Mayor says idea stemmed from summer ‘Meet and Eat’

A food truck experiment this summer lead to the mayor establishing a council this fall to continue work bringing affordable healthy food options for low-income families.

At the first meeting of his Madison Food Policy Council on Oct. 24, National Food Day, Mayor Paul Soglin made the opening statements explaining its importance.

“In terms of the farmers’ market, we have one of the best known markets in the world,” Soglin said. “When it comes to food policy, there is this enormous gap. I see that as an opportunity to take us to another level.”

The MFPC is an extension of the Dane County board. It joins the Dane County Food Council and Coalition, but aims more to answer the question of accessibility and affordability than connecting producers to buyers, which is the focus of the county’s council and coalition.

Living in the city, even in a limited space, doesn’t have to mean giving up a garden. Just ask Lisa Brennan and Sean Gere.

In April, the duo launched Sprout, a store placing emphasis on gardening in urban settings by using creative growing methods such as living walls and terrariums.

“The big thing that makes it different is that we’re really focusing on small space gardening,” said Brennan.

The store is located inside of Four Star Video Haven at 449 State Street, which Brennan has owned for 11 years. She began thinking about the business after reading on natural history, ecology, alternative economics, and urban gardening. The many unused balconies on State Street suitable for growing plants inspired her to act.

“I would just love to see everything blooming and growing food,” she said.