The responses (pm's) to my recent thread on "some things are not to be" was over whelming and I truly appreciate the great generosity of our forum members.  At this point in my life, I could buy any fig tree that I wanted but it is really more than buying and having fig trees.  I have been to a couple of the more famous fig nurserys (Durio and JR) and I probably could have bought Panache and RDB at both, pricey but they are out there in the marketplace for sale.  I have chosen to grow everything I can from cuttings or juvenile trees that come to me from other enthusiasts, it has value to me to be able to say "I grew that from a cutting" or "A very good forum friend sent me that tree, it was about 6" tall when I got it", or in the special case, my two LSU Purples that my wife gave me for my birthday.  That is why I like to know the back story on all my acquisitions.  All my trees are individual, living trophies, little reminders of friends, associates, acquaintances that I have either met or in the case of a lot of our forum members "eMET".  I recently bought 21 trees from Lowe's I only plan on keeping 2, they were bought to sell, to finance supplies for my fig insanity, they are inventory, I have no emotional investment in them.

In closing my ramble, I would say THANKS FOR ALL THE OFFERS, but, A SPECIAL THANKS, for being members of our little fig world.

The exchange of information, the humor, and the general camaraderie is why I am still here.

Well said. That is the wonderful thing about each fig we acquire.  There is always a moment that we remember about a trade, a gift, etc.  It is an event that we associate the tree with and that is what makes it special.  I know I had a Salem dark cutting that was barely rooted and planted that my dog had in his mouth.  I chased him all around the yard to get it.  It was chewed and slobbery, but with some love it rooted again and grew a few feet last year. I will never trade or sell that tree.  You are also right, we have some very generous members.

Amen, brother!

This is a great place and I still owe you a package,  Traveling this week with work. hope to get it out next week.

Danny How about those Calliope's Red Greek Fig cuttings I sent you. How are they doing?

Dan I agree 100%.  You take pride in a tree you were able to grow from a cutting.  Probably the same reason why I still take care of my own lawn.

Well said, I'm new around here but there are some genuinely great people here. I enjoy reading all of your posts, and I'm learning a lot. Chad

The back story, why we do what we do. A coouple years ago I found myself in a pinch. My drywall biz went under with the economy. On a chance I sold some rose of sharron seeds on ebay. 25 cents a pack. I made 200 in the first month. I then looked to my blackberries as I love to grow anything I can. Extra blackberry plants made me even more. I figured that the cost for me to do this was little so I started donating to charities. I had already got a fig tree and enjoyed it rather well. A hardy chicago from hirts. As another year went I started selling royal empress trees and donated hundreds to charity. By chance a friend from south carilina I met back in the army days sent me some celest fig cutting.about 50 of em. I had never rooted a fig before but still got about 20 or so to take. One is in my collection today. The rest I sold. Rather fast I might add. So I did some home work and bought cuttings from ebay to root and resale. One day while I was looking for info about figs I stumbled onto jons email I forget where. He responded and told me to look here. That was well over a year ago. And my collection has grown, and I have been able to help others grow as well. I played with propagation methods look at my older topics. And shared what I found.

Now the obsession with the fig tree itself I think can be summed up in history. Think about it, that fig you like from italy that you now have a tree from could had came from a tree that came from a tree down the line that maximus, or peter,and paul ate from when they were in rome. Not likly but possible, and fun to think about. That cutting you root likly has a rich history that predates yourself. Its unlnown and may always be that way. And we the growers are just another page that will be once forgotten in their history.

what's the thing people say... "want not, waste not". i try to be very selective in figs i obtain. i read about them, search on them, make sure to look at the pix to see if i really want them. even then, i end up with things that i'm not sure if i'm going to keep. but you are right. every trees have special meaning. it's very hard for me to dump them when that time comes.

@Rich - the Calliope Red is doing well.

Well said! There's a lot of wonderful intangible rewards that make this hobby worth it. Now if I can just get my wifie to understand instead of thinking I lost my mind, hehe.

