Nicking the neighbourhood fruit!

[silverfire]

So I've just come to the end of a VERY hard month financially!

Experienceing an extreme lack of money really makes you start to think in various 'lateral' ways. One of these ways for me was to start noticing how many fruit trees we had in our area, and just how much of this fruit goes to waste by dropping and rotting.

So I think to myself, fruit is very expensive, but an important part of life, especially since I have a child and want what's healthiest for him.

A quick tour of the neighbourhood and I catalogued the following fruits:

fiejoas
limes
lemons
pomegranates
quinces
apples
peaches
nectarines
plums

and also
olives
chestnuts


Some of the fruits are not yet ripe, but others are so...

That night I went out and ran round the neighbourhood nicking fuit that was hanging over the fence (or perhaps just a little bit near the fence!)

I scored limes, quinces, apples and plums. I also scored olives, but one bite told me they were NOWHERE near ripe! Yech!

As they ripen, I'll also be able to get pomegranates, chestnuts, and feijoas!

It's unbelievable that so much of this goes to waste!

So this has helped a lot, and now I have finally been paid!

We also have in the back of our rental property:

figs
apricots
almonds
oranges
persimons

I'm thinking I might go and see if I can trade some figs for other fruits I see the neighbours growing.

Has anyone else systematically gone and 'harvested' fruits from their neighbourhoods?

What fruits are grown around where you live?

Cheers!

[Ludi]

When I lived in a crappy neighborhood in Los Angeles (actually North Hollywood), someone stole all the lemons off my lemon tree, in the fenced side yard. :(


There's one ancient pear tree on an old farm across the road from me here, but it only had one pear on it last year.

I get free pecans from down the road, by the river. Nobody else picks them up, but they didn't bear last year. There's a lot of wild fruit, but the critters generally get it.

[butterfly_acid]

I'd be upset if someone took everything from my own fruit tree...particularly belladonna...I mean...eh...the orange tree out back ^_^

but my mom picked up grapefruit from "ditches" where they had fallen from the trees...and I ate them before she told me. LOL...I kinda felt bad in a sense cuz they were potentially on someone's property. I'm kinda all about people having the sanctity of their homes not disturbed...like...energy or something...it's kinda like when a person walks into a room..albeit any room where there are already people feeling a particular energy...as soon as the person walks in, the energy changes as that person has brought in emotions and set forth an emotional whirlwind (no matter how slight) from onlookers who notice the arrival.

On the other hand...if you want to, you may just ask your neighbors politely..."I notice that you have fruit bearing plants/trees/whatever, and that they are mostly going to waste. I would not mind using up a few of those fruits so that they don't go to waste or dirty up your yard as they fall and aren't picked up. This might also help you in cutting down on the number of ants in your yard, as they like that sweet fruit. Plus, your yard will look much nicer!"

goodluck ^_^

[thebelovedtree]

My mom did that when she was growing up because they were really poor and her dad was an abusive ass hole. He would lock my mom aunt and uncles in their room and then eat all the food, so they were left w/ canned tomatoes stolen from the pantry and produce they could steal from the neighbors.

[WonderRandy]

So I've just come to the end of a VERY hard month financially!

Experienceing an extreme lack of money really makes you start to think in various 'lateral' ways. One of these ways for me was to start noticing how many fruit trees we had in our area, and just how much of this fruit goes to waste by dropping and rotting.

So I think to myself, fruit is very expensive, but an important part of life, especially since I have a child and want what's healthiest for him.

A quick tour of the neighbourhood and I catalogued the following fruits:

fiejoas
limes
lemons
pomegranates
quinces
apples
peaches
nectarines
plums

and also
olives
chestnuts


Some of the fruits are not yet ripe, but others are so...

That night I went out and ran round the neighbourhood nicking fuit that was hanging over the fence (or perhaps just a little bit near the fence!)

I scored limes, quinces, apples and plums. I also scored olives, but one bite told me they were NOWHERE near ripe! Yech!

As they ripen, I'll also be able to get pomegranates, chestnuts, and feijoas!

It's unbelievable that so much of this goes to waste!

So this has helped a lot, and now I have finally been paid!

We also have in the back of our rental property:

figs
apricots
almonds
oranges
persimons

I'm thinking I might go and see if I can trade some figs for other fruits I see the neighbours growing.

Has anyone else systematically gone and 'harvested' fruits from their neighbourhoods?

What fruits are grown around where you live?

