Would this be weird?

CleoKitty

Today while driving in a neighborhood a few miles from here I noticed a house with a huge pear tree in the front yard. There were hundreds of pears rotting on the ground and the rest of the tree was very heavy with ripe fruit.

There was clearly someone home. I thought about stopping and asking if they wanted their fruit and if not, if I could come back another day and pick some pears. If it's an elderly person who maybe just can't pick anymore I'd offer to pick for them as well and/or maybe offer a little bit of money? Or maybe offer to drop off much of the fruit at the food bank where I volunteer?

Would you ask? I feel a bit weird about it, but if that fruit is just going to rot it seems like someone could use it... 

Rebekah1021

Yep, pretty weird. I have seen people do this for apples. They just pulled over and starting picking at the side of the road.

I thought it was weird. 

Yodajo

You should ask.  What do you have to lose?  There may be someone inside who hates the mess that the tree makes or that feels so horrible to see it all go to waste and you'd be helping them out tremendously. 

 

Mominator

I don't think it's weird. My Mom has/had fruit trees and they produce more than we could have ever eaten. We usually put together bags/boxes/whatever we have laying around on a table out front with a sign that says "free". Needless to say, it never lasts long and I know her neighbors appreciate it.

MayorMcCheese000

I wouldn't think it was weird. We have a pear tree that has a ridiculous amount of fruit on it, I am always giving it away, it's way more than we could eat. FWIW  pears that are already "ripe" on the tree are no good. Pears need to be picked while they are still slightly green and then ripen "off the vine" so to speak, So, if you do pick them, don't pick the yellow ones, they will be gross. We usually pick them, then let them ripen a few days in a brown paper bag and they are delicious!

L D

I would stop and ask. I don't think it's weird to atleast ask. Now if you just pulled up and grabbed what you wanted and left that would be weird.

superslug

I don't think it's weird. It doesn't hurt to ask. I think I would be grateful if it were my tree :-).

AnnapolisLari

You know my answer. You don't get if you don't ask. Many people buy houses that have fruit trees there already and aren't interested in dealing with it.

I got about half a bushel of apples last year by asking and a reusable grocery bag so far this year. The place I got them has 5 trees and only 2 of them were ready to pick. I also have a source for free peaches and black walnuts if I want them. It's a MAJOR assist to the budget.

If you're going to do it, do it now. Pears that ripen on the tree are often mushy inside. You need to pick them before they fall and let them sit for a few days before you process them.

It breaks my heart to see good produce going to waste.

A-baybride

I don't think it's weird to ask at all. I hate to think of all that fruit going to waste and I would think the owner would be happy to have less fermenting fruit on the ground. That can't smell good!