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$7 fig trees for spring/summer delivery, around 150+ varieties

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Originally Posted by Bluemalibu

  We're probably only talking a dozen or so forum members here on the left coast that are interested in making the buy and are impacted by the bare-root regs.  Bagged root-balls with moist shredded newsprint or paper towel have been received here happy as clams.  (And UPS shipments have not had the AG-Nazi's boot on their throat.  I received a 6-foot box from a member last night with eight 1.25" gauge stone-fruit trees in it with potting soil.)  
   My only concern was the time-line for this shipment.  July here means 110* heat.  Figure 125* in the trucks on the loading dock.  If AZ and CA shipments might go out in spring, they stand a lot better chance of not arriving as steamed vegetables.

   Blue


yeah this is what I'm worried about since July is pretty darn hot over here in AZ, especially if they're shipped bare root. I've ordered lots of plants in the past that weren't bare root, just a bagged rootball. Shipping them in May would be a better time if they're ready by then. June might be good still, but it's a gamble.
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lolita 1234 ,

I have not mentioned you or anyone else for that matter in my posts on the ridiculous prices ( as far as I see it ) being paid for cuttings these days , so no there is no trashing going on . If  I have have offended you it was not my intension .
My purpose for commenting is to hopefully give newbies a different perspective of the true value of figs .   I understand the excitement of wanting the latest and greatest varieties especially at the beginning of the fig fever . Luckily for me ( and many of those selling on e-bay ) when I was accumulating my collection we were all trading or just giving cuttings to each other for the sake of helping each other out and for making sure the variety does not fade away and be lost . Today though it seems if you are not cheering on the sellers and their high selling prices then you shouldn't say anything or maybe they will cut you off. Well I have been cutting down my collection from over 100 trees and honestly a half dozen is my goal one day . The ones that do best in my climate are going to stay and the rest given away so I don't need to worry about being cut off . Also todays Ponte Teresa will be tomorrows Atreano , just another flavor of the day . So just trying to give some perspective .
People can and will pay whatever they want for cuttings it doesn't mean that its a good deal .
I don't have a problem with the Ponte Teresa seller in this case either , Frank is a very decent guy , he and his brother visited my home in Toronto a couple years ago because he was interested in a variety I had . He was gracious enough to bring some cuttings in return . He has also been a great contributor to the forum .
I think the buyers really have to take a step back and get some perspective before getting all caught up in the moment , because it is they that are driving up the prices for everyone else . And now we can see with Greenfin's offer of 7 dollars per plant that  people need not pay as much as they have been .

John
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GreenFin,

I have a question about what you wrote:

"If any of the trees you order aren’t ready by July, perhaps because of slow growth or excessive demand, I’ll ship the ones that are ready and give you the choice to either get a refund on the others or to wait and receive them whenever they're ready."

Let's say I ordered 5 trees to get maximum value for shipping costs.  Now it is Jul and only 2 trees are ready.  You are going to ship those and ship the others when they are ready (if buyer doesn't want a refund)?  Who pays shipping on the later order?

Thanks for any clarification.
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I think for CA , shipping in August or September might work better.
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Just placed an order. Thank you for the good deal. Merry Christmas to me :-)
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Originally Posted by greenfig
I think for CA , shipping in August or September might work better.


  Sorry James,  I know that you are probably beginning to feel a bit ganged-up on, or that some are maybe trying to micro-manage your operation for you...     please know that there are many here that really appreciate the opportunity that you've created.   Myself, for one.    

...And, I too have to confess that I felt a twinge of guilt in having some pretty special cultivars being made available to me for a lot less than many had spent on them.  But, in the end, that is what capitalism is all about.  As long as the product that is being offered is indeed the named cultivar, then any agreed upon price between a buyer and a seller is what it is.  

No one will ever be able to please everybody. 

 On that note...  as wonderful as the offer is on its face, the devil is always in the details.    I've placed a pretty healthy order, and I know that you were just trying to help us, by pushing the shipping date a couple of months later,  but here in the California north-state, that late August delivery is our hottest time of the year.  So then, we are now looking at either a spring shipping time period for successful delivery (which is going to be tough for you to accomplish), or see us waiting all of the way until next very-late fall to receive healthy plants...  and, we will just have to hope that the most sought-after varieties are still even available after all of that time.

