Thank you for all your interest and questions
Sas,
If needed, dry figs kept in cool/dry places may last well over a season
But what happens is that stocks are renewed every autumn with fresh supplies.. and what was left from the previous season goes to animal feed - (they love it)
tennesseefig,
Some native herbs add flavor and at the same time act as effective insect repellents.
which is the case of fennel with its anised seeds, laurel, as well as the carob leaf
http://naturalsociety.com/carob-tree-leaves-can-kill-food-poisoning-bacteria/
(Natural Society has now discovered ? the properties of the carob leaf)
May be some day we shall be rooting and potting carobs in our gardens
Here they grow side by side with figs, almonds and olives, being very robust trees
and living with no artificial irrigation for hundreds of years.
An old well established carob may produce over a ton of fruit.
Francisco
Portugal