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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think people would want free apples?

140 replies

MsFannySqueers · 29/09/2022 14:53

We have one apple tree in our garden. Some years we get barely any apples but this year we have had a large amount of apples. They are large organic cooking apples with not a blemish on them. They are very tasty when cooked. I have peeled, chopped and frozen about 50 of them so far. I will use them over the coming winter for pies,crumbles, muffins etc. I have given some to one neighbour who wanted them.
So to my AIBU. I then left a big pile of them in a container on my gatepost for days. Put a sign up for anyone to help themselves. How many have gone? Two! Two apples. I even left paper bags out to put them in! So!

YABU People can’t be bothered with all that faff, they are busy and haven’t got the time/additional ingredients to prepare and use apples even if they are free. Plus how can they afford to cook them!

YANBU It’s free apples, a bit of preparation, a few added basic ingredients and you could have some tasty treats. The cost of cooking them will be somewhat offset by the fact they were free.

OP posts:
DoodlePug · 29/09/2022 15:20

I've just stopped car to fill a hat (only receptacle I had!) with apples that someone had put out. Not even my village but its a massive box and been there for a few days so I figure they won't mind.

girlmom21 · 29/09/2022 15:19

The people who leave fruit out near us live on country roads with nowhere to stop Grin

SpinningFloppa · 29/09/2022 15:19

I seen someone advertising cooking apples on my Facebook I wonder if you are the same person. I would have loved some but unfortunately the person was just too far for me to walk to 🍏 🥧

Johnnysgirl · 29/09/2022 15:19

Thissucksmonkeynuts · 29/09/2022 15:11

I put it on the local fb group when I have a surplus. They all go, most people take a crumbles worth- 4 to 6. On ewoman took a whole buckets worth, that's a bloody big pie.

That's probably why people feel embarrassed Confused. Why were you watching what people were taking, and why does it matter to you?

CrystalCoco · 29/09/2022 15:19

Our neighbour did the same this year and I was surprised they didn't disappear immediately - we took a few on the first day they were there, then a few more a couple days later when we saw supply was greater than demand 😋

ILoveDrivingRandom · 29/09/2022 15:18

I wouldn't have taken any!! Now free chocolate might be another matter :)

(It's kind of you though OP! I'm just not a fan of apples!!)

Midnights · 29/09/2022 15:18

@ZeroFuchsGiven

Perhaps we are in the same village 😳

BabbleBee · 29/09/2022 15:17

Olio app is also great for giving away food

HideousKinky · 29/09/2022 15:16

I think sometimes people are just really polite about taking a lot!
In my village people often leave stuff they've grown in their garden out in this way. I passed a driveway with some beautiful marrows in a tray with a sign saying "please take" so I did take one and it was delicious. The next time I walked that way they were still there, but I felt I shouldn't take another one, I should leave them for other people!
You could try putting 4 or 5 in each bag? That way people might feel happier to take a bag, knowing how many it was reasonable to take?

LubaLuca · 29/09/2022 15:16

Explaintome · 29/09/2022 15:12

I think people are embarrassed to take something free. If you'd asked for money youd have probably sold them!

I disagree, it's quite normal to give and take in areas where people grow things. It's very difficult to grow enough apples for one family, so those with trees will give them away. WI members send me messages in advance of harvest to get first dibs on my bramleys 😄

Explaintome · 29/09/2022 15:12

I think people are embarrassed to take something free. If you'd asked for money youd have probably sold them!

Thissucksmonkeynuts · 29/09/2022 15:11

I put it on the local fb group when I have a surplus. They all go, most people take a crumbles worth- 4 to 6. On ewoman took a whole buckets worth, that's a bloody big pie.

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 29/09/2022 15:11

I have been making crumble twice a week for weeks off our trees!
Yanbu to be puzzled op!

idonotmind · 29/09/2022 15:10

www.ricardocuisine.com/en/recipes/3655-apple-crisp

*

Apple crisp recipe - like apple crumble but made with oats. Really good. I don't put sugar on the apples, but i guess if you're using bramleys you may need it.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/09/2022 15:09

Gosh I’d want them!

ZeroFuchsGiven · 29/09/2022 15:08

Midnights · 29/09/2022 15:07

I'd be so excited! There has been a huge Apple production where I am this year, we had a scrumping day in the local village! Was fab - I've got crumble prep for weeks!

Did you come to my village? Grin

Midnights · 29/09/2022 15:07

I'd be so excited! There has been a huge Apple production where I am this year, we had a scrumping day in the local village! Was fab - I've got crumble prep for weeks!

ZeroFuchsGiven · 29/09/2022 15:07

How strange, My village is actually known as 'the free orchard' lol, We have lines of apple trees and people literally pull up in car loads this time of year.

InsertPunHere · 29/09/2022 15:06

It’s a bumper crop this year - I’ve been inundated with offers of Bramley apples from the neighbours. We’re drowning in the damned things at the moment.

8 crumbles, 2 apple cakes, 6 jars of applesauce. Maybe your neighbourhood is similarly over-endowed?

JudgeRindersMinder · 29/09/2022 15:05

BeanieTeen · 29/09/2022 15:03

YABVU - surely everyone knows you don’t take apples off a stranger! Have we learned nothing from Eve and Snow White? 😂

😂😂😂

CMOTDibbler · 29/09/2022 15:04

Our local community cupboard and the similar scheme in nearest town are absolutely delighted with donations of excess fruit and veg at the moment. But there are baskets of apples etc everywhere, and I think people only take a lot if you post on FB or whatever and say bring a big bag we have lots

MsFannySqueers · 29/09/2022 15:04

Sounds like there maybe is a bit of an apple 🍏 glut this year. Perhaps everyone is appled out ha ha! Free cycle sounds a good idea. I hadn’t thought of that. Also going to ask our local cafe if they can make use of any. Bagging them up sounds good also as maybe people don’t want to look greedy! Thanks PP’s.

OP posts:
ShadowPuppets · 29/09/2022 15:03

We’ve just moved out of a house with an apple tree like yours and I discovered a couple of weeks ago we have a local exchange where you donate your apples to a local farm and they make cider and give you a %! Any chance you’ve got something similar nearby? wastedapple.co.uk/become-an-apple-donor/

BeanieTeen · 29/09/2022 15:03

YABVU - surely everyone knows you don’t take apples off a stranger! Have we learned nothing from Eve and Snow White? 😂

Takingabreakagain · 29/09/2022 15:03

You could try putting them on the olio app. When people know they are there they will come