from dried vegetables and relying on an erratic water supply. "Due to the situation we're going through... and the soaring prices of vegetables, I had to return to my old profession," said Abu Jabal. Water in Gaza, much like food, is in precariously low supply, and to keep his garden green, Abu Jalal usually has to carry large jugs he fills from a nearby pipe where water flows only one hour a day. Israel is under growing pressure to bring an end to the war in Gaza, where UN warnings that famine was unfolding have heightened global concern for the territory's more than two million Palestinian inhabitants living through a humanitarian crisis. Aid access 'blocked' The Israeli offensive, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, has killed at least 61,258 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which are considered reliable by the United Nations. The Hamas attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, the majority of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel in late May began easing a complete aid blockade that had lasted more than two months, but only a trickle of food and other basic supplies has entered Gaza since then. Before the war, agriculture accounted for around 10 percent of the Gaza Strip's economy, with about a quarter of the population at least partially supported by agriculture and fishing. But on Wednesday the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said that just 1.5 percent of the territory's farmland remained accessible and undamaged, citing the latest satellite data. "People are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked, local agrifood systems have collapsed, and families can no longer sustain even the most basic livelihoods," the agency's Director-General Qu Dongyu said. Hungry Gazans have increasingly been forced to brave chaotic scenes at a handful of distribution points managed by the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. On July 22, the UN rights office said Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the GHF started operations in May -- nearly three-quarters of them in the vicinity of GHF sites. Abu Jabal said his nine-year-old daughter had been injured near a charity kitchen. © 2025 AFP
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Gwyneth Paltrow's Hamptons home kitchen as fans gush over her unusual design choices
Gwyneth Paltrow has several luxurious properties under her belt but one has a very special place in her heart - particularly over the summer months. Paltrow, 52, purchased her coastal home in the Hamptons for $5.4 million with her ex-husband, Coldplay front man Chris Martin, in 2006. The expansive 7,000 square foot property is located in Amagansett and the Goop founder has often spoken fondly of her slice of Long Island paradise. 'I grew up coming out here and one of the things I love about it it that we have have a really robust vegetable garden, beautiful tomatoes, jalapenos, and cucumber,' Paltrow gushed in a previous Instagram video. Paltrow's expansive Amagansett home consists of five bedrooms, seven and a half bathrooms and - importantly for the enthusiastic cook who is a fan of clean living - a gorgeous kitchen. Whilst the mom of Apple, 21, and Moses, 19, hasn't given a full tour of her beloved home, she has been known to host events in her stunning backyard as well as regularly sharing her 'Boyfriend Breakfast' videos to social media - in which she cooks up a storm for husband Brad Falchuk. The actress, who also owns a $30 million home in Montecito, California, tends to stick to filming cooking content in her light-filled kitchen, which she describes as 'the focal point' of the household. 'Whether it's a dinner or an afternoon snack for the kids, the happiest moments of the day are centered around food,' Paltrow shared in post to Instagram, previously announcing her partnership with luxury appliance brand Monogram. The actress, who also owns a $30 million home in Montecito, California, tends to stick to filming cooking content in her light-filled kitchen, which she describes as 'the focal point' of the household '[Monogram] elevate kitchen design to an entirely new level, and the gorgeous aesthetic perfectly complements the design of any home,' she continued, adding the range is the 'best' she has ever cooked on. In addition to her near professional-grade kitchen, Paltrow also has a sprawling backyard which boasts a swimming pool, vegetable garden and spa-worthy cold plunge. In 2018, four years after her split with Martin, Paltrow married producer Falchuk in the backyard. They exchanged vows near a tree where her father's ashes were buried. And fans have increasingly begun to take notice of the style icons' impressive kitchen, commenting on state-of-the art appliances and nifty gadgets in her recent uploads. Most recently, it was the island-sized cutting board that truly mesmerized fans. 'I like that her whole island is a cutting board,' one fan observed most recently, pointing out her convenient bench which Paltrow chops directly on to. 'What size cutting board do you want? An island sized one,' another joked. 'The fact her whole table is also a cutting board… GENIUS,' some one else observed. Below, FEMAIL has taken a look at Paltrow's impressive kitchen features as fans continue to gush over her unusual design choices. Le Creuset Signature Skillet: $250 The Le Creuset skillet comes in a whopping 28 different colors and two sizes - the nine inch and the 10.25 inch. The enameled cast iron pan described on the website as a 'versatile kitchen essential' is designed for searing, sautéing and stir-frying, with Paltrow appearing to have the tool in light green. It will set buyers back anywhere between $136 to $250, depending on size. GE Monogram 30' Fully Integrated Wine Sommelier: $10,400 Paltrow has Monogram's wine sommelier in both of her kitchens, as per Homes and Gardens. In Instagram videos shared to her social media accounts, it looks as though her Hampton's home has the fridge lower to the ground. The Goop founder appears to be making full use of it - with it often seen fully stocked with an array of wines. The recommended retail price is $10,400. GE Monogram 48' Professional Range: $11,600 Paltrow uses her range a lot for her popular 'boyfriend breakfasts' - so it makes sense she has a six-burner one. The stainless steel appliance has gas burners and is perfect for those with a busy lifestyle - with WiFi monitoring and remote control with the SmartHQ app as well as an LCD display. In an interview with Food and Wine, Partlow also gushed over the brass details, saying it 'works perfectly' and is 'so reliable.' The standard model comes in at a whopping $11,600. Monogram 30' Hearth Oven: $9,000 The all-electric oven, with a recommended retail price of $9,000, is reportedly one of Paltrow's favorites, said to 'capture the performance of a traditional coal-and-wood burning stove.' 