Cheers!


let me get this straight. You're advocating STEALING someone else's property. whether it goes to waste or not, it is SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY. The fact that you cased the neighborhood first, and went out at night to "nick" the fruit tells me that you knew it was illegal and unethical. Just wanted to make sure we all understand what you're talking about.

[renaissancesun]

olives...I don't think people eat them right off of the tree. I think they have to be treated first to make them palatable.

I agree that you should ask your neighbors, instead of committing a crime. If they are letting stuff rot on the ground, I'll bet at least most of them would be happy to have someone use it. You might actually meet some nice people, as well.

If someone took my fruit off of my tree, and I caught them, they would not like the results. :( If they asked though, I would be happy to share.

[vggiegirl]

olives...I don't think people eat them right off of the tree. I think they have to be treated first to make them palatable.

Correct!


I agree that you should ask your neighbors, instead of committing a crime. If they are letting stuff rot on the ground, I'll bet at least most of them would be happy to have someone use it. You might actually meet some nice people, as well.

If someone took my fruit off of my tree, and I caught them, they would not like the results. :( If they asked though, I would be happy to share.

Ditto. Growing up, our fence shared the neighbor's fence, and they grew these delicious grapes. We always asked first...and then in no time, my parents are great friends with them. Now they bring them fresh jams and wine and all kinds of grapey things. All because we chose not to steal them in the night :)

[Ms Chevious]

I would live in the eternal fear that since I had stolen the items that I would choke on them when I ate them. :(

[Irizary]

I've had people take things from me without asking, and what's sad about it is that if they had asked, I would have given them those things, plus a whole lot more!

I urge you to explain your situation to your neighbors. The kind ones will be happy to help out.

I'm sorry that you're having such a hard time financially :(

[Brandon]

I agree that you should probably at least ask. I think you should ask yourself, also, how you would feel if you got busted, red-handed stealing fruit from someone's yard. What would you say? What would you feel inside?
It'd be embarrassing, I would think.

[Ludi]

I'm planting many fruit trees so eventually I hope to be able to share/trade with the neighbors. We have some friends we trade food with, and I'd like to be able to extend this sharing economy to other people.

Sharing is nicer than stealing. :)

[Mskedi]

--

[karenM]

I wouldn't take fruit from an individual home without the owner's permission, but I've made olives taken from the trees (and the ground) in front of the apartments next door to our complex. (Yes, you have to treat them for a very long period of time before they can be eaten. I use an old-fashioned Greek salt brine method of leaching the bitterness out.) Olive trees are common around here for their decorative value in landscaping; no one misses the fruit. It's not really necessary to trespass on private property when there are so many trees in public parks, etc.

Whilst waiting for my daughter at the DMV, I noticed feijoa bushes with fruit, so of course I took some home! They'd have rotted like the others on the ground otherwise. And the camp staff where we stay on Catalina Island every August has said it's fine if I take home as many chokecherries as I care to collect from the native trees. They make delicious jam or jelly.

The edibles I grow are mainly herbs, and my neighbors all know they're welcome to harvest a bay leaf or mint sprigs or lemongrass, or whatever they need. I wouldn't much like it if complete strangers started cutting my herbs without asking though.

[jenna]

Ah. This is making me think of that scene in the Wizard of Oz when they try to take the apple from the tree and the tree attacks them.

I definitely wouldn't nick the fruit anymore. Just ask! I'm sure most people would be more than willing to give you some (they may just have too much) and/or would be willing to trade for some of the food you have growing in your yard.

[Kiz]

That's pretty low, Silverfire. You could have at least asked. People put a lot of effort into growing fruit and veg. I don't mind neighbours having some, not at all, and I'd give them some if they ask. Heck, I've even taken mandarin baskets out voluntarily. But I'd be pretty peeved if my neighbours were theiving my fruuit unasked.




Has anyone else systematically gone and 'harvested' fruits from their neighbourhoods?

I've harvested, sure, but I've never stolen. I've always asked first. And you know what? People have always said yes.

[Indian Summer]

Over here (Norway) stealing fruit in the neighbourhood is a longstanding and institutionalised tradition. (There's even a special term for the act of stealing this fruit.) It should be noted that this is something only kids do. I myself have raided many a fruit tree back in the days.

I can imagine that in times of hardship, when you are hungry and don't have anything to eat, it is a highly valued skill to be able to provide food. However, this skill has to be developed and brought on to new generations also when times are good and there is a surplus of food. Therefore the tradition is still alive and kicking here in one of the world's richest countries.

