Kim Goff

Hi Nicholas
I actually have my outdoor figs along the south side of my house about 6 feet back from the foundation where they get morning sun and some heat off the house. I believe that has helped them when we’ve had -6 degrees here.

It took them 2 seasons to start producing but I bought them as small 1 foot plants.

I’ve not had as much trouble with gray squirrels (none  with birds but I grow berries) but opossum, raccoons and flying squirrels get after them at night, even that close to the house. The flying squirrels have been an issue before figs were fully ripe. The other critters just at the tail end of this season as multiple figs ripening rang the dinner bell for their little noses.

Sometimes just turning on a light or walking out and talking runs them off for a few hours. Don’t recommend that if the raccoons are aggressive in your area though. Mine here tend to be fearful of humans.

Some use Christmas lights for critters. I found that a string of the solar blinking fairy lights that cycles through different patterns worked very well to keep opossum out of one of my alpine strawberry beds. This was the first year I had such critter pressure with figs so I will be ready with blinking trees next harvest. They’re only like $9-10 on eBay.

If I am harvesting daily it gives the critters less to damage.

We have European hornets here, and they really got after my figs too. They are huge, 2 inches long but so far not aggressive to me ( but they kill bees and butterflies so I try to eliminate nests when I can find them) and they do  stick to the fig they have pilfered before biting another unlike the flying squirrels, that leave bites in several ripe and unripe figs in a sitting if they are available for their tasting.

Hope this helps!

I have Chicago, Behr’s Black, Violette and a Celeste fig here in MD on the PA line. I’m told I’m in zone 7a/b but many years it feels more like 6b.

I used to wrap the trees with tarp or burlap but it didn’t seem to make a huge difference. Now I mulch around base of the trees about 6”-10” with straw and/or leaves. I make sure to take them away in spring or the damp mulch invites slugs to chew on the bark. Organic Sluggo helps when they get out of control. The wrens only eat the small slugs.

If it’s a mild winter like 2020, there is very little die back. I ended up with huge figs as an early crop but very little now in October on the new growth.

The past few years that  stayed cold all season (teens and 20s)- up to 3/4 of the branches died back, some to the ground. I cut some prematurely which affected yield so now I wait for buds to show. Sometimes the upper branch looks dead but further down it’s alive.  When that happens  I only ended up with a late crop, no early figs, and always end up with a lot of unripe figs on at the frost on the newer growth. I did find that the “almost”  ripe figs that may be green on the outside but have pink at the bottom and fully pink inside are still very tasty. And make good jam. But they still have a little of the white latex like sap that could affect those allergic to latex.

If anyone reading has experience with figs in a greenhouse- I have 7 in mine planted directly in the ground. Since it’s  just used like a high tunnel right now, they die back as well with freezing night temperatures. Fruit is late - just ripening now in October and the fruit is much smaller than my outdoor trees.

As well, the greenhouse figs have significantly more vegetative growth and much fewer fruit. So I’m trying to figure that one out. I’m relatively new to fruit trees so not sure what I’m doing wrong.
I trim them back 50% but each year they touch the greenhouse ceiling. Plenty of air flow and some shade.

If anyone has any ideas or what to research - much appreciated!

And apologies again!

Amber I wanted to let you know my update as well!

Thanks a million it’s so cool to see so many into the permaculture.

Not a whole lot of it in MD yet! At least not in Carroll County. Mostly big farms and suburban style housing. But thankful for a right to farm county so I can plant like I do!

Hi
Apologies Gillian and all-I’m so poor at navigating on here

I wanted to thank everyone for chatting with me on here and being interested. You all are so kind!

So my update is the sale of my little farm is on hold as my mom is ill and I figured out that my own health issues were being aggravated by my neighbor’s sheep manure pile of all things. She kindly agreed to move it, so I can stay here longer and be closer than I would have been to my folks house had I sold and moved to the beach to try permaculture on the bay!

But this is a decent amount of physical work so I will still be looking for a buyer/steward at some point that can keep this beautiful place and it’s ecosystems going when I get too tired!

Gillian, feel free to contact me if you are ever in this area (Carroll County,MD) for a tour. There’s something going and growing on this little place year round.

I’m not sure how to get contact info to members. Apologies this is the only forum I’ve ever used outside of E Bird! 😊

Thanks again Amber - for having the interest- especially with the intent to give back locally!!! That warms my heart. Such a need for that in Baltimore!

