The night of September 2, the II Form class hiked out to the Big Red farm for the annual farm-to-table dinner. As the sun fell, Sustainability Representative Alistair Lam spoke eloquently about the importance of the Big Red Farm to him. Coming from Hong Kong, he had not been exposed to much greenery. When he came to Lawrenceville, the farm provided him with a new environment. Several afternoons during his Freshman spring and fall, he bonded with the tight-knit community of the Big Red Farm through hours of hard field work and conversations of personal experience. Lam also remarked upon how impressive and unique it is that a school is able to serve farm-to-table food. A special plug for the heirloom tomatoes! A farm is a place he hopes every Lawrentian visits while a student here, as there is no place alike. His passion for the Big Red Farm touched the II Formers. Later at dinner, students expressed enthusiasm about sustainability and farm work. After Lam’s address, Dr. Laubach, the Director of Sustainability, described the importance of sustainability: making conscious choices, recycling, and getting involved with the many sustainability opportunities we have here.
Most importantly, he explained how as Lawrentian, each of us could impact Lawrenceville’s sustainability efforts and planet Earth’s health. Finally, the students were filled up with Big Red Farm pulled pork and coleslaw burgers, salad, mac and cheese, lemonade, and brownies. Newcomers chatted and reflected upon their opening days at school. After dinner, groups of Freshman went into the sheep pen, eager to see and pet the animals that inhabit the farm. The sheep, naturally frightened, scampered away from the intruding humans. Overall, the farm dinner highlighted Lawrenceville’s emphasis on sustainability and inspired the incoming freshman class to strive to improve the health of our planet.
