Not-So-Forbidden Fruit

There is a little-known law in the City of Los Angeles that protects artists, bohemians, and homeless people from nutritional starvation. It states that fruit growing on private trees that extends into public areas, is free for the picking. In other words, it's open season for fruit you can reach from the sidewalk! Perhaps this law hasn't been high on the radar screen, but as food prices soar, more and more green-minded people are realizing the potential of this law. Enter the Fallen Fruit Manifesto.

Fallen Fruit was formed by a trio of artists who created maps of areas where fruit can be yours for the taking. The Manifesto continues to urge homeowners to plant fruit-bearing trees on their property's perimeter in lieu of shrubs, hedges, and non-fruit trees. Additionally, the organization asks residents of all localities to petition for community garden and fruit tree support, asking them to line the streets with apple and pear trees, so that no one need go hungry. Another eco-friendly measure designed by nature-minded citizens, the Fallen Fruit Manifesto provides an opportunity for homeowners to "give back" to their community in the most direct and basic of ways: the harvest.