I am trying to gauge interest in a fig fanatic gathering to be held in W. PA at my home about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh. Several of us have been kicking this topic around for a year or so, and I think my wife is finally on board with the idea. This year, due to my schedule, it would have to be in July, probably on a Saturday afternoon (16^th, 23^rd or 30^th I think). Please respond here and/or in PM to me if you have an interest in a small/medium sized meeting to discuss figs, trade figs, get to know each other, and have some food & fun.


IF there is enough interest, I will start to work on plans.

Great idea, Ed! Does that possible invitation stretch to the eastern PA crew or is it just for yuns ott there in western PA, n'at?

"Does that possible invitation stretch to the eastern PA crew or is it just for yuns ott there in western PA, n'at?"

Who knew you guys have your own dialect up there?  If I attend will I be able to understand what folks are saying?

The invite is for everyone, even you easterners  :)    If needed we will get a translator.

Steve,

    My grandmother grew up near Youngstown, Ohio. She would say "yoonce." She would also say "shut the light," Saujage" for sausage, and "sangwich." Yes, I think it was a western Pa. influence.

Ed  - I might make the drive.

It has been a trying past couple months for me. I have had to change jobs and my wife is now needing to find a new job as well. In June I was in a serious car accident resulting in low back / disc problems and have had 5 weeks of PT so far with some improvement. Garden and orchard and fig trees have been sort of neglected with just trying to survive.

Despite all this, my wonderful wife wants me to go ahead with hosting a gathering of the fig faithful at our home. Maybe we call this the first Western Pennsylvania Fig Fan Meeting (sorry, I'm not calling it a festival, we are having no parades or carnival rides or crowning of a fig queen). Or maybe you have a better idea for a name. We are planning to hold this on Saturday, September 10, still not 100% sure of time of day, but I am thinking we will ask you to arrive between Noon and 1PM, when we would have our lunch, and that the gathering would last the afternoon. I think we are going to make it a little easier on me with ordering pizza instead of grilling for the masses, and we will ask participants to bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. We would provide drinks including soft drinks and fig leaf iced tea.

This will be an opportunity for fellow fig fanatics in the Western PA area (or those outside our area if you want to travel) to get together and share some time, have some fun, and talk about figs. I have met a few of you already, and would like the chance to meet any others in the area who share this hobby. It would be a lot of fun to compare ideas and practices. I am sure that most of us have a few extra plants that we could exchange or have a 'white elephant' type of game with (but you are invited even if you are figless). People could arrange trades in advance with other attendees, or bring extras to share with new growers.

Of course, spouses (or significant others) and families are welcome, if they can stand the focus on figs    We have a heated pool that could entertain kids, if needed (lifeguard not provided, though, that will be your responsibility). I am not expecting this to be a huge event (maybe I'll be surprised), but even if just a few of us got together it would be worthwhile. My home is in the Irwin area, very close to the PA Turnpike exit, about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh, so my home is pretty accessible.

If you are interested in attending please PM me on the forum and include your email address so we can communicate better about the event and keep you posted of our plans. I will need some idea of how many are attending to help with planning. I would appreciate any feedback and suggestions on the event.

Hope you recover fully soon Ed you figs and family need you.   If only was closer I would love to attend.  Hope you and guests have a great time and enrich everyone's fig adventure.

Fig party in pixburgh, airyago!
I work every weekend, wish I could make it, sounds like a blast, specially if some of those easterners would bring some wuhrl fammus water ice ;)

count me in i should have airlayers by then ,vdb,kathleen black,celeste,chicago hardy,italian letizia,

Bumping this post - the gathering is 2 weeks from tomorrow, Sept 10.  If you are interested in attending send me a PM with your email address so I can send out directions and get an idea of how many are coming so I can plan seating, tables and drinks.  Bring a side dish or dessert or something.  There are a few people coming who are friends of mine not forum members with an interest in figs(I started them with a plant or two).  Bring a plant or two to exchange if you want.

Plan to arrive about noon, we will eat by 1PM and have the afternoon for time together. 

Looking forward to seeing you all!

No limit. I had planned to do a 'white elephant' gift exchange game like people do at Christmas but I didn't get enough extra plants started to cover all those who are coming who won't be bringing plants to share or exchange, so bring what u want, people can trade as they like - unless we end up with lots of extras and do the game anyway

Right now there are about 6 definites and 8 maybes for attending, may be some spouses also , only one spouse besides mine has said they were coming

Bumping this post again - the gathering is Saturday!  PM me if interested in attending.  Right now the attendance is about 10 with several not committed yet.

Unable to attend. Mom bumped her head. Occiput big as a softball. Maybe next time.

It was fun to meet and talk with several of the fig members & friends.

I also enjoyed the tour of the orchard and tasting the figs. My favorite was Bryant Dark.

Thanks to Chuckell, TonyCM, Ed Boone, and Brad for sharing plants with me.

Thank you Ed Boone for hosting it.

Thanks Ed, Dolly and I enjoyed the outing. Your operation is great and your hospitality was appreciated. I received a " Fig education" from Chuck likes to fish,  Chuck Amid, and TonyCM .It was a pleasure to spend the afternoon with Shailesh and Judy, Dennis and Barb.  Again, i thank you hope we can do it again !!

Thanks to all of you who came - I really appreciated getting to spend time with you all and learning from you about growing figs as well.  Shailesh - thanks for the picture, I was too preoccupied with being host to think of a camera.  Thank you all for the great food you brought to share.

It would be great to continue this as an annual event in the future - if someone else wants to host I would be glad to help, or we can do it here again.

Glad you had a great time!

So who are those fig enthusiast in the photo above?

I hope to be visiting my sister-in-law in Dayton, Ohio at that time.  She has Chicago Hardy, Kadota, Black Mission, and Brown Turkey.  

I live in Cary, NC with Celeste, Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Alma and a really cool wild fig that I propagated from a highly residential area growing in a ditch off the side of a busy road.

Please keep me informed!

Thanks!

Tad

Hi Tad-the gathering was last Saturday. But we will do it again next year if there is any interest

I'm sorry I missed these posts. I live south of Pittsburgh and would have loved to attend. Add me to the list for next year!