Being a ninja and taking cuttings from public or private spaces without permission has been extensively discussed on this forum. I was wondering if anyone does the opposite and leaves cuttings or small trees in neglected public/private spots without permission? Is it moral?

Edit,
I guess I did not read the question clearly, Long day.
I was thinking of planting one at our church with permission of course.

When I grew in Houston, I realized I was going to run out of space in my backyard pretty quickly (basically when all of my trees reached 12+ gallon containers). The only solution I had was to plant trees in a park 2 blocks from my house. The park had several large mounds which made it hard to see the back of the park. There was a fence that separated the park with the backyards of the houses which bordered it. That was going to be my overflow area.

I'm not sure how ethical it would have been, but the area is hidden from view and used for little else than the high school kids making babies.

I think you put it somewhere where it does not cause a problem and benefits people it is not a problem, I don't mean on the front lawn of your mayors house or something like that but maybe near a busy bus stop, close to a homeless area etc where people would be able to enjoy the fresh fruits and generally people wouldn't be too inclined to complain.

Great topic.  I'm surrounded by untouched mountains and forests.

I left a rooted cutting on  the doorstep  of a person I knew would enjoy it without ever acknowledging the deed to the recipient.

I plan on being a reverse ninja. leave a little 1g potted plant on a doorstep here and there...all in due time

I put figs in places I like to visit. For example, I've put three at my neighborhood pond and six along my favorite dog walking trail. At least half the neighbors up my street have at least 2 figs each I gave them ---  but they were something we talked about first. I like giving figs away locally as I can keep track of them and increase my database. I can put examples of various cultivars in other folks spaces and save my space for yet more varieties.

I used to plant paw paws around as they are the only host of my favorite butterfly.

I haven't yet swiped any fig cuttings -- no fig trees around where I live (except mine) -- but I do swipe other cuttings anytime I see something I want and it's big enough not to be too negatively affected. If it's convenient I ask first --- but if not, . . . well . . .ya know the plants do want to spread and who are we to say they have to be contained (jailed) in one place just because they aren't indigenous. Maybe it's our job to free our plant friends and help them multiply.

I'm rooting some cuttings for a friend who has rental properties where he's going to plant a fig tree at each place. He has no clue how to do it and doesn't want to try but he would like to learn how to air layer. I'm going to show him this summer so he can make more trees for some of his other properties and friends. I think air layering would be better. Instant tree!

Planting here and there is a cool idea .

I may have to start doing this eventually. Most of my figs are small, but I give away a lot of extra plants each year. Once the family and friends are saturated, might be time to become Johnny Figgieseed.

I donate full grown trees to subdivisions around town, if they have a green program for kids that teaches gardening.

I love the idea of this. But please don't plant in natural areas where native vegetation is still dominant. Figs are introduced plants and do not belong in undisturbed places along trails and streams. There are so many good options in developed areas where gorilla gardeners can plant nice fig trees -- no need to compromise our few remaining native settings near urban areas.

I believe that Jason (satellitehead) originated the practice several years ago in the Atlanta area. Correct me if I am wrong.

I learned not to try to give fig trees away to people who haven't tried a good fig.  They are not grateful and don't want them.   

Figfinatic, 
Where do you live? I'm very curious about how folks in different areas respond to figs. I'm in an area where few folks have ever tried a fresh, ripe fig, yet I give away a ton of trees and the folks are very grateful. I keep track of the cultivar and the email of the person who has the fig. I'm hoping this will supercharge my test sample size and help me identify which figs respond the best here where I am.
thx

Figs in Calif are considered an invasive species. Since we have the wasp viable seeds are eaten and spread by birds. Many water canals in the central valley are clogged with fig and are regularly eradicated.
Sue

Gina hit the nail on the head with her comment. I understand that everyone's intentions are good but please refrain from planting in state parks, conservation areas, wildlife areas and federal lands.
Part of my job is making wildlife management decisions on large tracts of state property. The majority of habitat decisions I make focus on two categories.
1). How to perpetuate or restore native vegetation communities
2). How to remove or eradicate exotic vegetation.

Don't make our jobs harder and negatively impact our native natural resources by planting things where they don't belong.

I'll get off of my soapbox now.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7090788

Thanks for the info, guys.  I had never thought about the negative impacts.

I help out at a non profit that owns a historic farm.

Several years ago someone guerilla planted some spreading bamboo on the property,
which was not actively used at the time.

This bamboo has now spread,
and costs to eradicate it will be over $10,000

Plant on your own property, not others, please,  thank you.

I have a couple close friends/family that I've offered good fig trees to in So Ca.  They have tasted figs before, but probably not good ones.   They not only said "no" to the offer, they made me feel like I was nuts.  Why would they want rats in their backyard feeding off the figs was one excuse.   They were not interested in picking up all the dropped figs they said.  They seen them before littering other houses.  I hate figs is another excuse.  Absolutely no way they said.   All this in front of many other people, so nope I won't be offering anymore.  Unless, like a good drug dealer, I offer them a really good fig first.  

I respectfully submit that considering a fig plant as the same as running bamboo is not a reasonable comparison. 
Running bamboo can grow almost a foot in one day. Yes folks, 1 ft/ 1 day.

I'm not really for or against this practice of planting figs on public lands.
I only have experience in the northeast, NYC and NJ specifically, but I would find it hard to believe that, in the northeast, this practice would have any significant impact on native species.

Not suggesting Figs are  invasive as Bamboo,
but the effects are exactly the same,
just takes longer with figs.
If someone guerilla  planted figs 30 years ago on this property,
the results would be the same, large expenses to remove unwanted plants/trees.

FYI , the USDA classifies Ficus Carica as a INVASIVE, INTRODUCED and NOXIOUS plant.

Also, in NY and NJ  there is over $200 mil on the table for each state
to fund Native Plant Restoration,
so lots of tax payers dollars being spent to reverse the effects of humans.
Billions will spent nationwide on similar programs.