Getting to know the neighbours

For a few weeks now, Ed and I have been eyeing up the slowly ripening apples on a tree on our neighbour’s property just next to our house.  They don’t look like amazing eating apples, but I suspect they would be pretty tasty in an apple pie or crumble.

Peasgood Nonsuch - ridiculous name, good-looking apple.

Like most people who rent in good old suburbia, we don’t really know our neighbours.  Last year some of our very good friends lived in the house behind us, and we had a shortcut through the hedge so we could pop next door and visit.  It was awesome having friendly neighbours, and being able to go next door to borrow/lend things and hang out.  They moved out in December, and while we are still enjoying the benefits of their vege garden, we miss them. 

We are on good terms with a guy who lives downstairs from us – this was necessary because we share a letter-box and hot water cylinder, and because we regularly block his car in our drive so he has to knock on our door to ask us to move the offending car (sorry about that).   Aside from this, we don’t know anyone on our street.  We live on a seriously steep street, so people don’t really hang out on the footpath, or even park their cars on the street (for fear of handbrake failure and its dramatic consequences!)

On Wednesday I decided to pluck up the courage to go next door and introduce myself, and to broach the topic of apple stealing if it seemed ok to do so.  Armed with a jar of my apricot jam, I went next door and knocked.  I ended up having a lovely chat with the neighbours, who are very friendly.  It turns out that the apple tree is a heritage variety called Peasgood Nonsuch, which is good for cooking (apple pie!).  It's also good for dehydrating apparently, and I sampled a tasty piece of dried apple the neighbours had made.  They do use a lot of the apples, but they are happy to share some with us.  Success! 

In my research this month, I discovered that on Google there is a map where people can mark the location of public fruit trees and other tasty plants  from which free food can be collected.  There is also a facebook group for the Dunedin Underground Food Economy, where Dunedin residents can share tips of where to collect free food.  I don't intend to ruin my new friendship with the neighbours by adding their apple tree to the list, but I think the idea is awesome!  As far as I can tell there is only one Dunedin location that has been added to the map.  I'm sure there are heaps of places that aren't currently listed - if you know of some, please add them to the map so we can go foraging.