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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
RonObvious · 29/09/2022 14:55

You even left out paper bags? I wish you lived near me!

Redbushteaforme · 29/09/2022 14:55

If you were near me, I would certainly be delighted to take some of them!

KnickerlessParsons · 29/09/2022 14:56

I would have taken some, but people are weird about things these days.

SalviaOfficinalis · 29/09/2022 14:56

Have you used freecycle before? It’s great - someone will definitely want them if you can put a post on freecycle.

People probably feel a bit cheeky taking loads if you just leave them out.

JudgeRindersMinder · 29/09/2022 14:56

I think people feel weird about helping themselves..I too have a bumper apple crop this year, and thought about doing what you’ve done, but ended up putting a post on FB (personal page so it’s actual friends) and have had loads of takers, although I’ve just left them bagged up on the path for people to pick up

Johnnysgirl · 29/09/2022 14:57

Not unreasonable at all, I'd be over the moon to pass this, and would absolutely help myself!
Do most of your neighbours have their own trees, though? Maybe everyone near you has a similar glut at the moment.

Gigihulu · 29/09/2022 14:57

Do you have much foot traffic outside your house? My old house had an apple tree but we were in a close so very few people would have walked past to take them .

HappyHamsters · 29/09/2022 14:58

Have you got a local community fridge, food bank or kindness group who would like them.

Ragruggers · 29/09/2022 14:59

Do you have a food share?people will want them and love having them.Put a post on Facebook,here lots of people have trees and they are always taken.Great you do this.

Changechangychange · 29/09/2022 14:59

When I was at primary school, a lady on my way home used to do this. We didn’t know her but I still think fondly of eating a free apple on the way home. We loved it.

If only you lived near me OP, we would definitely have taken them.

Zott · 29/09/2022 14:59

It depends a bit where you live, our last house was in the suburbs and lots of people walking past our house would have taken them (not that we had a fruit tree!) Where we live now (very rural) everyone has apple trees and we can’t give them away.

Hope you get some takers though, it’s a kind thought, apple tart/pie/crumble is so easy to make and delicious.

RatherBeRiding · 29/09/2022 15:00

I always take free apples when I spot any but it's shocking (to me!) how few people seem to know how to make basic apple crumbles from scratch these days. My DD for example would be clueless.

Also, I do think some people might feel awkward (for some strange reason!) helping themselves to free food in broad daylight.

If you have a local FB group try posting on there - anything like that on my village FB group gets a very positive response.

MintJulia · 29/09/2022 15:01

YANBU but I think it depends on your neighbours and whether they cook.

I had the same issue in 2019. I stacked them in a box by my front gate and got rid of about 10kg a day. The nice thing was over the next few weeks I kept finding pots of chutney or apple&ginger jam on my door step. 😊

If you are having trouble getting rid of them, try the following...

Call the local WI. My local WI sent a helpful husband and a trailer
Are there any farms near you? Animal feed prices have shot up this year so our local farmer took a tailerload to feed to his pigs.
Is there a local juicer. Take 100kg to them and have them juiced and cartoned up for you. You should get enough to last a year.
Slice and freeze as many as you can.
Make herb jellies with apple as a base ingredient.

purplecorkheart · 29/09/2022 15:01

Do many people actually walk passed your house. I would probably take some if I was on my way home if walking but probably not if I was on my way into town or somewhere. I would feel slightly cheeky though and would presume that you really meant them for your neighbours.

LubaLuca · 29/09/2022 15:02

I've given away hundreds of bramley apples this year (and every year). I put a notice on the village Facebook page, and they come in droves for them. I wouldn't get rid of any if I just put them out.

Takingabreakagain · 29/09/2022 15:03

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

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? 😂

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/

Original poster
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:
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

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? 😂

😂😂😂

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?

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.

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 15:08

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