'I think of it like a wood-burning oven, but without the hassle,' the actress quipped in a video showing her making a dish in the oven. Monogram Statement 30' Steam Oven: $5,100 In addition to her professional range and hearth oven, Paltrow also has a steam oven that has a standard price tag of $5,100. The appliance is described as a 'healthy method' of cooking helps foods to better retain their flavor, color and nutritional value. Gaggenau 200 Series Built-In Fully Automatic Coffee Machine: $4,000 Paltrow appears to have a Gaggenau in-built coffee machine in her Amagansett kitchen, often spotted behind her in her videos to social media. While the appliance that looks to be Paltrow's exact model is no longer available, the resale price online ranges from $3,200 to $4,000. With all the cooking the Paltrow does for her family, it's not surprising she needs a dishwasher! While the exact model isn't known, her partnership with the luxury company ensures her dishes are always clean and ready for another meal. Based off the star's videos from her Amagansett home, she has opted for a stainless steel one. They retail anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500. Monogram Forge Heated Ice Press: $999 A mocktail in the summer isn't complete without a single piece spherical ice - at least according to Paltrow. She gushed over her $999 heated ice press while making a garden-inspired mocktail, declaring it 'elevates' the drink.
Vogue
21-07-2025
- General
- Vogue
The Simple Pleasures of a Stoop Vegetable Garden
During World War II, American families grew 'victory gardens' in their backyard—a patriotic way to fight food shortages and help troops by diverting the need for fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. In a way, the collection of plants currently sitting on the stoop of my Brooklyn apartment is its own little kind of victory garden. A concerted effort to care for something tangible, that also may just feed me at some point this summer (as long as I stick to my watering schedule). Earlier this year, I interviewed a series of New Yorkers about what they were buying ahead of Trump's potential incoming tariffs. Julia Fox, star of Uncut Gems and girl about town, told me, 'I bought seeds to plant my own food, just in case.' At a time when everything seems to be a recession indicator, a vegetable garden may be the most hopeful one to consider. This isn't my first summer spent trying to keep plants alive on my porch. Last year, my tomato plant limped along as I went out of town, only to come back and revive it at the last possible moment. I ended the season having enjoyed exactly five juicy little tomatoes. But they were undoubtedly delicious—sun warmed and bursting with flavor. As I've seen more people in my online universe talk both jokingly and semi-seriously about curating a vegetable garden of their own in particularly insecure times, I thought it might be a nice occasion to brush up on a few tips and tricks in caring for your own little collection of pots and planters with the help of Corey Blant, the director of urban agriculture at New York Restoration Project (a program which, fun fact, was founded by Bette Midler in 1995). NYRP works in partnership with communities all over New York City to create and preserve community gardens and green spaces. It's never too late to start Each winter, I tell myself that I'll start early on my planting projects, but the reality is life often gets in the way of planting seeds early in the season. The good news, according to Blant, is that it's never too late to start on something. 'Not two hours ago, I planted zucchini from seed at a garden in Astoria,' he tells me over FaceTime, his face tan and his fingers dusty from a day in the soil. While he notes that at this point in the season, it's too late to plant delicate lettuces, it's prime time for squash, eggplant, and zucchini, all of which thrive in summer heat. Blant adds that herbs are a great option no matter what point in the season—'mint is going to be super vigorous, [as well as] sage and basil.' Come mid-August, you can even start to plant seeds for cold-loving veggies like cauliflower and kale. If planting straight from seed is intimidating, head to your local hardware store and pick up a few starts (baby plants ready to go into the ground), which can be a little more forgiving. This year, I've set out my pots with a mix of tomatoes, habanero peppers, and basil, and despite the current temps climbing towards 100 degrees, I've been faithfully watering them and watching as my first little veggies begin to appear. Make the most of what you have Whether you have a backyard plot, a free stoop or a little space on your fire escape, make the most of your space. If you're building a garden in a yard, go for a raised bed with quality soil or compost. 'Start with that super high quality, super nutrient dense soil,' Blant says. Soil, sun, water… if you give the plants as much of that as possible, you're setting them up for success from the jump.' On my stoop, I use a mix of pots that I've amassed over the year, using the bigger ones for plants that I know tend to take over, like tomatoes. Smaller pots house basil and herbs. I try to use pots that have holes in the bottom for drainage, along with a saucer to catch the water that tends to spill out when I douse them. I picked up soil from my local hardware store, and also take the chance to grab NYC-made compost when I come across it at a farmer's market or other local event (as an ardent composter, it's a full circle moment!).
