While travelling home from work one evening, my car decided to break down. I had been working all day and not had anything to eat due to a busy schedule. I felt myself getting weak and my stomach was really feeling hungry. I called the Roadside Assistance and told them where I was, on the M62 just East of the A1 junction.
The breakdown guy acknowledged my location, but reported it would be another hour before he could get to me. I stood with my back against the motorway railing watching the cars and lorries pass by. I was getting really hungry by now and felt weak. I began clock watching the time tick by.
My Oasis in the desert
I decided to climb over the barrier onto the grass bank, just in case a vehicle strayed on to the hard shoulder. When I looked up, right before me was a stunning Apple tree, it was like finding an oasis in the desert. It was literally covered in bright red and green apples.
Then it struck me that a few years ago, someone must have thrown an apple core from their vehicle, and the tree grew there. Un-attended, no pesticides, fertilisers or insectides.
I picked two Apples, gave them a little wash from my water bottle and ate two. They were the tastiest Apples I have ever tried. It was then I decided, why can’t everyone have their own oasis of free, fresh fruit.
This is my story, and how it all began. Someone I will never know or never meet, really did “Leaf me a legacy”.
That tree is still there to this day and here’s where it is: What Three Words: purchaser.flexibly.things
James Berry – Founder of Leaf a Legacy.org