Salem

I'm settled by myself with no one around, it seems when stumping I only find stuff in stumps I've looked in before or at least been in that area before. If I look someone new I find zilch, absolutely nothing, no rocks no chestnuts etc, nothing. So I'm guessing stumps are only populated with content when checked before?

Yes, stuff spawns in them only when the map is loaded by server. And it happens only when there's someone around.