Free food!
By Fleur
@Fleura (32873)
United Kingdom
October 5, 2025 4:27am CST
I can never resist free food, especially when I know that if I don’t take it, it will go to waste, which just offends my sensibilities!
Just a bit further along our road there is a sweet chestnut tree at the bottom of someone’s garden, overhanging the road (which is actually a narrow lane, wide enough for one car). It’s quite a young tree, and I have seen it grow up over the last few years from a youngster to a mature ‘adult’ (if trees can be considered adult).
Two years ago we found a few chestnuts fallen in the road, and picked up a handful on the walks to and from the school bus (there’s no path, so we have to walk in the road anyway). It was a shame to see the fallen chestnuts smooshed into mush by cars if we were not early enough to find the ones that had fallen overnight.
Last year there were a few more, but this year – whether it’s because the tree is more mature or the weather was more suitable I don’t know – there are lots, and good sized ones too. And we’ve had some blustery weather which is bringing them down all over the place! Even more conveniently, most of them fall out of their cases which avoids the tedious chore of prising them out of the spiky shells
What I find strange (although lucky for me I guess!) is that no-one else bothers to pick any up, even now that 'foraging' has become trendy. Some people just walk past, giving me funny looks; most people drive over them, leaving a mushy mess all over the road. I wonder how many of those same people buy expensive chestnuts from the shops?
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2025.

10 people like this
11 responses
@LadyDuck (485019)
• Italy
5 Oct
I love chestnuts, this is the right season to pick them up, we can also find walnuts, figs and with a bit of luck mushrooms. I learnt in Switzerland to prepare "vermicelles" (also called Mont Blacn) with boiled mashed chestnuts, sugar and whipped cream.
3 people like this



@Fleura (32873)
• United Kingdom
5 Oct
We eat them quite a lot because the rest of my family don't like mushrooms, and chestnuts make quite a good substitute in things like breads and stews. We like the traditional roasted chestnuts too, and last year I discovered a recipe for chestnut roulade, which was really yummy!
2 people like this
@Traceyjayne (5821)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct
I wish we had one of those trees near us ….we only have conkers
@LindaOHio (203385)
• United States
5 Oct
I haven't had chestnuts since I lived at home with my parents. They used to roast them in the bottom of the oven. Yum! I'm glad you were able to find a bunch on the ground.
1 person likes this
