this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2024
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Frugal
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Umm… that’s actually theft. If it’s not yours don’t take it is a basic idea. Not accusing you of trespassing but even if it’s over a wall but not yours that’s still theft.
Frugal is being smart and finding good deals not taking something that’s not yours.
If that fruit is in a public area, then that fruit is public property, legally and socially.
In Germany at least, he is right from a legal point of view. All fruits on the tree belong to the owner of the tree. In reality probably no one cares if you take a bunch of apples.
very different laws in the US.
in the states, tree ownership ends at the property line.
once part of a tree or plant is on your property or in public property, it no longer legally belongs to the tree it is growing from.
If your neighbor's tree branches grow into your yard, the branches are your property and you can harvest from or cut down those branches up to your property line.
Americans are generally pretty cool about urban foraging, in any case.
I've had neighbors invite me on to their property to pick fruit directly from their bushes or trees just because they had so much.
are private trees or close-packed houses not very common in Germany?
property lines are often a big problem in the states where so many have their house and property so close to each other.
No one will bother you, if you take some fruits from a branch over the sidewalk. Especially in urban areas like the city centre. Still, legally it belongs to the tree owner.
In the countryside, it may get you in arguments if you take fruits from one's overgrown tree. But in the countryside there are plenty of abandoned or wild trees far away from houses, where you can pick all sorts of fruit.
Totally depends on your local laws. Where I live (southern California) any fruit hanging over the sidewalk is free for the public to take, regardless of whether the tree itself is on public property. But if you cross the property line to reach it, it becomes theft.
I turn myself inside out in so many ways and places to "be a good person" that when I'm McSuburb land and someone's letting their nasty rotten fruit fall onto the ground from a branch hanging over onto the public sidewalk to rot on the ground with wasps and flies, I'm going to take some.
I value myself, a real living human being, AT LEAST as much as the vermin feasting on people's fallen fruit.
Am I going to denude the whole tree? No, I'm not an asshole. But if you're letting rats and flies and maggots eat it and it's getting all over my shoes as I walk past...I'm going to rate myself at least as worthy as a maggot.
If the homeowner was truly bothered they'd trim the tree to keep it out of public spaces.
I am truly sorry if I added to your internal turmoil. That was the last thing I meant to do. We all have too much of that these days.
I had been on my kids recently about the idea of you find something turn it in to lost and found. If it’s not yours then “it’s not yours”. I truly have nothing against the idea that it’s hanging over a public sidewalk and you grab one. I was just in the wrong mindset to understand that you’re not saying “go pick it clean!” This is a great example of how a quick reaction to something can be the wrong thing and cause more harm than good.
I will keep this in mind when I comment on other posts in a community I am not subscribed to. I hope you have a great day and an awesome week!
Theft is the secret incredient for why those fruits taste so good. I'm over 30 with my own fruits trees but I still take from other people's trees regularly.