ORDERING INFO FOR 2014 FIG CUTTINGS

 Please read this carefully AND COMPLETELY.  It is lengthy, but it is important. It reflects our desire for you to be fully informed, and to explain our commitment to good stewardship of the varieties we have collected and to the fig community which we enjoy and serve. If your order is not properly filled out, we will NOT be able to fill it.

 How can I support the Figs 4 Fun Foundation?

 This season we are going to give priority to people who support the Figs 4 Fun Foundation. This does not mean that you will receive everything that you order; only that these orders will have priority, The Foundation is the future of this endeavor and the way in which we are going to preserve the Figs 4 Fun collection so that people can continue to enjoy access to the many varieties which it contains. Please see figs4fun.org

 So, if you are interested in your order having priority, we are asking for a contribution of $20. Please use Paypal at http://figs4fun.org/donate.html or mail your contribution check, payable to Figs 4 Fun Foundation, to 6143 Fulmar St, San Diego, CA 92114. Please include your name, address, e-mail and phone number. This information is important for complying with IRS requirements. It will not be shared with anyone.

The Figs 4 Fun Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charity.

 Your contribution must be received before we receive your order, so please allow time for the Post Office to deliver.

 What is different this Season?

 This season we have limited quantities of several new varieties, and there are some things from previous seasons which are not available. A third season of unusual weather has produced little growth on some trees. However, this year we have again accessed some private collections in the Southern California area for additional cuttings and varieties.

 What kind of cuttings will I receive?

 Cuttings range from 6-8" in length, with most pieces close to 7-1/2". Tip cuttings tend to be on the shorter end of the range. Some varieties have characteristically thick growth (as much as 1"), while others tend to be fairly slender (as small as 1/8”). Most cuttings have at least three nodes/buds. Some will only have two, because of their growth characteristics. Almost all cuttings are from the most recent season's growth, but in a very few cases may have been taken from a prior season's growth. Use of prior season growth will be the rare exception. Some cuttings will appear to be from two years growth, but are not. Weather last season caused two or three growth flushes in one season on many varieties.

 The cuttings have not been cleaned or treated in any manner, and should not have any pesticide residue. Some may have small amounts of scale. We only clean or treat our cuttings when we are ready to root them, to avoid causing damage that can lead to deterioration during storage. Some varieties are from very large, old trees and may have as much as 5 season's growth in one cutting. But they are unmatched in quality or rarity. Black spots on the cuttings are from dried sap/latex. Many cutting were extremely “juicy” when taken.

 Who gets what?

 One of the objectives of making this scion available is to distribute it widely, for the benefit of the fig loving community and the preservation of these varieties in many collections. This is one of the reasons why we cannot accept orders for large quantities of any one variety. For some varieties, only one or two people will likely, receive scion this year. Many of the source trees are still young and/or small, and still do not produce large amounts of scion.

 Where can I find further info?

 Information about each variety is available at Figs 4 Fun. If there aren't any pictures, they have most likely not fruited for us, yet, and information is, therefore, minimal. Letters suffixed to a varietal name, such as "JN" indicate their origin. We grow about 20 "Celestes", for example, but they all have their differences. These suffixes are important in identifying the correct pictures at Figs 4 Fun. Not all material from the other private collections has been documented, yet. Some of these are heirlooms and/or unknowns, and will only be able to be evaluated when they fruit. We continue to experiment with the numbered selections from USDA/UC Davis, and we are finding that some are real gems.

 Because we have received scion from a number of sources, including USDA/UC Davis, all of our material has either been exposed to or infected with Fig Mosaic Virus (FMV). If this is an issue for you, please refrain from ordering. There were some surprisingly wonderful selections which fruited for the first time this season, and we hope to be able to share cuttings next season. We continue to add new varieties with the goal of trialing them and making them more widely available. If you have heirloom or other varieties which are not generally known, we would be interested in obtaining cuttings as you have them available. Figs continue to be a passion and a joy and we very much appreciate the sharing spirit of the fig-loving community.

 Are the varieties accurate?

 Cuttings are taken one variety at a time and individually packaged. We are very careful in our preparation, but sooner or later we will probably make a mistake. Because we deal in small quantities and almost all are sold out each season, there is no real remedy apart from giving you priority to reorder in a following season, assuming that particular variety is once again available. Cuttings which have come from other local, private collections are believed to have been taken with equal care. We have personally participated in taking most of these cuttings, but not all. While we are satisfied with the integrity of the collections and their owners, we have not been in a position to verify the cuttings and the accuracy of their varietal names. Correctly identifying figs is a very difficult task. The pictures at Figs 4 Fun are your best guide to what an individual fig looks like, but they can vary widely when grown in a different climate, so these are only a guide.

 Why are some varieties listed more than once?

 If a variety has more than one stock number, then the cuttings came from more than one tree. In many cases the trees are identical. In those cases, we may substitute depending on availability. Where there are differences, we will advise before substituting.

 How do I order?

 Please order carefully and thoroughly. To keep our sanity, it will be necessary to process additions to orders as separate orders, including separate shipping charges. To facilitate filling orders, please list the varieties which you are requesting in NUMERICAL order by their stock number, smallest number first, largest number last, Include the varietal name along with the number. The wrong number gets you the wrong cuttings.

 If you do not know what numerical order is or if you do not know which numbers are bigger than other numbers, ask someone to help you. Honestly, based on past experieince, some of you need help. The cuttings are stored by number and if you order is not properly filled out, it will have to be set aside for later.

 Please include your name, shipping address, email and contribution status at the top of your order. For example:

 John Q. Fignatic

1234 Kadota Street

Figville, CA 99999

 jfignatic@gmail.com

 Yes, I have sent my contribution to the Figs 4 Fun Foundation.

 0320 A          Monstrueuse

1020 B          Violette de Bordeaux

2051 D         Brown Turkey

3001 A          Celeste JN

4010 E          Encanto

E-mail your order to Encanto Farms at encantofarms@cox.net. We will set aside what is available and advise you of the quantities and pricing, including payment instructions.

 What do they cost?

 This information will be included with the availability list when it is posted. Generally between $2 and $8 per cutting.

 How much is shipping?

 Shipping for 1-5 varieties is $8; for 6-20 varieties it is $14. For larger quantities, please inquire. Shipment is by Priority Mail. We can also ship by UPS, if desired, but it is generally not cost effective for small quantities.

 How do I pay?

 We will set aside your requested cuttings, and then advise you about items which we are able to ship along with shipping, pricing and payment information.

 We are currently only accepting checks and Paypal.

 How are orders filled?

 Orders will be filled more or less in the order that they were received, but cuttings will also be shared in a way that we believe will best facilitate our goal of wide distribution, in the interest of the larger fig community. We expect to ship once or twice a week, as quickly as orders can be processed. If you do not hear from us for a few days, please do not panic. Pleased understand that this is an extremely busy time of year for us.