Pen Pals

I've been anxiously checking our mailbox the last few days, in wait of a very important package...from my pen pal. 

My mom.

Every month, for the second gardening season in a row, my mom takes pictures of what was once considered just the yard where I learned how to pitch a softball, but is now, without a doubt, a garden. Some would be more inclined to call it an orchard. I prefer to call it "The Beach Orchard."

In May of 2012, I convinced my parents to let me plant two fig trees in their yard: a Negronne fig, and a Brown Turkey fig. Aside from a few seemingly dead tulips bulbs that I sneakily planted, that was all I was allowed to play in the dirt for the 2012 gardening season. 

In 2013, after an unplanned six week stay at my parent's, the garden variety of what was now half-jokingly being called the garden had grown to include three more fig trees (two of which I had propagated, and one purchased, a Peter's Honey Fig), about 75 gladiolus bulbs, Dahlias, an Improved Meyer Lemon Tree (potted), a Mandarin tree (potted), an Elberta Peach Tree, A Bing Cherry tree, a few hydrangea bushes, some mint, and a slew of geraniums. In my time there I also sprouted two apricot saplings from seed, an avocado pip, and about 7 grapefruit saplings from seed. 

So yeah, my pregnant little self got to dig in the dirt a lot...with gloves on of course. 

It was so much fun having all that time to garden with my mom, especially since I was still at the "if I walk a block by myself I might faint or vomit or both" stage of my pregnancy. With gardening I could sit down in a chair, have a nice cup of coffee or tea, take a break inside and come back out later...it was fantastic.

The thing that sucked though? Having to leave all that hard work behind and not being to care for it...or see it blossom...literally. I would Skype with my parents once we returned to SwitzerFrance, and they would "take me out into the garden" to visit with all my plant babies, but it wasn't enough. So my mom decided that she would be my gardening pen pal.

Every month, she goes out with her trusty disposable camera (yeah, they still make those), and takes pictures of my plant babies and sends them to me. I anxiously await that envelope every month, as I love to see how tall and lush everything is growing in the sandy South Jersey Beach soil.

And I think I've created a gardening monster, as each time it seems there are a just a few more fig trees than there were the last time. It's a beautiful thing.

And even though it makes me more than a bit homesick every time I peruse and obsess over the current month's pictures, I love seeing how our garden is growing. It always gets me really excited for our next trip back, whenever that will be, and the at least 5 trips that will take place to the garden center. I'm so proud of my mom for doing such an amazing job of taking care of all of the trees and flowers that have turned their yard into a garden, and I can't wait until the next time that I can go play in the dirt back at the beach. 

But I think the bigger question is, how long will it be before she'll let me start The Beach Orchard Vineyard?

 A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

And by Sunday Projects I mean Monday Projects...

Yesterday we started a project I've been wanting to do for some time now: drying fig leaves and herbs for the off season months. Well, after a day filled with cooking, neighbor visiting, and gardening, we just plum ran out of time. But that's ok, because projects can wait, Sunday Funday cannot. 

We weren't able to hang the hooks I originally wanted because we actually grabbed the wrong ones at the store, but I figured we could MacGyver our current setup to at least get a jump on the drying process.

After collecting 16 leaves from one of our community fig trees (yes, we actually have two community fig trees, isn't that lovely?), I soaked them in some cold water to help remove some of the sap (that sap is vicious!), rinsed them off, and laid them out overnight on two tea towels to dry a bit. 

This morning I hung some gardening twine from the underside of a bookshelf and began to group bundles of fig leaves together by tying them with the same twine. I don't know what the magic number is for perfect drying, so I tried a couple of different combinations. Then I harvested some mint, rosemary and chives from our terrace orchard garden, washed them, dried them, and hung bundles in the same manner. 

Looks pretty good if I do say so myself. 

Not to mention the house now smells like rosemary, which in my book is always a win-win. It makes me feel like fall is right around the corner, even if it's really about 6 blocks away. 