So then, what would you think about maybe offering an alternative to those of us that are battling both a brutal Mother Nature, AND an oppressive government regime here in the west:     I, for one, would still jump at the chance to receive cuttings from you, as you are able to procure them for rooting, in lieu of rooted plants, and, for the same price that you have offered for your growing plants. 

We will be assuming the risk of rooting them ourselves, but we will have them much sooner;  and without the risk of having a plant succumb to the heat.  That, to me, would be a win-win.

  Thanks again, James...

      Blue
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  Ah... thanks for helping to bring a newbie up to speed, Alan!

   Smiles,

     Blue
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This is a wonderful and generous offering. I am so far happy with the cuttings I received from Greenfin and decided to take him up on this new offer. I feel there is some risk involved, but I'm willing to give Greenfin a chance at this. I ordered five trees and might order more.

I have offered many people I know in my daily life some of the few fig trees I have. You know why? Because I love figs and love growing things and want other people to love them too.

I'm not going to hold it against someone who wants to sell his rare varieties cheaply. Figs live, breathe, and reproduce. They should not be hoarded like rare gems.

Merry Christmas and may more figs grow this year than last.
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As far as shipping without soil you could use "Soil moist", it will act just like soil. An acrylic polymer I use when I send bare root plants.
I plan to place an order in a few weeks. For me I won't order rare figs that don't work in my area. I'll only order what works well or best possible here.
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Alan, PM sent.
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Originally Posted by GreenFin
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Originally Posted by Figbert
First,  Thanks for the fantastic offer;  I am wondering about the request for the varieties requested also; but my main concern is the shipping,  Can we go back to that,  "  I put them in bags to keep them moist, and ship them in a box for sturdy protection."  Could I be able to get moist potting mix around the roots of my selections?   Its get incredibly hot and dry here in the desert SW,  I would be willing to pay extra if need be,  Thanks,,,,

I think it depends on your particular state's regulations.  I don't know for sure what New Mexico's regulations are, but I am hopeful because I don't think they're as restrictive as some others like CA and AZ.  I would ensure that the roots would stay very moist regardless of whether I get to use potting mix.

Can wet paper towels work almost as well?  For all figs not in pots, I was intending to wrap their roots in moist paper towels and plastic/bags to prevent them from drying out.


Thank-you for your reply,  NM doesn't have any restrictions.  I hope you could do some media or little cups,   I so want these to make it.  Merry Christmas - God Bless Us All.
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I don't think this project will devalue your collection as much as you think it might.  UC-Davis gave away cuttings for free for many, many years, and it didn't destroy the market.  For example, UC-Davis gave away far more Black Madeira wood than I will distribute, yet Black Madeira continues to be highly valued on ebay and elsewhere. 

My suspicion is that the extra supply that I'll inject into the market from this 1-time project will be countered by increased demand that continues to spiral upward as a result of the healthy growth of our hobby.  My project will help to grow the hobby and will help to get more people involved, which is just going to lead to more demand down the road.  Providing a cheaper entry into the world of fig collecting = more collectors, and more collectors = more demand. 

Regarding the price, I really struggled with what to charge.  I thought about charging $10-15 as a more neutral price, but didn't want people to think I was trying to make big profits, so I tried to go with the lowest price I could afford to offer, and have been intending to only do this as a 1-time thing.  I know the cheap price undermines some of the sales efforts of others, but so do all offers of free/cheap cuttings and trees.


Thanks for replying to my post and putting some thought into it, I appreciate you sharing this view point and not getting defensive. Using UC Davis as an example was good.
I don't think anyone would have had any problem with $10-15/plant, and the bigger names people still would have been happy to pay more if it is still affordable. Of course, then you might have to do some kickback to Jon for giving you a platform.


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I hope your collection thrives for you and continues to give you joy.


No worries there. Even though they're dormant they make me smile every time I go into garage and see them. I don't really have many varieties that I am looking for anymore, but of course it seems there are always a few that catch your fancy every year.

Happy Holidays.

