PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Students are known for bringing apples to their teachers, but why not surprise those who inspire you with an apple pie?
That’s what Natasha Tompkins did last fall when she presented Nancy Chandler, supervisor of Conservation and Education Services for Maine Public Service, with two apple pies made with the fruit from the tree Tompkins had won for the essay she’d written for a contest years earlier.
“Natasha was in third grade five years ago when she won the Earth Day Essay Contest sponsored by MPS,” said her father, George Tompkins. “She was presented with a gift certificate for an apple tree.”
After picking up her apple tree, the young student returned home and, with the help of her mother, planted the tree. With a bit of love and attention, the tree grew and produced enough apples over the fall to make pies. To show her appreciation, Natasha made pies and delivered them to MPS.
“She made apple pies from the apples and took two pies to MPS as a thank you for their community support. Nancy was very touched and surprised,” said Tompkins.
In her essay, Natasha explained how she planned to plant a garden, with the help of neighbors, for all to enjoy – people and animals alike. She also indicated she’d put feeders in the area and not include a fence so that animals would feel welcome. By doing such, Natasha said it would be her way of helping the Earth on Earth Day by “gathering people to work together to build a strong community that cares about the Earth.” She hoped this would help improve the Earth and help bring the community together to work on such a project.
“Maybe other people will see our garden and want to create their own garden in their neighborhood,” Tompkins’ essay concluded.