I've read that in order to dry properly the bundles should hang for no shorter than a week, so I'm thinking that somewhere in the next week or two they'll be ready to store in glass jars. We'll see though. I'm hoping to spend the next two months rotating different leaves and herbs to dry. This really makes me feel like a mountain woman, like we're planning for a winter of being cooped up in the house and surrounded by two feet of snow. (I wish. Le sigh.) I'm just so happy to know that we won't be wasting our herbs this year, and that they can go into lots of comfort food this fall and winter, whether surrounded by two feet of snow or not. 

Next week I plan to get some fig leaves from the other community fig tree in town, and harvest some basil, sage, and parsley from our collection. Hopefully by then we'll have the proper hooks in place. Long live homesteading projects! 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

How to: Overwintering Fig Trees

So, you've tried your hand at propagating fig trees, via either soil or water, and want to know what to do now that the weather is turning cold. Well, good news! After all your hard work at getting your little cutting to leaf and root, you're about to get a little bit of a break.

By now, the leaves of your tree are probably starting to turn yellow, or may have begun to fall off. This may seem like the tree is not doing well, but in actuality this is exactly what is supposed to happen. This is the natural process of the tree going into dormancy for the winter, and is a sign that it is about time to overwinter your tree until the spring.

What does it mean to overwinter your tree? It means to provide your potted tree with a space to spend the winter in dormancy. The tree essentially goes into hibernation and will wake up in the spring when it begins to grow new leaves. To effectively overwinter your tree it needs a cold environment but away from the elements of frost and strong icy winds.

When should you overwinter your tree? When the last leaf has fallen off of your tree naturally.

What's needed to overwinter your potted fig tree? An area of your home, like a garage, that is unheated. Some people specify that the area needs to be without light, but our garage gets a good amount of sunlight and I've never had a problem with it affecting our fig trees. The area however should remain unheated, as the presence of heat can effect the tree's natural cycle.

How to care for your overwintered tree? When I said you get a break, I meant it. Once the tree goes into dormancy it does not need a lot of care to survive. One to two cups of water (depending on the size of the tree) every two weeks is all the tree needs to survive. (Many say you only need to water the tree once a month, but I prefer twice a month.) For our trees in large pots, I give them two cups of water during feedings, and one cup of water for the trees in smaller pots at those same feedings. Once the tree begins to grow new leaves, usually in the early spring (though this may vary depending on where you live), I slowly ramp up how often I feed the plants. By May 10th, back outside they go.   

 



Now wish your tree a happy sleep and good luck!

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey 



A New Twist: Fig Tree Propagation Update Dix (and final)

Here we are, after 10 weeks, at the conclusion of our figs in water experiment. Here you will find the final update on all five original fig cuttings, regardless of whether they have departed to fig cutting heaven, or are happily living in a pot of soil.

 



Le sigh, Cutting #1, in the left living room window. I think it's safe that we can officially declare you dead. 



Some cuttings just don't root my friends.

 





Ok, so I know that last week I said that I was going to pot rock star Cutting #2. I changed my mind. I've since had a better idea. Why not spin off of this experiment, shall we? I've already got 2 cuttings that have been transplanted from water into soil, so why not try something different with this third one. Awhile back while perusing Pinterest, I came across this picture:

 

{Pic via here.}

 

Looks pretty amazeballs, doesn't it? I'm not entirely sure how the person has set this up so that the tree not only survives, but looks incredibly awesome, but I'd like to try my hand at it. (That or maybe they just set it up for the photo shoot? The sense of wonder in me hopes this is not the case...) This weekend we have to pick up some things for Homekid at IKEA, so I'm going to pick up one of these vases, albeit smaller in size since the cutting isn't nearly as big as the one in the picture, and give this DIY a go. I'm pretty sure that is a little bit of soil and rocks at the bottom, with a layer of water on top, but to me it seems like if that were the set up that it would just rot. We'll see I guess. I'm not going to update every week on this new project, but will do so as it becomes appropriate. So keep an eye out (and your fingers crossed).





As for the roots, it looks like the slightly warmer weather we've had the last few days may have helped increase the root growth a bit from last week...

