I am holding this auction in honor of Rafed, who has generously helped so many of us build our collections. He is a true gardener and a pillar of our community, here's to you Rafed!

The auction ends at 9 pm EST, Tuesday July 15th, bid price includes priority shipping. Winner pays the foundation directly and I will ship once I receive confirmation from Jon. 

Easton Vasilika comes from Easton, MD where it was planted more than 50 years ago by a plant collector/breeder. It has been identified as Vasilika Melissi, but by any name is an outstanding fig. Late to ripen but still top quality even in cool conditions for me. 

 
 

Happy bidding!

Ill start the bid at $30

As I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments you've expressed, Hoosierbanana, I open with $50.00.

I'll go 60

Wow Brent,
I did not see this coming. I don't deserve this.
But thank you very much.

And thanks for helping the F4F Foundation.

Good luck to the winner.

This Fig deserves California sun...
I'm raising it to $100.00 !

Ga. sun is much better for it $125.00

Just wanted to add to Brent's comment....Rafed is one of the most generous people I've had the pleasure getting to know while being a member here.  Thanks for being a prime example of a GOOD PERSON.

In honor of Rafed and the proceeds to the F4F forum, $150.00

$160 for a good cause and to honor Rafed.

Rafed deserves all good things. Sorry the bidding is beyond my means already, but this does look like an awesome fig!

Hi i'm a new member and this sounds like a good way to help a good cause.
i'll try to bring it to Connecticut for $ 200

Strong work, you guys!  Rafed, the man, the legend and F4F the cause - both can't be beat!

Well I wish I had seen this before. I will bid one rooster I don't know if he is worth $200 but he is a pretty one.

Rafed, is the man. My wife didn't say anything about bidding here! Did I hear 210

Very generous of you Mario, I think she is going to CT! 

Rafed- You inspire people to do good and look out for one another, you should be recognized once in a while : ) 

$225.00

very happy to see it coming to CT even happier to help F4FF
waiting for instructions to sent my credit card info

I think it will like the weather down south.

if it goes south i will still make a donation to the F4FF
better for the F4FF

last try 230 dollars

$240. Go Noles!!

Wow.. you guys are awsome!  Rafed, you do deserve the recognition, along with a handful of others that are always here to lend good advice to us (occasional) tree killers.

Thanks for doing this auction to support the foundation, Brent!  That is a beautiful fig.  I would bid if I could afford that much. In fact, I was ready to bid until I scrolled down to see the latest.

I can't bid against, oh well 250

Let me sleep on that. Tomorrow is a new day. And a new bid?

I guess even the Noles have to sleep.

You guys are amazing.
Thank you all for the kind words. You too deserve the same recognition as I am. It took many great members and private collectors for my collection to get to where it is today.

Without your generosity I would not have been able to pay it forward.
I cannot allow myself to accept this recognition without including my dear friends here in this great forum.

But the real man of the hour is Brent. He is responsible for bringing this together. Not me.
Hats off to you, Brent.

Best of luck to who ever the winner is. That is mighty fine looking fig.

Happy figging

Absolutely Brent! Thanks

Brent awsome looking fig, to bad bidding has went well beyond my means but great to see it climb for the F4FF,

Rafed, dont get to modest, we all know how much you have helped every one out including the foundation.

Lovely ending.
Congrats Hershel :)

It's not over yet. Another day of biddin!

Rafed is a great guy, though my wife refers to him as the horrible pickle guy.

Lol
She's still mad at me?

Pickled mango in curry from India for the inquiry mind. Got to have a taste for it.
Tell her I'm going to send her something else to make her forget about it. Lol

I am trying to configure ebay's Auction Sniper app on this but not working so far. :(

just to get the fun going again $260

$
2
7
0

[QUOTE=rafed]Lol She's still mad at me? Pickled mango in curry from India for the inquiry mind. Got to have a taste for it. Tell her I'm going to send her something else to make her forget about it. Lol[/QUOTE]

I like the stuff.....she makes a face every time I take it out of the refrigerator.  How did you ever hear of the stuff though?   Sorry this is way OT.........will shut up now.  

Is it my turn?

$300.00

It is now

At least it will stay in Ga.

10 more minutes

I had my sniper set. It didn't work.!

Well that is it, it was riveting!

Thank you all and especially Mike. It is the nicest cutting of the season and I am sure you will be happy with it.

Hershell I can't believe you let it go that easy. LOL

Congratulations Mike

You will have to drive up and get a cutting at a really good price.

Brent, the paper work is all done.

