TFS - Canada's International School

WHAT WAS THE "FROM THE RAVINE TO THE TABLE" INITIATIVE ABOUT? For my Middle Years Program (MYP) personal project, I decided to focus my research on sustainable food, that is, food that has the least possible impact on carbon emissions. The objective was to test and develop a certain number of recipes that were certifiably sustainable. This objective gave rise to the idea of identifying the types of local food available in the TFS ravine and creating a meal on the theme 'From the Ravine to the Table' using ravine-inspired items. This unique meal was offered at a special evening event in April, as part of the 60th Anniversary Speaker Series outlining the Head of School's priorities. AND JUST WHAT WERE THESE FOODS? There are foods of all types! Everything depends on the season. In the fall there are many edible mushrooms, for example. Needless to say, it would not have been possible to design an entire meal just by sourcing from the ravine, but this project demonstrated that consuming a more local and seasonal diet is within our reach. That is why our products for the menu were sourced within a scope of 100 kilometres from Toronto. HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD ISSUES? I first became interested in nature when I was very young. My Senior Kindergarten teacher, Mme Brigitte Matthey, had a big impact on me because she was so passionate about environmental issues. She regularly took us to the parks around the West Campus, made us aware of the impact of waste and talked to us about preserving the planet. And she did all of this with a certain emotion that she passed on to me. Little by little, I started to think about how humans eat, because food is directly related to the planet. WHY IS RESPECT FOR THE PLANET IMPORTANT TO YOU? We are able to live because of what Planet Earth provides to us, namely, shelter and, above all, food and drink. Without our planet, we would be nothing. So, it is vitally important that we do our part by protecting the Earth, especially because we are so indebted to it. That's why I strongly believe that we need to show greater respect for our planet. WHAT ARE THE GLOBE CLUB PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS? The Globe Club undertakes actions to raise awareness of environmental issues within the school community. Contrary to popular belief, not all students are concerned about this issue yet; so, we are trying to get them to think about it through such projects as creating a green wall, installing green plants in the Student Common, or launching lunchtime walks in the ravine. It has been proven that nature and plants have soothing virtues, so these initiatives are beneficial for all students. We are also currently working on a project to grow vegetables at school, with the goal of creating our very own TFS salad. Regardless of the scale of our actions, there are many wonderful ways we can help support our environment and planet. As part of TFS' 60th Anniversary Speaker Series, a very special lecture and dinner was held at the school on the topic of sustainable food. What was the purpose of the plate? Raising awareness of the importance of healthier, more locally based food. Matthew L., a Level III student and member of TFS' Globe Club, explains the ins and outs of this initiative and discusses his commitment to the environment. From the Ravine to the Table: Sustainability in Every Flavour TFS 21 BY RONAN LE GUERN

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