# I Pit my inconsiderate peanut-feeding neighbors **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 7, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757 "2012-08-07T16:58:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/1 "2012-08-07T16:58:30Z")
My retired next-door neighbors are fond of feeding the birds. No problem there. Unfortunately, however, they feed them whole peanuts (shell and everything) and a sizable fraction of the shells end up strewn across my lawn :mad: My neighbor across the street (also elderly) feeds the same damn unshelled peanuts to the squirrels, who also like to come over to my lawn to eat them :mad: My one consolation is that feeding peanuts to animals seems to be an old-people thing, and the generation that does this is dying out. Thus, I can look forward to a future where I don’t have to walk around my lawn picking up shells so my property doesn’t look like the floor of a Texas Roadhouse. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/2 "2012-08-07T17:11:01Z")
What are you talking about, while the old old people may be dying out, new old people come off the assemble line all the time. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/3 "2012-08-07T17:11:19Z")
I hate to tell you but old people dieing out are generally replaced by newly now old people. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/4 "2012-08-07T17:13:05Z")
Oh Nos! Peanut shells on your precious snowflake lawn!?!?! Whatever shall you do? And if you don’t have actual Texans there, then what’s wrong with a Texas Roadhouse floor? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/5 "2012-08-07T17:15:00Z")
Covered in Patrick Swayze. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/6 "2012-08-07T17:17:31Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > My neighbor across the street (also elderly) feeds the same damn unshelled peanuts to the squirrels, who also like to come over to my lawn to eat them :mad: Clearly your lawn needs a concession policy - no outside food. Start by hosting a major league baseball franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/7 "2012-08-07T18:03:43Z")
Maybe if you offered the animals shelled peanuts, they would eat at your house instead. Cashews and roasted pistachios would surely get them off their peanut kick. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/8 "2012-08-07T18:03:46Z")
I can sympathize somewhat, as peanuts when they decompose can have a detrimental effect on plants and growth. Husband dumped a bunch of peanuts out for squirrels and there were a lot of shells left right there. The grass stopped growing in that area. Although on the plus side, the creeping charlie did too. Disclaimer - I know correlation does not equal causation, so no do not have full confirmation that it was just the peanut shells that caused it. Plus I’m sure quantity had a lot to do with my minor issue. > [@](#): > > Peanut shells should always be allowed to break down completely before being used as a garden soil amendment. Raw peanut shells have been found to carry the bacterium that cause Southern blight and white mold, as well as nematodes and other microbes harmful to common garden plants. The high temperatures involved in compost decomposition kill these pathogens, so peanut shells should never be used in the garden as mulch. > > Read more: Can Peanut Shells Be Used for Compost? | [eHow.com](http://eHow.com) [Gardening | ehow](http://www.ehow.com/facts_5822513_can-peanut-shells-used-compost_.html#ixzz22suTRluJ) On the other hand, I feed my squirrels whole ears of corn, and I bet you’d hate to have that in your yard even more. So just think about how much worse it could be! I’m not elderly yet, but love feeding the various critters. Its more fun than watching TV. Just the other day, a squirrel came out of my corn patch (which thanks to the drought is about the worst I’ve ever had) with a whole unshucked ear in his mouth. Just trucking across my yard, stealing my sweet corn. Man do I love squirrels - so cute! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/9 "2012-08-07T18:26:47Z")
Isn’t this really the birds’ fault? ---
**Author:** ![Bass\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bass\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bass_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/10 "2012-08-07T19:11:28Z")
I had neighbors like those. The squirrel population grew like crazy and they became very assertive about approaching people for food. I was happy to see them move away, but there are still plenty of hungry squirrels left. They dig up everything that I try to plant. I had to put chicken wire around a pot of marigolds as recently as last week. One thing that I thought about might be a reason it’s causing problems for your lawn is the neighbors might be feeding them peanuts with salted shells. \*\*Edited to add: \*\* Be grateful they aren’t getting under the hood of your car and chewing the wires. This happened to us. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/11 "2012-08-07T19:12:56Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Isn’t this really the birds’ fault? I tend to agree here. The neighbors aren’t doing anything wrong. You need to let the animals know to stay off your lawn. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/12 "2012-08-07T19:13:24Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Isn’t this really the birds’ fault? Or Obama’s fault? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/13 "2012-08-07T19:26:32Z")
why do they need to feed their peanuts? they should just keep them watered. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/14 "2012-08-07T19:33:31Z")
The shells aren’t on your carpet, right? I assume your lawn is outside, where trees drop leaves, limbs, and birds’ nests. Birds probably even poop on the grass as they fly over. Insects, too, poop, shed, and die right there on the lawn. But the peanut shells, which are composed of organic matter and will decompose and become a component of soil… are a problem? Do you groom your lawn with a comb? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/15 "2012-08-07T20:31:57Z")
Peanut shells take forever to decompose, so no, it’s not just like leaves or grass. And having extra shit in your yard and being annoyed by it does not equal “grooming your lawn with a comb”. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/16 "2012-08-07T21:21:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Oh Nos! Peanut shells on your precious snowflake lawn!?!?! Whatever shall you do? I’m curious: are you a total fucking dick the moment you roll out of bed in the morning, or do you perform some kind of special calisthenics to warm up? ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/17 "2012-08-07T21:23:53Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Peanut shells take forever to decompose, so no, it’s not just like leaves or grass. And having extra shit in your yard and being annoyed by it does not equal “grooming your lawn with a comb”. Maybe. But it does mean that any tight-ass who attempts to sanitize the outdoors and turn it into a pristine open air replica of the living room will be doomed to picking the lint off the grass while gnashing his teeth. Reminds me, the fall migration is starting. I gotta go get some peanuts. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/18 "2012-08-07T21:41:12Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’m curious: are you a total fucking dick the moment you roll out of bed in the morning, or do you perform some kind of special calisthenics to warm up? Warming up is really important. I start by cursing the daylight. Then I spend a while criticizing the dog for his lack of motivation. I turn on the news and call some politicians idiots, and usually the stupid talking heads as well. After that I check the weather report and complain about it. I hate weather so there’s always something to complain about. Then I’m ready to launch a full on tirade against the first person who wants me to do something. Without the warm up I could end up straining my voice, or worse a full blown apoplexy. If you need help starting a good routine like this I could give you some pointers. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/19 "2012-08-07T22:14:53Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Maybe. But it does mean that any tight-ass who attempts to sanitize the outdoors and turn it into a pristine open air replica of the living room will be doomed to picking the lint off the grass while gnashing his teeth. Translation: “A more reasonable poster just refuted my silly hyperbolic misrepresentation of the OP, so I will repeat my silly hyperbolic misrepresentation in different words.” > [@kanicbird](#): > > What are you talking about, while the old old people may be dying out, new old people come off the assemble line all the time. > [@billfish678](#): > > I hate to tell you but old people dieing out are generally replaced by newly now old people. The OP did not say that old people **in general** are “dying out”, but rather that one particular generation of them is: namely, it seems that the last generation to make a habit of feeding unshelled peanuts to birds and squirrels is dying out. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757/20 "2012-08-07T22:21:47Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Translation: “A more reasonable poster just refuted my silly hyperbolic misrepresentation of the OP, so I will repeat my silly hyperbolic misrepresentation in different words.” I sure wouldn’t label any version of outrage over small amounts of natural detritus in one’s yard to be “reasonable”. I would, however, label the OP possibly the most hilariously represented example of a first world problem I have encountered. Oh noes!!! There’s yard stuff in my (gasp!) Yard! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-my-inconsiderate-peanut-feeding-neighbors/630757.md?page=2)