State Sen. Fred Risser, the nation's longest-tenured lawmaker, has found something new to be excited about: the vegetable garden on the Capitol Square's southwest corner, by Inn on the Park. Proposed by Madison FarmWorks and approved by the Executive Residence Board that Risser heads, the small plot, formerly used for flowers, boasts an abundance of tomatoes, cabbage, beets and other veggies. He considers it a smashing success.
"The Capitol Vegetable Garden is a public laboratory to highlight the work of Dane County's many small farms and inspire people interested in planting vegetable gardens," says Risser. "The response has been outstanding, and during major events like the Farmers' Market it's not unusual to find a crowd of people looking at the garden's progress."