Lemon Tree

Our neighbour has several lemon trees. These trees are mature and produce huge numbers of fruit. He is unable to use even one percent of the fruit so he picks them up from under the tree and throws them on the empty lot next door.

Theresa and I see this as waste and wish he would put them in a basket and place them along side of the road as so many do. People here are very good at recycling and we all follow the rule that our surplus may be someone elses need. We picked some of the fruit he threw away and the girls made lemon desserts. Lemons also keep well in the fridge and can last for months.

We juice them and have a ready supply on hand for cooking fish and other things, like ribs. We were going to plant a lemon tree but we could never use the fruit and being here for six months, there would be waste.

Some states have gleaner clubs who officially glean fields after the regular harvest and donate them to the food banks. In Texas we saw this program at its best where thousands of tons of food are gleaned and given to worthy causes. Here in Florida I know of no such organization but groups in the agricultural belt do glean for their food banks.

It always seems like a shame where waste is present and the needs in this country so great.