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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:
spookyjupy · 29/09/2022 16:56

Do you have a FREE APPLES sign?
perhaps you could draw the old deers from hey duggee shouting Free Acorns!

cultkid · 29/09/2022 16:59

Omg I want some.. are you local?

Heswipedright · 29/09/2022 16:59

200degrees · 29/09/2022 15:50

I wouldn’t say I’m weird but I live in a city and wouldn’t be picking up loose food from the pavement - I don’t know where it’s been. I don’t know if it’s hygienic. I don’t know if it’s been tampered with. If it hasn’t been tampered with, a passer by could have coughed on it, a bird could have shat on it - it’s exposed to the elements isn’t it.

You do know that fruit generally grows on trees where birds nest? No?

Where do you think you applies in the supermarket come from? A factory?

akabluebell · 29/09/2022 16:59

eurochick · 29/09/2022 16:39

It's probably cleaner than the stuff in the supermarket. I once took a shortcut round the back of my local supermarket and the loading area had rats scurrying everywhere. And I used to live down a little mews that had the back entrances to shops including a local mini market. I used to see mice scurrying under the shutter to the storeroom. Supermarket produce is probably covered in rodent pee, etc. And has been handled by god knows who.

Show quote history

Ha ha only a city dweller could write this. Did you know a lot of food is grown in the ground, in soil . . . that is often fertilized by cow and horseshit 😱

akabluebell · 29/09/2022 17:00

Ahhh, I quoted the wrong post, oh well.

catandcoffee · 29/09/2022 17:01

Wish this was near me. Nothing nicer than home made apple sauce.

spookyjupy · 29/09/2022 17:01

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.

I put oats and cornflakes crushed up in mine if there's less than a bowl left in the box

Randomword6 · 29/09/2022 17:02

I give away bags of apples to neighbours and the local shop, and people seem to like them. To be fair they are eating apples. I am not that surprised people don't want to pick up cooking apples as I don't know that many people who would make apple pies or whatever.

OneTC · 29/09/2022 17:02

Put a sign up saying 25p each and people will nick them

caringcarer · 29/09/2022 17:06

I had a glut and 2 cooking apple trees. I have some to next door neighbour who also took some for her dd and neighbour opposite. I saw them when putting out the green bin. Don't really see other neighbours but DS took some to give to his friends Mum who was pleased with them he said. I have froze about 3 large bags, made crumbles and even made apple sauce with a chicken last weekend. No body said a word they just stared at it, got a look from me, then they ate it.

hoorayandupsherises · 29/09/2022 17:06

I was saying, put a sign up saying "Private property, do not touch the apples".

We often get given crates at the stables, which are gratefully received by the horses. Any local that you could ask if they want them.

Horses won't care if the great unwashed have touched them 😂

spookyjupy · 29/09/2022 17:07

200degrees · 29/09/2022 15:50

I wouldn’t say I’m weird but I live in a city and wouldn’t be picking up loose food from the pavement - I don’t know where it’s been. I don’t know if it’s hygienic. I don’t know if it’s been tampered with. If it hasn’t been tampered with, a passer by could have coughed on it, a bird could have shat on it - it’s exposed to the elements isn’t it.

trees are outside? just wash the fruit at home before eating silly 😋

Heswipedright · 29/09/2022 17:08

Heswipedright · 29/09/2022 16:59

You do know that fruit generally grows on trees where birds nest? No?

Where do you think you applies in the supermarket come from? A factory?

Show quote history

The typos. My Lord.

That said, it appears some people think that apples are made in the supermarket!

spookyjupy · 29/09/2022 17:11

isthismylifenow · 29/09/2022 16:43

A house a street from me had an avocado glut and posted on our suburb group. It was a race to get there to a grab one or two. They were all gone 17 minutes after she posted. 😂

Now every now and then someone asks how well her tree is doing.

And now I feel like apple crumble OP. We don't get those decent huge bramley apples where you only need to peel and chop a couple to get a decent dessert out. So I find it a faff as I have to peel a hefty amount. Not sure if it's just here, but my goodness the price of tinned apples here is horrendous.....

So I am also surprised that they haven't been claimed by now.

Gordon Ramsey says that the flavour is in the skin. So I have been shredding apples, skin and all with a cheese grater and chopping one or 2 for the lumps. Delicious 😋

Elderflower14 · 29/09/2022 17:13

I've got loads of apples this year... Have frozen loads and given some to neighbours and work colleagues..

Heswipedright · 29/09/2022 17:13

I've often wondered about Brazilian fruit. What a journey they've been on!

Mind you, I didn't make the link until a very ripe age that cotton was a plant. yes, I am that thick I thought it just existed somehow as a fabric.

Novella38 · 29/09/2022 17:16

I do this every year - usually a cardboard box full of cooking apples and by the end of the day they are all gone. People fill shopping bags full of them! Not sure why no one’s taking them. Maybe you need a more eye catching sign? I also put it right out on the pavement so they can’t miss it or feel weird about stepping on my driveway!

ghostsandpumpkinsalready · 29/09/2022 17:16

OneTC · 29/09/2022 17:02

Put a sign up saying 25p each and people will nick them

This is so true 🤣

generalh · 29/09/2022 17:20

We had a bumper crop this year. We made cider and apple chutney. We still have so many. My husband has been making apple crumble and cereal bars. No one wants the rest of the apple.

isthismylifenow · 29/09/2022 17:53

spookyjupy · 29/09/2022 17:11

Gordon Ramsey says that the flavour is in the skin. So I have been shredding apples, skin and all with a cheese grater and chopping one or 2 for the lumps. Delicious 😋

Show quote history

I never thought to grate them! What a revelation...

Do you grate the core as well?

(I feel a bit thick now 😂)

mondaytosunday · 29/09/2022 18:31

Oh I miss my apple tree! Chutneys, apple mint jelly - yum!
Is there a lot of foot traffic on your street? I've seen signs for fruit before and have wanted to stop but unless I can park right there I can't be bothered.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 29/09/2022 18:54

Why has noone mentioned making cider yet? this is MN fgs lol

Snugglemonkey · 29/09/2022 19:05

200degrees · 29/09/2022 15:50

I wouldn’t say I’m weird but I live in a city and wouldn’t be picking up loose food from the pavement - I don’t know where it’s been. I don’t know if it’s hygienic. I don’t know if it’s been tampered with. If it hasn’t been tampered with, a passer by could have coughed on it, a bird could have shat on it - it’s exposed to the elements isn’t it.

Ehm, it is exposed to the elements on the tree? Everything in a supermarket may be coughed on. All fruit and veg may have been peed on or shat on by a bird or animal. You can wash them and being cooking apples, you would be peeling them surely?

paintitallover · 29/09/2022 19:06

I often have a grated apple in porridge. It's quick in a box grater.

I like it thrown in the pan for a minute so it doesn't make the porridge cold. Then into a bowl, with a tbsp of yogurt.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/09/2022 19:09

I’d def. love some! No free apples around here, though. 🙁

Presumably it depends where you are. Dd lives in a road where all the 1920s houses were built on a former apple orchard, so nearly everyone has an apple tree in their (large by modern standards) garden.
No such thing here, 60s houses, tiddly gardens.