 



...but I don't notice any difference in the leaves, good or bad. I can't wait to see what happens with this little guy in my new project!

 

And, as promised, Cuttings #3 and #4, potted in soil several weeks ago.

 



Cutting #3 is looking the strongest of the two, which is consistent with how it looked while in water. He loves his little spot on the windowsill, (still in the right living room window), as well as the espresso grounds that I've been feeding him.

 



I think it's also safe to say that this new branch coming out of the side of the main branch has doubled in size since potting him in soil.

 

 

Cutting #4 - He may not look as big and strong as Cutting #3, but this guy is nothing to shake a stick at either.

 

 

I love this picture. Looks like such a happy little fig. I've kept the two of them together in that same right window that they were in as little cuttings in water, and also have given this guy a healthy serving of espresso grounds. Also, if you're wondering how much I'm watering them now that they are in pots, it's been about once a week. As it gets colder I will start watering them less, probably somewhere between every 10-14 days. I give them just enough water to moisten the entire top layer of soil, without over saturating them. I'm also going to start misting them with warm soapy water every week or so, just to help keep away any indoor bugs that might decide to make them their winter home.

 

 

And last but certainly not least, Mr. Consistency. Still no changes from the cutting in our bedroom window. For WEEKS now.

 

 

Something has to happen at some point, right? I mean, either it has to fully root or those leaves are going to have to die off like Cutting #1? Even though this experiment is ending I'm not going to give up on this little guy, but I'm also not going to update weekly on him. I will however, let you all know what happens with him, whenever that is (I have a feeling that will be once our room goes from being the hottest and most humid in the house to the coldest and dampest). Until then I'll let him keep on, keeping on, or whatever it is that he is currently doing.

 

Final Rooting Tally:

 

2 Rooted

1 Died

1 Undecided

 

Conclusions:

 

1. I'm happy I did this experiment, though I think that for future cuttings, 9 out of 10 times I'll use my old method of propagating straight into soil. I've never had a cutting not root in soil, where with this method my current outcome rating is not 100%. I am happy however to have an alternative way to root cuttings, and it's fun to switch it up sometimes.

 

2. From what I've seen with this experiment, and with a few other cuttings that I was trying in water not associated with this experiment, it is more difficult to acclimate a newly rooted cutting from water to being an outdoors tree, than it is when the cutting is in soil and outside to begin with. (In the warmer weather I typically put the cuttings directly outside, though against the house to protect it from the elements.) To go from being in the somewhat constant temperature and conditions of the house, to outside with drastic changes in temperature, rain and wind was too much for some. Of those, one died, and one is struggling along. A lot of attention needs to be paid to the new cuttings once you put them outside, as too strong of rain can kill the new little baby leaves that are starting. They also shouldn't be allowed to dry out too much in the beginning weeks. I think that the propagating fig cuttings in water method is fine if you're trying to make a strictly indoor fig tree however.

 

Phew. What a ten weeks! Thanks for sticking with me!

 

Confused with what I was trying to accomplish here? Want to review past week updates? Here's some links for you then!

 

What I'm trying to do here.

Week 1 update.

Week 2 update.

Week 3 update.

Week 4 update.

Week 5 update.

Week 6 update.

Week 7 update.

Week 8 update.

Week 9 update.

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



Fig Leaf Tea.

 

Happy Friday tout le monde! Here in SwitzerFrance the sun is out, the terrace doors are open, the birds are going a little crazy (like Hitchcock crazy, I'm getting a little nervous), and I've finally gotten around to trying out something I've been meaning to do for weeks now: brew up some fig leaf tea!

 

 

I love that my favorite tree in all the land can provide so many uses from it's little 'ole self - delicious fruits to be eaten raw/grilled/dried/cooked, branches that can form entirely new lovely little trees, and leaves that when minced up and submerged in boiling hot water can provide a little bit of variety (and added health benefits) from the customary cup of tea.

 

 

What's it taste like? I had expected it to have a vanilla taste, as anyone who has ever smelled fig trees on the breeze can probably relate to, but it definitely wasn't the dominating flavor. Overall it had a nutty taste with a hint of vanilla (more in the smell than the taste I'd say), and was even better with a little local honey mixed in.