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Raucous peacock chomps through Marlborough's veg patches
An unclaimed male peacock has become the talk of a rural community, having ravaged vegetable patches and woken neighbours with his alarming early morning as he's been named, first appeared in Marlborough in Wiltshire earlier this summer and has since been pictured on roofs and in addition to disrupting sleep, he's disrupted the local ecosystem, challenging cats and pigeons that stray into his has even taking to pecking on doors in what are deemed to be attempts to gain even more food. Resident Eric Gilbert said the bird had an apparently boundless appetite."It does like a breakfast off my runner beans, and a couple of mornings I found it in the middle of my lettuce patch, having a breakfast of my lettuce leaves," he said."It is quite vocal. People do find it gets them up about half past five in the morning with quite a raucous sound." Neighbour Angela Newberry has also had the pleasure of regular visits."Very early in the morning, he taps on the window for food," she said."He's very annoying, because he's got no snooze button."She said she does not feed Percy because "he helps himself to my veg trug anyway, so I don't need to". Another neighbour, Frances Hughes, said that Percy was very picky, seemingly feasting on the most prized parts of gardens."I think he's quite keen on vegetables but he only does five star dining," she said."He's certainly eating bulbs. He has destroyed a neighbour's vegetable patch."The neighbours have even set up a group chat to alert each other to Percy's while the peacock has divided opinion, locals agree it would be strange if he were to leave.
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
In my poor growing season, edible flowers are a small, tasty win
My partner and I have a ritual that makes an appearance at this time of year. When we sit down for dinner, we count up how many crops from the garden we've managed to incorporate into our meal. As I've said in previous columns, I'm not having the best growing season despite the abundance of sunshine, so I'm relying on small, edible wins this summer. (Edible flowers have become more of a feature than ever in our kitchen.) There aren't many plants that I grow solely for their blooms – edible or not – but fortunately, there are a fair few crops that just happen to produce flowers you can eat, meaning it's likely you, too, might be growing some edible flowers already. For the first few springs in my veg patch, I sowed the seeds of calendula, violas and nasturtiums as beneficial companion plants to encourage pollinators. Six growing seasons later and these stalwarts reappear reliably when the soil is warm enough. Calendula produce bright flowers whose petals can be scattered on a salad, but my preference is nasturtiums, which have a punchy, peppery flavour. The smiley-faced violas taste subtly sweet and are ideal for decorating cakes. Many of the annual and perennial herbs in our vegetable gardens not only produce flavoursome leaves but beautiful and delicious flowers, too. Chives develop bright purple pom-poms that taste like the oniony leaves but are milder. Dill is another plant that I adore but, given it often bolts before I've harvested all the leaves I'd hoped for, I'm grateful that their flowers are also edible. Rosemary, thyme and, of course, lavender flowers are all edible and make a pretty garnish on a summer dish or cake. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion There are a number of vegetables whose flowers are worth tasting. Courgette flowers – both pollen-bearing and fruit-bearing – are delicious, especially when prepared the Italian way – stuffed with a mild cheese and herbs, lightly battered and fried. The cute little flowers of peas and beans taste like a sweet, floral iteration of the fruit counterpart. (Be careful not to mistakenly harvest ornamental sweetpea flowers as these are toxic.) It's worth bearing in mind that harvesting the flowers of fruiting plants will have an impact on your yield. Not a problem if you're picking more courgettes than you can comfortably offload, but an issue if you've only got a few beanstalks and were hoping to fill your freezer. When harvesting, be mindful not to crush petals as you gently shake off any creatures that might be hiding inside. Petals don't take kindly to being vigorously washed but you can dip them in water and leave on a tea towel to dry. While not all these flowers offer up palette-igniting flavours, our dinners have never been prettier.