I got a good amount of cultivars by trading. Trading is the best way to acquire new cuttings in my opinion. I want to grow 1 hardy fig plant that will give me enough figs to eat and make jam. I plan on getting a good amount of hardy cultivars and testing them out. The one that do good, I keep. The ones that freeze to the ground, or have many problems will see the axe.

@James - First, the trees were under priced, in most cases the trees for $9.99 were as tall if not taller  than the same trees for $19.99.  They were extremely root bound and needed up potting.  Local nursery prices for these trees are $49-$59.

Second, I have never worried about what Lowe's or Home Depot did as I do not try to compete with them.  There are plenty of people at the weekend farmer's market that pay 25% more for home grown everything.  I price my trees at a price that I feel benefits me, if they sell, good, if not, good, I will still eat, sleep, and grow more trees, it is nor was it ever intended to be a commercial enterprise.

Third, I do a better job in selling my trees because I know my product and the sales staff at the other places does not have a clue.  I can answer most questions, I give every customer a printed sheet on the tree and how to maintain it.

Fourth, Yes I am a good salesman, I have made my living in Sales and Marketing management for a long time.

And last but not least, I love the farmer's market atmosphere, keeps me off the street and I need something to sell.

Thanks for your insight.   All the $10 trees sold out at my local Lowes.  May go check a few other stores today.

Growing things is fun.  You get something tangible and valuable from the friggin ground.  I prefer trees to gardens because most of the things grown in gardens die after 1 year and you have to replant all over again next year.  To trees there's a permanence.  Trees last for decades and at a certain point require next to no maintenance to keep them alive.  Fig trees, specifically, are the pinnacle of this.  With pretty much every other kind of fruit tree you're going to need to worry about fertilizing and spraying for pests.  Plus other trees take a really long time before they give you any fruit.  Figs are quick growing and will give you fruit right away, so you get the quickness of vegetable crops and the permanence of a tree, with less work required than either.  Not to mention that figs taste amazing and are expensive to buy in the grocery store.  Growing figs is all pros and no cons as far as I can see.  

Danny, I love to grow from cuttings and seeds. The excitement of seeing roots and leaves grow is beyond words. The ooohs and aaaahs give so much satisfaction. They overcome all the disappointment of seeing your cuttings died. Some of my family members could't understand this. Bought trees for me and I would just leave them aside because there's no excitement in growing them anymore since they've 'grown'. It's just like buying jewelry, there are history behind it and I am loving every minute of it.

Norhayati

I am bumping this because I think there times when we all should figure out why we are here.  Is it only to get cuttings?, to learn?, to enjoy?

We all owe Jon a great debt for the service he provides and we should all remember that to some it is also a business and Ebay is a commercial outlet.

This little community, the forum, is not a necessity, not a right, there are no promises, and OBTW, no dues, it exists, be thankful, it owes no one anything.

I'm here to learn, experiment, share my experiences and my trees, and to meet people like you Danny.

i'm here for fun. after all.. it's the place for... "figs4fun". if it's not fun.. it isn't worth doing.. right? 

I'm here to learn, share what I have learned, share my trees, and trade. There are so many wonderful people willing to share what the know on here.

Growing plants seems to be in my blood.  Every time I see an interesting new plant I immediately wonder if it will grow in my area and I start to learn about it and finding ways to propagate it. 

Discovering this forum has been a treasure of information on all aspects of growing plants and more importantly meeting other people who share my interests and are so wiling to share their experience. 

Who would have figured that there are so many people that love figs. 
In my community of work and friends very few even know what a fig is and most seem afraid to taste a fig.  Even my long time golf buddies some of whom are health conscious and love it when I share my cherries, peaches and other fruit with them won't try a fig they kind of give me that augh look when I offer them some. 

Figs originally came/are from pre-historic times.

Some had just only one (white/black) fig tree.
That was plenty enough good fruit.

Then came the internet (thanks to Al Gore?!?)

People think that all grass is greener next door.

Then came them fig collections...

I am here because of a gift of a fig tree and my search for information about this wonderful fruit. I stay here because of all the great people who are willing to share their experience and expertise about all things fruit.