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Originally Posted by Visceral
GreenFin,

I have a question about what you wrote:

"If any of the trees you order aren’t ready by July, perhaps because of slow growth or excessive demand, I’ll ship the ones that are ready and give you the choice to either get a refund on the others or to wait and receive them whenever they're ready."

Let's say I ordered 5 trees to get maximum value for shipping costs.  Now it is Jul and only 2 trees are ready.  You are going to ship those and ship the others when they are ready (if buyer doesn't want a refund)?  Who pays shipping on the later order?

Thanks for any clarification.


I'm planning on paying the extra shipping charges myself.
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Originally Posted by smatthew
One possibility for the bare-root trees would be a Missouri Gravel Bed. The gravel encourages thick bushy roots and plants up-root cleanly.

That's pretty cool!  I'd never heard of that term till I googled it, thanks for the heads-up.
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Originally Posted by drew51
As far as shipping without soil you could use "Soil moist", it will act just like soil. An acrylic polymer I use when I send bare root plants.

Thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't been aware of that product.
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Originally Posted by cis4elk
Thanks for replying to my post and putting some thought into it, I appreciate you sharing this view point and not getting defensive. Using UC Davis as an example was good.

Sure thing, Calvin.  Thanks for your nice reply, too. 
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James, I just placed an order for 5 trees.  You have some great varieties for sale; this is a fabulous offer!  The cuttings I got from you a short time back are doing beautifully, by the way.  Best of luck to you!
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WOW... Who needs eBay this season?
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This is a great opportunity!!
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Originally Posted by GreenFin
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Originally Posted by drew51
As far as shipping without soil you could use "Soil moist", it will act just like soil. An acrylic polymer I use when I send bare root plants.

Thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't been aware of that product.


The product is like small beads of jello. It is meant as an additive to keep soil wet longer. I though only use it for shipping. As it holds water, keeps roots moist, and doesn't leak all over the place. Keeps water around roots. Put some of the crystals in a glass of water to see how they work. Very strange stuff!
I too also bought cuttings from you, and they are doing very well. Small plants at this point. Past any danger, exposed to current humidity etc.
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Originally Posted by GreenFin
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Originally Posted by Visceral
GreenFin,

I have a question about what you wrote:

"If any of the trees you order aren’t ready by July, perhaps because of slow growth or excessive demand, I’ll ship the ones that are ready and give you the choice to either get a refund on the others or to wait and receive them whenever they're ready."

Let's say I ordered 5 trees to get maximum value for shipping costs.  Now it is Jul and only 2 trees are ready.  You are going to ship those and ship the others when they are ready (if buyer doesn't want a refund)?  Who pays shipping on the later order?

Thanks for any clarification.


I'm planning on paying the extra shipping charges myself.


Wow, that would be above and beyond anything I expected.  If all trees are actively growing under your care, I personally would be fine to just wait until the slow growers get up to size, and then get the shipment.  It isn't like I can make them grow any better.  I got an order in early, so I hope things work out with this great offer.


P.S. Looks like some varieties are starting to be sold out!
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First one's gone are MB, Preto and 258.  Will be interesting to see in which order they continue to drop.
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Originally Posted by GreenFin
To everyone:

Thanks for all the kind words and support!  I've been working my way through an avalanche of pm's and emails and hope to be caught up by tomorrow. 

I look forward to doing updates and sharing the progress of this project.  Wait till you see my 1,000 cup mega-heating-pad, it's pretty cool :)

We'll figure out shipping solutions that work for everyone.  A lot of folks will have it 'easy', since I won't have to bareroot their plants.  But for those in more restrictive states, we'll still get it figured out.  At worst we could always just wait for the peak heat to break, so you'd still get your trees, they'd just be bigger.

I appreciate the faith that so many are showing, and I take that responsibility very seriously.  I am absolutely committed to doing a good job on this project for all of you.

James


James, We appreciate you and your generosity. Thank you on behalf of myself and everyone here.
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Even if the UCD collection was available to the public this year,which is not,
I still find your offer to be the best there is out there.

Best of luck on your project.
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Hope everyone had a great XMAS... This is too good to pass up!!!
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