low hanging fruit

[rebeccacceber.livejournal.com]

There's a gigantic apple tree that fell down into the Star Market parking lot off Beacon Street- possibly struck by lightening.  There are zillions of little apples easily accessible. I picked a bunch.  You could too!  Is it okay to pick them?  The tree did come from someone's yard/overgrown-weed-jungle but now its lying in the parking lot...

Comments

[cos]

I'm pretty sure it is. See "usufruct". It covers things like fruit from someone's tree, off a branch that grows into public property or onto your property.

Usufruct.

[prog.livejournal.com]

This is an outstanding word!

[rebeccacceber.livejournal.com]

they are a bit tart but definitely real apples

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

Crab apples are sour to taste. They aren't dangerous. I've never seen apple trees in this area but have seen quite a few crab apple trees. The easiest way to tell if they're an actual apple is to hold it upright like a little globe of the world and cut it in half where the equator on a globe would be. If there are less then 5 seeds around on one side, It's not a regular apple. I wouldn't eat them for the same reason previously noted. I wouldn't eat anything growing out of the ground in this area.

Crabapples

[avjudge]

My mom used to make crabapple jelly - so they're definitely edible, just take extra sugar!

Oh, and when I researched lead before planting this spring, I read that it doesn't really show up too much in fruits (such as tomatoes and beans, which I'm therefore growing in the earth - I think the test I read about specifically addressed tomatoes). At least at levels to worry an adult. Leaf and (particularly) root crops are more of a concern. So I'd think apples & crabapples would be OK, though I haven't seen them specifically addressed.

Anne

[gildersleeve.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't eat anything that grew out of the soil over there... that side of Beacon Street was used for heavy industrial uses for over a century - who knows what's in the ground.

[rebeccacceber.livejournal.com]

hmm... good point. in that case i do know whats in the ground there... lead, lead, lead.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

OK legally, probably.

Wise? Probably not.