 

{Cue wet blanket PSA} Want more info on how ingesting fig leaves can affect your health? Here's a great link on WebMD that talks about possible side affects or interactions that could occur if you have certain ailments or conditions. As always, if you have diabetes or some other pre-existing condition, it's always best to talk to your doctor before trying something new like this out. I'm not doctor, merely a fig tree enthusiast. So better to be safe than sorry. :) {End wet blanket PSA}

 

Fig Leaf Tea

 

Ingredients:

 

1 medium sized or 1/2 of a large fig leaf

Honey, sugar or agave nectar (optional and to taste) 

Boiling water to fill the tea pot of your choice 

 

Directions:

 

1. Pick a leaf off your own, a friend's or a public fig tree. (Note: I picked a large leaf and only half fit in the tea ball - looks like I have some leftover for tomorrow.)

 

2. Boil up the amount of water that it takes to fill your tea pot of choice.

 

3. On a cutting board, mince up the fig leaf. To do this I rolled the leaf up into a small tube shape, sliced in one direction, and then sliced in a diagonal direction. I didn't take the time to mince it up small, but feel free to do so if you'd like.

 

4. Fill up a tea ball with minced up fig leaf.

 

5. Put tea ball in tea pot. Fill tea pot once the water boils. Allow to steep for 15 minutes before serving. Add honey or other sweetener if you wish.  

 

 

Easy right?

 

So go on out there and cut off a leaf, start that kettle, and relax with this soothing cuppa. Keep in mind it may be more of an acquired taste, but weekends are for being a little crazy, right?

 

 

(And nothing screams wild and crazy like a pregnant chick in a sweatpants and chipped nail polish.)

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



A very special 3rd birthday.

Happy 3rd Birthday to my first propagated fig tree! (Yes, I'm that person.) No but seriously, this is a really big deal. This is the first fig tree that I ever propagated, which means that this is the tree that started everything! By learning how to properly propagate fig trees, with this once little guy as my guinea pig, I not only found an obsession a hobby and new skill, but something I'm so passionate about that one day I hope to not only have a fig orchard, but also sell fig trees to the general populace. This is the tree! Right here!

 

I've learned a lot in the three years since I sneakily took my pruning shears down to one of our village trees to cut off a 12 inch branch. Most of what I've learned has been trial by fire. I now have 10 large fig trees in large pots, and 12 small fig trees in small pots, here in the Duggan Terrace Orchard. We are currently in our second year of getting actual ripened figs and being able to enjoy the fruits of our labor (pun intended). I've learned to propagate cuttings directly into soil, and also by submerging them in water. I've learned when to repot them, and when to leave them be. But the most important thing I've learned? Don't let anyone tell you that trying to grow something is a stupid idea. Plenty of people scoffed when I told them what I wanted to do, and I know now what I would have missed out on had I listened to those negative nancies.

 

Want to grow your own fig tree? Here's two ways!

 

Propagating figs directly into soil.

 

Propagating figs in water: A 10 week experiment.    

 

And again, Happy Birthday not-so-little fig tree, and thank you for showing me something new each and everyday. Now get busy ripening the rest of those figs. Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you get the day off...

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey 

A New Twist: Fig Tree Propagation Update Neuf

 

Well here we are, in our next to last update on my propagating figs in water experiment. Next week I'll do a final update including all five cuttings, even the ones that have been potted in soil.

 

 

On Cutting #1, I still feel like these root nubs look alive, though a glance at the picture below tells a different story.

 

 

I will say though that the wood on the top of the cutting looks very different than the wood at the bottom where the root nubs are. The wood at the top is hard and dried out, and the wood at the root nubs is still flexible. Though my gut tells me it may too be too late for this little guy.

 

 

My rockstar of a cutting (#2) still looks really good, despite the fact that growth has dramatically slowed. His leaves still look healthy and green, with no curling or yellowing. I plan on potting this cutting before the Week 10 final update of this experiment.

