I have been reducing the number of trees I have, giving to co-workers, friends etc.
I had given one to one person at work lat year who kept it alive over winter, I gave her a few more this spring. She in turn gave 2 to a co-worker
This co-worker, of Italian descent, mentioned that her father had always wanted a fig tree and was so happy to get some. He danced.
now to the title of the post,, apparently he has friends who bring him figs from their trees, but they have never given him cuttings or started a tree for him.  Thinking of the generosity of members of this forum, thinking that at least half of the varieties that I have, I have because members gave me cuttings or were generous in trading, all I could say was "WTH is the matter with them."
I gave her a few more for him. He sits with them and sings to them.
and I am happy to give them to him, knowing he will take care of them.
desert king, red sicilian, white italian, grimo natalina, osborn prolific, vdb from el.

Nice!!!

A great short story Grant, thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing with me as well Grant, one of my italian neighbours was so happy when I gave her a fig tree last year and a 18 gallon tub to plant it into that she bounced around for a week, a couple weeks back she brought a friend of hers from down the street to look at my figs and bounced around when I gave him a tree as well.  I am glad that so many people are also very joyful about figs, to me it is nicer to share them than to sell them just to see how happy they are to get them, my neighbour complained to me that the white genoa I gave her put on too many figs this spring because they put them on too early and she was afraid they would all fall off, she got three last year and was so happy to taste them that she is still talking about them, I only gave her the White Genoa because it was the only true italian variety I have (colisanti dark might be as well but I don't know.)

I am on the same path as you Grant I have to figure out which ones to keep and don't want to kill them, but rather give them away, somehow it feels better to give them away rather than cut them down.

nice story.  the forum members are very generous. could not have dreamed of having the unique varieties that I have. thanks to all the members past and present.

A nice "feel good" story Grant! I want to thank both you and Chivas along with others who have been generous getting me started. Now a year later I have multiple plants of several varieties due to rooting cuttings I took from them that I will in turn be able to pay it forward to this great fig community.

it's kinda strange i don't see too many italians down here. i used to grow up in flushing where half my classroom was italians. would love to share some with people who would appreciate the figs. i do have one iranian co-worker who has shown interest, but my Persian White is still so young and only surviving plant. have set a side two Syrian/Turkish Uknown from very generous forum member for my kids school where most of the teachers are Turkish.

gave two trees, St. Rita and Ischia White to house behind me since they were so kind to give us two puppies. they were happy... i think.. lol. some people see things to grow as "work", not joy.

Very nice post, Grant.  Some of my relatives were in town last weekend and I gave two of my grandfather's fig trees to them.  They were very thankful that they could still have a piece of 'Grandpa's' legacy to cherish.  We talked about all the trees he had in his yard and how much he cared for his garden.  Great fun.

   It definately seem's like folks from previous generations have a whole different appreciation for the fig tree...for us, we love the taste of the ripe fig, and the enjoyment of adding to our collection, along with the pleasure of the rooting and growing process...for our parents and grand parents, the fig tree touches them at a whole different level...it's memories of a time gone by, of a country and life style that they know they will never see again, so that when they see a fig tree or receive one as a gift, something in the heart is touched that may cause one to 'dance', or maybe another to 'weep', or an elderly  grandfather to 'smile' that smile that speaks volumes...I had an elderly neighbor who emigrated here from Portugal when he was 17 and his wife was 15...he had a beautiful garden, but his pride and joy were two fig trees, that he had brought to this country as 2 cuttings many years ago...he and his wife have long since passed away, but one of the 2 fig trees still survives, and last year his granddaughter, asked my wife and I if we would take cuttings from the original tree and root them so that she could give one to each of her children, so that the tradition could be carried on by the next generation...I said it would be our pleasure to do that, and so this spring we presented her with 5 young fig trees, each one to be given to her adult children...one is also proudly displayed in in our little backyard fig orchard..."the tradition lives on".

I must say that the members of this forum are awesome. I can't wait for my trees to be big enough to share cuttings.

That's awsome

grant you are one generous dude yourself!

To All
thanks for the additional stories of sharing our trees, and our love of them with others.
It is heartwarming to know such generosity is alive and well in a world that seems increasingly concerned with material gain.