Thread: Hope This Isn't Illegal...

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I have a 5 foot wall at the road in front of my house. I usually don't do any outside decorating till the day of...but this year, I've put some simple things out. While I doubt if anyone would mess with my decorations on the road side of the wall (where I can't see) a little deterrent wouldn't hurt, right?

So...I put out two tall Victorian lamposts, cornstalks with bright orange ribbons, spider webs, and a few of those Michael's scarecrows...FILLED WITH CHESTNUT HULLS! For those that don't know, chestnut hulls make porcupines look like soft, fluffy kittens. The things are comprised of hundreds of needle sharp spines.

The scarecrows look great!

Their posts have been tied TIGHT at about 8 different places each, and the posts themselves have a few chestnut hulls on them...kept in place with twine...covered by spider webs. Since anybody messing with them would have to trample my flower garden and make a sincere effort to bother them, I don't feel TOO bad about it.

<sigh> I'll probably get arrested.

Yay! The punks shouldn't be in your yard anyway...I've been hit by a chestnut falling out of a tree before....and I just giggle with glee at the thought of your plan

Hopefully the setup will keep the hoodlums away!

It's not illegal to have chestnuts 'bagged' in your yard. It would be akin to the burglar suing you for cutting himself on the window he broke. I think most lawsuits like that are a thing of the past, thanks to progressive, common-sensical judges, thank the Gods.

I like the creativity and forethought in dealing with potential vandals

Hulls? Were they previously roasted on an open fire?

I roasted the chestnuts inside on an open...well, closed, microwave. they were delicious! In the unlikely event that I DO get vandals, it will be easy to spot the culprits. They will be the ones with swollen, bloody hands!

It sounds like a wicked setup. I hope you don't get arrested because at the end of the day its a bit of fun xD

Incidentally, what is the best way to remove chestnuts from their hulls? I usally end up stepping on them, and pushing off the hull with my foot, but have been wondering if there is a better method anyone knows about? Also, how do you pick them without getting stabbed in the fingers?

Isn't it a little early for chestnuts anyways?

Here in PA, they are dropping steadily. The hulls are usually pretty much open when they hit ground. I use kitchen tongs and a heavy leather glove to pry them completely open. My only challenge is beating the squirrels to them. I wonder how THEY deal with the hulls?

Originally Posted by boo who?

I wonder how THEY deal with the hulls?

Tiny, tiny fingers...

I love chestnuts. we just don't seem to have them in these parts.

DB