Someone between Oct. 12 and 16, not only picked clean all chestnuts outside the fence, at Upper Bench Road South, but also cut a hole of about one square metre square in the fence, to gain access to inside a private property.
They illegally picked clean a full crop of chestnuts, ready to be picked, by us and our family. They also left an open hole in the fence allowing access to the deer into the property.
Much to my dismay, I found 15 deer inside on Friday, Oct. 16 and approximately over 100 feet of fence with grapes, also ready to pick, completely cleaned out by the herbivores that eat the leaves voraciously at the fence, from the shoulder high to the ground.
I have owned the property since March 1980 and I have never seen anything like it. The people involved had an encounter with the person that runs the orchard, who gave them a lecture, and seem to have ignored all of it.
We know who you are. We are still contemplating laying charges.
For a mere handful of chestnuts, you have destroyed our annual family gathering including the grandchildren. During this weekend we would gather and after the picking, we would roast the chestnuts — as per the song “chest nuts roasting in the fire.”
We would enjoy the delicious delicacy that has been going for over 25 years. Shame on you. You have ruined everything for us. We are not used to this kind of behaviour in this country and maybe an apology would be nice.
Chestnuts are very appreciated by the residents of countries along the Mediterranean, some Asian countries and are prized by chefs for the confection of meat and wild meat dishes.
Joe Gomes
Penticton