Jacksonville residents are pushing for the “Free to Garden Act” legislation that would make it easier for people to grow and share food from their own yards without local government or zoning restrictions. The proposed measure would allow residents to grow food on their residential property and share, exchange, or distribute it free from local government restrictions. Roxy McCloud representing Common Ground Garden urged council members to support the bill, stating that gardening increases neighborhoods, public health, educational opportunities for youth, and access to free and healthy food. James Weston, another speaker, linked the push to a recent cyclospora outbreak that has raised public attention to food sourcing. As of this week, no legislation has been considered before the city council.