Example of why it’s important and noble.  And why I recommend farmers markets to sell produce outside of more return for your work.

I’ve run across more than one child and many parents at market, mostly in Baltimore City, that didn’t know what strawberries, grapes or blueberries were. 😞 Wish I had the energy to give more. But I was able help those kids at least. Once they tasted an organic strawberry they remembered what it was after that! Very rewarding to have them return and ask for them. Then introducing them to new berries as the season changed. Maybe not a perfect profit plan but I gave away a share of produce to the kids.

Many of the elderly at farmers markets window shop and won’t buy higher price produce for themselves so you have to sneak a little treat to their bag to get healthy berries and fruit to them too! Baltimore and surrounding counties used to give vouchers to the elderly but sadly stopped that program. They do still give market vouchers to certain family demographics.

I can send more photos of the actual house etc., direct if the site allows members to provide me with email and contact info privately.

The farm will also be listed next week on the MLS. I will paste the link here if that’s allowed (?)

I’m still rooting for a farmer or permie to buy this awesome place. Any newbies I would certainly give any consultation support. Most of the tools, irrigation supplies, tomato cages, lumber, some furniture, as well as lots of supplies to continue decorating the house (new soaking tub, shower enclosure, tile, molding, tools, tile cutters, etc etc) will come with the property or be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

If I could keep it up by myself I would live here forever! I would never tire of the evening frog serenade that’s here. My health is not allowing that at the immediate time so hoping to pass the torch so I can downsize.

I’m not 100% sure how it works on here so please forgive me in advance for being an old timer with little internet savvy. This is the best site ever for learning and getting new ideas. Have enjoyed being a reader.  

Thanks again and to you all that have been so nice to me on here.

More pics

Figured out the picture adding.

Another farm picture

Here is a photo

Hi Amber!
Nice to meet you!

My situation has changed a bit since I posted on permies.
My realtor is about to list this on  Monday because I found a house on the Eastern Shore of MD I like. I will do the same thing there on a smaller scale. She is listing at $450k but if I could find someone to continue the work I started here I would def do lower if the contract allows me. She is pretty good to work with but since I’m making an offer I have to get on it.

I’m so excited you’re interested. I can take and send some pics. I am on Instagram as Green Bird Farms.

I have w everything here to keep the farm up outside of any organic fertilizers and the like.

My goal/dream was to do a winery or juice biz with the Aronia. Wine sells better than juice though. But Aronia heals the brain so o figured if people are going to drink anyway why not make it a healing element!

The house has 3 upstairs bedroom and 2 baths and there is a suite/loft above that has a full bath. There is an LG washer/dryer combo in one of the bedrooms that does smaller loads. The original structure was built in 1920 according to real estate records but inspectors said it is early 1800s. It was completely gutted and has all drywall and  frame addition that is very unique. The owner 20 years ago was an architect. 1900 sq feet.

An excellent B&B or Air B&B venture as well because of the upstairs suite and extra bathrooms. And the gardens are beautiful like stepping into a fairy realm.

Basement has light/windows. I had it tiled because the concrete floor was hard to keep clean. It’s getting grouted as soon as my home improvement guy finishes another project. There is a powder room and LG washer/dryer. Door to outside.

The tree fruit is a learning curve with organic- some years like this one the humidity and bugs can overwhelm an organic program. But the years that are good makes up for it. Very weather dependent with tree fruit. My mature tart Cherry trees 🌳 produced like gangbusters this year though.

The local markets are good in Baltimore and I know insiders that could help with getting in markets. That is the best return on the work. Virginia is very good too. Enough that my ex’s nephew drives all the way from this to  Tyson’s Corner, VA.

I have a wholesale account that would love to work with the farm too. I sell him raspberries and heirloom tomatoes.

I wore myself out the past two years being a caregiver to 3 family members and I’m ready to slow everything down! So I am hoping to find some one to love and work this place and look after my local bird population and maybe even my elderly neigbors at times!

It’s a close knit community. Most conservative, stay to themselves a lot,  but they are always there if you need help. Great group of old timers. They have been very good to me.

How do I send you photos? I will send this first then take a look on here to figure it out.

Thanks again for being interested!

Kim