According to the Florida Department of Health, there have been 94 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, two in Palm Beach County, two in St. Lucie County and one in Martin County. Ryan Boylston of Delray Beach started growing his own food about three years ago after struggling to find produce he felt was healthy and free of chemicals or contaminants. His front yard contains rows of edible plants including a pineapple patch, a malay apple, spinach, lettuce, arugula, star fruit, bananas, peppers and herbs. Boylston said there is nothing being sprayed on these plants except water and his family eats food from the yard every day.
What began as a personal solution has since turned into a business. Through his company, Urban Abundance, Boylston now helps others install gardens in their own yards. The other half of his property is filled with herbs and vegetables growing in raised planters similar to the ones he builds for customers.
For beginners interested in starting their own garden, Boylston recommends growing crops that can handle Florida's intense summer heat better, including spinach, sweet potatoes and yardlong beans. He says lettuce and tomatoes do much better during the winter months. Boylston recommends raised garden beds with smooth sides that iguanas can't easily climb, and for plants growing directly in the ground, he suggests building cages or enclosures around them for protection.