Well actually I've been a member and I've learned a ton on this forum but this is my first introduction. Like Jon at Encanto Farms I also live in paradise. In fact, 5 days a week my drive home from work takes me past Encanto Farms. I added my first fig tree to my orchard in 2008, it was a Panache. It grew 5 feet that summer but the fruit was horrible. In 2009 it grew like a weed again but again the fruit was inedible. In 2010 I think I might have mentioned to the tree that it would removed if it didn't produce good fruit this year. It didn't let me down. The 2010 fruit was like nothing I had ever tasted and I was hooked on figs. I started to buy more and as I researched figs I learned about young trees not producing good fruit and trees like Panache not producing good fruit in cooler years. As I researched I also found out that the fig expert Jon at Encanto Farms was a mere 3 miles away from me.
I've been an orchid grower and gardener for many years so I started growing figs from cuttings and my collection grew quickly. The orchids in the greenhouse lost their stronghold and figs took over about half of it. I've picked up some great plants from Jon and with my cuttings I guess I now have about 20 different fig trees and this coming summer will be the first time I get significant fruit on many of them. Like most of you I'm looking forward to Jon's cutting list getting posted and I have a want list going on my computer.
I've been to Jon's nursery a number of times and I've also met Darcy from this forum as well. Thanks to everyone for all of the knowledge that they have shared on this forum.
My full-time job is a high school ceramics teacher and I make pots out of my home studio. If you are interested in learning more about that side of me you can visit
http://www.ericrempe.com
Eric in San Diego, CA