Growing Infrastructure: Urban Triage Activates at the 2026 Madison Garden & Green Living Expo

Nearly 16,000 people attended the 2026 Madison Garden & Green Living Expo this February at the Alliant Energy Center.

Urban Triage did not attend simply to participate.

We showed up to expand the conversation.

The Expo — one of the region’s largest sustainability gatherings — brings together gardeners, educators, environmental advocates, and families for more than 150 seminars and demonstrations focused on ecological responsibility, food systems, and green living. Proceeds support PBS Wisconsin’s educational programming, reinforcing a shared commitment to learning and access.

This year, Urban Triage was stationed in the PBS KIDS Backyard — the family-centered hub of hands-on activity and environmental play.

And we used that space intentionally.

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Agriculture as Infrastructure

At Urban Triage, agriculture is not a side program.

It is an economic strategy.
It is community stabilization.
It is youth leadership development.
It is food access reform.
It is land-based power.

Throughout the weekend, families planted cilantro seeds, created soil-based activities, and engaged in interactive play with Urban Triage and other vendors. What looked like a simple, joyful engagement was actually something deeper: an introduction to an expanding ecosystem of food sovereignty work across Dane County and beyond.

When a child plants a seed, they learn possibility.
When a family grows food, they build resilience.
When a community owns its food systems, it builds power.

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Scaling Community Engagement

With nearly 16,000 attendees, the Garden & Green Living Expo provided more than visibility — it provided scale.

Urban Triage’s outreach team connected with families across race, geography, and income levels. We introduced new audiences to:

• Community-based agriculture education
• Youth engagement and leadership pathways
• Hands-on learning initiatives
• Food access expansion efforts
• Volunteer and partnership opportunities

Engagement is not a moment.

It is infrastructure-building.

Every conversation expanded awareness of how Urban Triage integrates housing stabilization, youth development, and agricultural programming into a unified ecosystem designed to strengthen families long-term.

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What’s Growing in 2026

Urban Triage’s Agriculture Team is preparing for a significant year of expansion.

In 2026, we are focused on:

• Increasing land-based learning opportunities
• Expanding production capacity
• Deepening partnerships across the region
• Strengthening workforce pathways connected to agriculture
• Integrating our work into the broader Seen & Unseen public installation initiative

Sustainability without equity is incomplete.

Green living without access leaves communities behind.

Urban Triage is committed to ensuring that environmental conversations include economic mobility, racial equity, and community ownership.

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Invest in What’s Next

What begins as a seed becomes a system.

If you believe in building food systems that prioritize access, ownership, and long-term stability, we invite you to move beyond attendance and into partnership.

• Invest in Urban Triage’s Agriculture Expansion
• Partner with us to strengthen regional food infrastructure
• Volunteer with our growing Agriculture Team
• Subscribe to follow our 2026 expansion and Seen & Unseen initiatives

‍https://www.urbantriage.org/donate

https://www.urbantriage.org/partnerships

https://www.urbantriage.org/get-involved

https://www.urbantriage.org/#JOIN-US

We are not just growing produce.

We are growing capacity.
We are growing equity.
We are growing infrastructure.

And 2026 is just the beginning.

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