Love the pictures...wonder what it looks like today http://www.billmitchell.org/permaculture/fig_tree/figtree.php

I thought about growing a fig tree like that. I like the way it looks.   Wouldn't take up much space, easy to pick figs, etc.  But...and there's always a but..lol...it would be hard/impossible to keep the ants off the figs by growing the tree that way.  I use tanglefoot now for the ants.

I emailed that guy and asked if he had any updated photos

Thanks Grasa for posting this.  I plan to do this on a south facing brick wall of my house.  The sun's energy really heats up that side of the house in the summer so I am thinking that I don't think his attachment method would work well.  I was thinking of keeping the branches at least 6 inches away from the wall and probably more like 8-10.  The microenvironment should be good for overwintering a fig variety that is not necessarily very cold hardy - maybe VdB?  I hadn't thought about ants so I guess the variety should also have a very small eye and be resistant to splitting in rain.

i googled these images     of trees against walls

Baust saw that picture few years ago here or on 1 of the forums as some were talking about espalier .
http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2009/01/23/the-art-of-espalier-fruit-trees/

Everything goes in a circle on the forums.  ; )

yes  Martin it will roll around again i9n a year or two .