 

 

I'm also going to continue to hypothesize that slowed growth in the leaves and roots means that it is indeed time to be potted in soil. I think that potting it this week will be perfect timing for this particular cutting.

 

 

Cutting #5 in our bedroom window still looks identical (to me at least) from last week...

 

 

...both in terms of root nub growth and the leaves. I just compared the above picture to last week's, and they look pretty much identical (I swear I took 2 separate pictures). I'm intrigued by what will happen to this cutting, as I feel like it's been weeks upon weeks since there were any significant changes, so I will continue to monitor it after the experiment has concluded next week. I won't continue to do a weekly update, but once this cutting decides whether it's going to fully root or die off, I'll be sure to let you all know.

 

Where are Cuttings #3 and #4 you ask? Here's the link to the post where I announced that they had been potted in soil, as they were definitely ready to move out of their jars of water. They both continue to look great in their pots, and I'm excited to share their progress with you all next week.

 

Check back here on Monday for my Week 10 (and final official) update!

 

Confused with what's going on here? Want to review past week updates? Here's some links for you then!

 

What I'm trying to do here.

Week 1 update.

Week 2 update.

Week 3 update.

Week 4 update.

Week 5 update.

Week 6 update.

Week 7 update.

Week 8 update.

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



A perfect Monday.

 

What, it doesn't look like a perfect day? I beg to differ. After 3 days without internet, phone or tv (because apparently paying for 2 months of service instead of just 1 angered and confused our French communications company), I'm excited to spend this cool, grey and rainy day catching up on the interwebs, drinking smokey early grey tea, reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," washing baby clothes, getting inspired on pinterest, and watching Netflix. That to me equals perfection.

 

 

And after all, this really is my favorite weather. Grey. Chilly. Fall rain on our ripening apples. If only I felt well enough to go out for a little walk in my wellies.

 

 

The Dracula clouds that I love so dearly have made an appearance at times over the last few days, which just warms my heart. Not much says "curl up and relax" to me more than that.

 

 

And to add a little sweetness to the pot, we were able to pick and eat the first of our fall fig crop this morning. I don't know the variety of the tree, I merely refer to it as the location of the original tree in our village. This makes two trees that have given us ripe figs so far this year (the first was a Brown Turkey fig tree), with many more (fingers crossed) on the verge of ripening.

 

 

How's Monday in your part of the world?

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey

A New Twist: Fig Tree Propagation Update Huit

 

Slow week over here in terms of the experiment, as I think we're winding down with changes that we can expect to happen. I think I'll keep updating until Week 10 just to be sure.

 

 

Cutting #1 in the left living room window continues to confuse me. The root nubs look bigger to me...

 

 

...but the tip of the cutting tells a different story. The leaves are dead and dried, and the cutting itself is hard, rather than flexible (as you see in a healthy cutting).

 

 

Cutting #2 continues to be my little rock star. I plan on potting this cutting sometime soon. As you can see, lots of growth going on at the roots...

 

 

...and the leaves have gotten bigger since last week.

 

 

It's also interesting to remember that Cutting #1 and Cutting #2, despite their difference after 8 weeks, came from the same original cutting (it was a little long so I cut it in half when beginning this experiment), have spent the same amount of time in the same window, and have lived together in the same 1 liter Le Parfait jar. Some cuttings make it, and some just don't I guess...

 

 

As for Cutting #5, I honestly don't see any difference in the root nubs...

 

 

...or in the leaves. It seems to have halted all growth for the time being, but doesn't look as if it's dying either. I'm intrigued.

 

Where are Cuttings #3 and #4 you ask? Here's the link to the last post where I announced that they had been potted in soil, as they were definitely ready to move out of their jars of water. They are both looking great in their pots, and I'll give an update photo on each in my final wrap-up post of this experiment in Week 10.

 

Check back here on Monday for my Week 9 update!

 

Confused with what's going on here? Want to review past week updates? Here's some links for you then!

 

What I'm trying to do here.

Week 1 update.

Week 2 update.

Week 3 update.

Week 4 update.

Week 5 update.

Week 6 update.

Week 7 update.

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey