hello everyone, my name is Ray. I have been a member of the forum since the early part of this past summer, but this is my first post. I have been visiting the site somewhat frequently to gain knowledge and learn differnt things while I've gotten my fig collection started, and I figured it was time to come out of the shadows and introduce myself.

I live in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, GA near Lake Lanier, and I was introduced to the site by Goss (who by the way, is a very kind, and gentle spirited man.) I visited his home to get some figs from him and he told me about f4f as a great resource to use as I got into this surprisingly adictive hobby.

Last growing season was a great start for me. I have managed to get 6 cultivars of fig growing in the ground, and another 5 growing in pots. (Most of which I rooted myself). I have set up a room in my basement where I built a workbench equipped with a t5 grow light and humidity chambers that provide a nice place to root cuttings, and give a head start to young plants before I move them outside.
I'm lucky that I have a pretty big yard, (almost 2 acres) at least for where I live. Most homes in subdivisions around my area are roughly a 1/3 of an acre, but the drawback to my property is that all of the area that is full sun, also happens to be on a major powerline easement. While I can plant on it, I have to be real careful about the size of the trees if I want to avoid the power company cutting them down, or at the very least practicing their wonderful prunning skills (hack jobs) on my fig trees. So that's going to be a fun challenge for me in the future.

Anyway, now I've posted and I hope I can stop feeling like a creep who's just watching from the sidelines.
Thank you to everyone who posts their stories, and experiences so that others like myself can learn a few lessons "the easy way".

Before I go, one question that I haven't seen asked here before:
I've seen in many different photos that people sometimes have the names of their figs written directly on the stem of the cutting. Its seems to be a white ink. Is this a special pen, or just any plain white paint marker?
Figured I'd ask before learning one "the hard way"

WELCOME TO THE FORUM.
its just plain white paint marker

Welcome, Ray.  Sounds like you're well on your way to having a nice collection of trees.  Hope to see some progress pictures next year!  Good luck, and Merry Christmas.

Welcome to the forum, ina few years 2 acres might not be enough. Believe it or not there's a whole thread on your question.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/what-is-the-white-marker-pen-used-on-cuttings-6383782?pid=1278364511#post1278364511

Thanks Travis. I've got to get better with the search function on this site. I've looked for a thread like that before and couldn't find it.

Welcome Ray, thanks for stepping into the light.

Ray,
Welcome to THE forum, where is all happens ;)

I started with Silver Permanent Marker (easy to read) made by Sharpies  then tested the Gold (hard to read) but now I am using the White Water Base marker made by Sharpies (I think it can wash away...) best visibility for reading. and now, I am thinking I should go of the Oil Base White marker made by Sharpies...I am hoping it won't wash off.

Welcome, Ray!

Welcome

Welcome!  Most of us would love 2 acres   :)

Welcome Ray. Your well on your way to filling those 2 acres.

Welcome Ray!
The power company doesn't spray herbicides on their right of way, I hope?

Welcome Ray.  

Good question by Ed.  Most do spray or spread granules in the right of way to either kill or limit growth.  

Welcome to the forum Ray.

Welcome Ray! You should tell us what varieties you are growing??

Welcome to the forum, Ray.
  To write on the cuttings (or on tags that would be exposed to sunlight), what you're looking for is something called a "paint pen."   Even "permanent" sharpies are not permanent when exposed to sunlight.  I forget which brand I'm using (probably Sharpie, probably not crayola) and if they are water or oil based.  Be sure to read the fine print or research that they're really UV resistant.
  It is great that you have so much sun, but bummer that the power company represents a risk for you.  One solution you could consider is to grow the trees in large containers.  You could wheel them out into the sunlight and spread them out, but you also have the ultimate flexibility of moving them if you have to.
Cheers,
Jim 

Yeah, they do spray easements, but typically, if they can tell you maintain it on your own they won't mess with it. I keep it mowed, so they don't ever really come on my part. 

Rafael, Below's what I currently have;

In the Ground:
Brown Turkey
Celeste
Black Mission 
VDB
LSU Purle 
Gino's Black

In Pots: 
Desert King
Bronx White
Adriatic
Hardy Chicago

On Moss: :) 
Sal's Corleone

Welcome, Ray!
The best pens from my experience are acrylic pens.
They are much more permanent than Sharpies.
Do not fade on sun and waterproof after dried up.

Welcome Ray, nice intro.

Welcome Ray! Glad you "Joined" in with us...Great to have you here with us "Fig Addicts"..: )