Daughter with grandkids came over last evening.  Grandson Jacob (14) finds me inspecting fig trees.  Seems very interested as I explain potting mix, different varieties, air layering, showed tip layering on blackberries and a newly planted Red Maple from layering, etc.  Later he says "hey Papa we need to go into the plant business since we can make new trees" and promptly named our venture as P&J's Figs & Things.  That's Papa & Jacob's lol.  Rare to find a teen interested in such things so I will nurture it the best of my ability.  He's a real hoot, always telling corny jokes and making his Papa laugh.  Did not plan to actually go into business but it looks like my mind got changed.  :)

Good luck with the partnership!  Anything you can do to encourage and instruct him with growing plants will be such a good thing for him, and even if he loses interest in later teen years (you know, peers, girls, etc), it will stick with him for his later benefit.

That is great Charlie.  Some of mine are real keen on eating the goodies from my yard.  Basically none are keen on the process to get them to the eating stage.  Maybe later as they get older.

You're right, Charlie.  Rare to see a teen with that kind of interest.  Sounds like a moment you'll never forget.

Impressive!  Have fun with your new partner!  Very happy for you!

Suzi

Very, very nice to hear.
Sounds like that boy needs a fig plant of his own!
Cheers,
Jim

NICE!!

  Charlie that is a great begining!  My grandkids unfortunately are as far removed from nature as anyone can be. I doubt that their feet ever touch the bare earth. They are deprived of the basic joy of a garden and I dont have any way to chnage that.   Here's a meme I thought you of as I read your  your  
post.


 

Oh that last picture is priceless. Think Ill print it up for my classroom.....

So if Im sneaking in baby fig trees and having my daughter run interference w/ mom while I talk to the UPS guy, thats a bad sign, no?

(sorry for the multiple posts for one rambling answer, lol)

Dont be too surprised about kids' interest. I started a garden club at my school a couple of years ago and expected a handful of kids. This years' "crop" of youngsters is over 60+ and many of them have started gardening at home as well...many who garden at home do so while their parents do not.

Charlie, keep puting the seed. 
O.T.->>>And all parents out there, please pay attention to teenagers and farming. Unfortunately, this is a new term used for the way of teens dig and mix  and consume whatever they find in their parent's medicine cabinets. Sadly, they share with others and nobody know the percentage of what and what was used. Here in the Seattle area, there are several deaths due to this 'farming'.  perhaps that is where the pictures posted by Soni were taken from. Teens experimenting farming means a whole different thing than digging, seeding, and  growing plants.
Little is spread on the midia, as there is a possibility of more copycats. http://www.arkansasmatters.com/medicalcorner-teendrugawareness Beware!

  I just received the following message about That "farming" meme I posted thinking it thinking it was tongue in cheek meaning kids are getting into gardening not drugs.  I was sooo  wrong.  I received this heads up about it .  I suppose I should delete it.?

 I think this poster is a spoof on drugs.   I hope its true, that kids are interested in seeds and gardening.  Too bad they turned a something good into meaning something terrible.

Charlie:

I think it's great he's interested.  I have a 14 year old son who is also VERY interested in everything I do in the yard - so are my other younger kids.  They planted our entire garden this year and we built our greenhouse as a family.  Kids being interested in gardening can only be a good thing.  Best of luck.

Charlie,  Congrats on your partner! It's always nice when a kid is interested in gardening. Keep up the good work on your future gardening buddy.

That's awesome that he is so interested in both horticulture and being an entrepreneur. You should definitely nurture that. Buy him an acre of land and see what he can do with it. :)

Thanks all for your great comments!  He is home schooled by my daughter and his father is a great guy as well.  Papa is tickled to death he wants to do it.  Jim's comment about him needing his own fig tree is a great idea!  Consider it done Jim thanks. :) 

I had not heard of farming in that way, meaning the drug connection. That's been going on for a very long time, just never heard of it as farming.  Thanks for the heads up.

Great to hear Charlie.

Thanks Hershell.  Think I will give him one of the Celeste cuttings you sent.  

Welcome Charlie. If he wants some to root you know what to say.