Congrats, Mike
Nice looking fig.

Thanks Brent for putting this together.

If your talking to me that will work.

Rafed, in your honor my friend.

Congratulation Mike! to show no hard feelings i will make  a $100 donation anyway
Should do it again sometime 
 Mario

No hard feeling $ 100 donation sent
Congratulation to you too RAFED
Good job Brent

Mario

Very nice Mike:)

Everyone was a winner on this one.... Brent, Rafed, Jon and Mike of course. Kudos to new member Mario who came out of the gate in a blaze. Welcome to the forum. Tell us a little about yourself.

I agree with you 100% about Mario. Frank.

But we can't leave off Hershell. He's a newb too and he came out blazing.
For their efforts, I have a little something for them. Details when I go home in a couple days.

Congrats to all that bid!

[QUOTE=strudeldog]Well I wish I had seen this before. I will bid one rooster I don't know if he is worth $200 but he is a pretty one.[/QUOTE]

WHAT? I did not win? oh well good job, by all of you for a good cause and  a good man. I will have to rethink my bidding strategy Gee!  

Congrats Mike.

Struteldog, maybe that rooster can be the next up for bid...

This was a very positive thing all around. Everyone is a winner when the forum shows its goodness.

And that rooster is exactly what my wife has been wanting to add to our flock. Giant Cochin, right? That thing reminds me of the Banthas that the Tusken Raiders ride in "Star Wars." Just a couple of spiraled horns.

[QUOTE=jtp]Trooster is exactly what my wife has been wanting to add to our flock. Giant Cochin, right? [/QUOTE]  Yes large Cochin with all those feathers he looks like 25+ lbs but I would guess really between 12-15 lbs. Still a big bird, and very easy on the hens quite the gentleman doesn't pull their feathers out. that picture  doesn't do him just justice his markings are actually quite bright.

I actually miss having chickens. That rooster is a beauty.

As promised,

I am offering Hershell and Mario an air layered Ischia Black each.
These were just cut and potted. Have good roots but I will ship them in a couple weeks. I need the roots to get a grip on the new soil so they can travel better.

I have offered these plants to these two gentlemen for the fact they are newbies but came out swinging to help the foundation. That's awesome in my book.

To make it fair between the two, they are first come first serve.
You can choose here or send me a PM.

Good luck and thanks for the effort.

BTW, these were side branches so that's why they look this way. They are not wilted.

Rafed, this is another great example of your generosity just like you have already shown me.

Great forum member.

thank you rafed
very Happy to be part of this group, i've been following the site for wile enjoyed it very much and learned a lot. 
just a little introduction;
Born in Italy 1944 in the mountains of Abbruzzi,Emigrated to Wallingford, CT 1958.
Retired contractor , started as bricklayer, built many homes, roads and shopping centers.
Had a fig tree all my life, use to bury it when i was younger. i got the Fig Fever about one year ago. Visited many local old timer and managed to get cuttings from any tree that had a good story attached to it. I have figs from many different places in Italy unfortunately no Names, so i gave them all Numbers with their story. I bought 2 small plants in Oregon from a nursery 2 years ago din't bother with names. This spring bought  some from Canada and Florida (this time saved names).But my favorites are 3  that Grasa was generous enough to sent me FREE. Tanks Grasa they are doing beautiful and my  grandson beans are 17 feet tall at this time. I will post pictures when i learn how to do it .
Rafed I will be going to Italy August 1st to the 15th my son and daughter will be around but they may not Know what to do , if you can plan your shipping around those dates i would appreciate. 
Tanks again
Mario Di Natale
tanks rafed, just leaned something new

Great story Mario,

Love to hear or in your case read stories likes yours. I think one of our senior members is from your region. Her name is Maggie.

I would advice you to delete your address from this post. I would reserve this information in private.

I would be happy to hold your plant for you till you return from back home.
Rest assured it will be in good hands and once you return just send me a note.

The Black Ischia is one of my favorites in my collection and it is not the UCD strain.
I have the much healthier strain. Vigorous grower and produces great amount of figs.

I have two more still attached to the tree. One is for another friend and have not decided what I will do with the forth one. Maybe hold on to it as back up?

Rafed, any fig from you would be an honor to receive. Thank you! I shall make a donation as soon as I figure out how.

No problem,
They are both sitting in 1gl pots and placed under partial sun.
In about two weeks they should be ready and able to travel. I will send them then. I want the roots to grow into the new soil first.

Both have fruit on them.

Done. Thanks to everyone for participating.