Is stealing really categorically wrong? If I were hungry, and my neighbours just let the fruit on their trees rot and go to waste, I would not feel bad about taking it. You could of course ask if they were willing to give it to you. Or not. It depends. Having to ask for alms is not good for one's self-esteem. OTOH if an adult were caught or recognised while stealing fruit, that would not be good either - it would appear rather desperate.

[Medesha]

Is stealing really categorically wrong?

In my opinion, yes.

[delicious]

Over here (Norway) stealing fruit in the neighbourhood is a longstanding and institutionalised tradition. (There's even a special term for the act of stealing this fruit.) It should be noted that this is something only kids do. I myself have raided many a fruit tree back in the days.

I can imagine that in times of hardship, when you are hungry and don't have anything to eat, it is a highly valued skill to be able to provide food. However, this skill has to be developed and brought on to new generations also when times are good and there is a surplus of food. Therefore the tradition is still alive and kicking here in one of the world's richest countries.

Is stealing really categorically wrong? If I were hungry, and my neighbours just let the fruit on their trees rot and go to waste, I would not feel bad about taking it. You could of course ask if they were willing to give it to you. Or not. It depends. Having to ask for alms is not good for one's self-esteem. OTOH if an adult were caught or recognised while stealing fruit, that would not be good either - it would appear rather desperate.

I agree. Somehow it seems like more of a crime to let fruit rot than to take fruit that you need. The laws are all skewed towards the rich, that's all.
Do what you need to do to take care of your kid. :)

[Noelson]

I agree. Somehow it seems like more of a crime to let fruit rot than to take fruit that you need. The laws are all skewed towards the rich, that's all.
Do what you need to do to take care of your kid. :)

Yea, that's right - screw everyone else, take care of yourself (and/or your child), even if it's illegal. So, if there was a lawnmower in her neighbours yard and she stole it, sold it and bought something with that money, would that be OK with you too?? Give me an f'ing break. Stealing is stealing, no matter how pretty you paint it.

Let me tell you, If I found out one of my neighbours was stealing my fruit, I would be totally pissed. If the same neighbour instead came to me and explained the situation, not only would I give fruit but would also try in some way to help.

[Wolfie]

Yea, that's right - screw everyone else, take care of yourself (and/or your child), even if it's illegal. So, if there was a lawnmower in her neighbours yard and she stole it, sold it and bought something with that money, would that be OK with you too?? Give me an f'ing break. Stealing is stealing, no matter how pretty you paint it.

Let me tell you, If I found out one of my neighbours was stealing my fruit, I would be totally pissed. If the same neighbour instead came to me and explained the situation, not only would I give fruit but would also try in some way to help.

:up:

It could also be dangerous to go around at night w/o asking. People might not realize that's all you're doing and they might turn violent.

[Kiz]

Delicious, I understand where you're coming from, but really, would it have been that hard to ask? And where do you get "the laws are skewed to the rIch" from in a thread on stealing fruit? Hell, I've had times when I've been poor as and thanked the Gods for the luck of a fruit tree out the back.

[KimberlyNYC]

silverfire, I understand that pride may be an issue in asking, but the worst that could happen is that they'll say no. Much worse could happen if you are caught stealing. I bet a lot of your neighbors would be more than willing to share their fruit if only asked.

[karenM]

I'm not recommending theft here, for a variety of reasons, but it seems a lot of us are saying, in effect, "I don't want a poor person taking MY fruit!! But I wouldn't deny the food if she came begging at my doorstep first."

Either way, the hungry person ends up eating the fruit. The only difference for the fruit owner is that he/she can feel magnanimous about being generous to the pitiful poor person.

[WonderRandy]

No, the difference is that the owner has control of their private property. I don't care if you're rich or poor, but you don't take my stuff without asking.

[Kiz]

I'm not recommending theft here, for a variety of reasons, but it seems a lot of us are saying, in effect, "I don't want a poor person taking MY fruit!! But I wouldn't deny the food if she came begging at my doorstep first."

Either way, the hungry person ends up eating the fruit. The only difference for the fruit owner is that he/she can feel magnanimous about being generous to the pitiful poor person.


Uh... no. Try "I don't care if the person is poor or rich, I like to know who is wandering over my property, when, and why." It's not frigging begging anyway. It's asking politely. I've asked neighbours if I can pick their lemons or whatever. It's just called being polite and respectful to those in your neighbourhood.