FloraBama From Zone 8 On Dec 19 2021
Quick growing Italian heirloom fig, growing in Chicago Ill. by an Italian family, brought to the US from Taverna/Sorbo San Brasile. CZ Cabbra, Italy in the mid 1950’s. The mother tree grew on the slopes of a mountain, in very poor, sandy rocky soil. It is a purple/black fig with a bright red interior and has endured many hardships in the US to survive. The BI stands for the name (Benjamin Infelise 1939) of the gentleman who brought the fig to the US. A story of My Papa Tree..Papa ( Beniamino Infelise) was born in 1939 in a small town of Sorbo San Basile CZ Italia nestled in the side of a mountain sits tis small town directly across the valley from Taverna CZ where he then was raised until age 16...before 16 He farmed of course fig but also grape,pomegranate,hazelnut,chestnut,prune plum,olives,prickly pear cactus as well as all the normal vegetable....
The amazing part is between the two towns is valley. he'd walk down threw Forrest one side of the valley to the river then up the other side where the plantation is ( man made garden in side of mountain because the mountain is very steep and without plantation could not be farmed. Imagine a staircase built into the side of mountain) he would then harvest his ripens and mostly was chestnut into a burlap sack and carry it Back to the valley river where there is and still stands a flower making press made all of stone and wood. (You will see in pictures) he would then take 3/4 of chestnut and process it into flower for Noni to make from bread to pasta to pizza and pie crust. (Btw chestnut is gluten free ahaha)
So they live dolce vita up at dawn to the farm home by noon for dinner then nap until 4 then back to work till 9pm. He did tis every day of his teen years but was not happy... He known there is more for him besides walking 30 mile per day for gardening and to eat and trade his crop. At 16 my papa decide to come live with a family friend in Chicago leaving is 13 siblings and parents.
When he come to USA he worked in aunts accordion shop until age 18 when he got job in peace work making and tailoring dress suits for private company where he meet Madre.. Phillis. Needless to say pops blue eyes sealed the deal and fast forward time now they married with 4 children's of their own..
Living in suburb of Chicago in their new home he started again planting as he did as a boy... of course fig but also grape,pomegranate,hazelnut,chestnut,prune plum,olives,prickly pear cactus as well as all the normal vegetable... Then over time realized prick pear is too much work to keep alive in Chicago climate so caput on pear.
Over time he age and was harder and harder to keep up his garden but struggled to keep the fig alive.
Back track. Their honeymoon he bring mom to Italia and is when he bring "Papa Tree" with roots and is what I will name (Bi39) " Beniamino Infelise 1939" home in mama's suitcase incase they check hahaha! And started tis tree as sapling.... From tis sapling he make 100's of baby tree as gift and for him self. His back yard was full of fruitful strong trees and vines that every harvest he have neighborhood come to pick any and everything he grew for them to take and eat. He loved to see Children pick and eat off his plants and loved to answer questions from adults on how to make certain thins grow here..
Fast forward to 90's when my Madre pass away... She was his joy... But I can not talk much about her because is hard and tis post is about papa tree
He was sad for many years but still loved his fig getting older he had to sell his home and into smaller apartment fit for him but had to leave his trees (they stood about 25feet tall and intertwined with the next tree so I can't say how wide they were but looked like a small city of wooden buildings in winter when he cover them with wood sheds. The last ting he moved from his home was 4 baby tree coming from the ground with the mother tree root and potted them with the promise from new home owner they would care for his trees and he left.
That next spring he drove past the old house and the trees were gone.... They cut down and put in pool without him known. Devastation.
That sadness and furry sparked him to stride to rebuild his farm, his yard, his Tree....at his older age my brother and I have helped him succeed in his goal and continue to do so as we speak. Which is why I make big deal about rabbit eating Papa tree.
he come to farm yesterday after I cut to ground level with bottle of vino to say good by to tree (his passion) and as he assume they was done and as I open bottle he says "hey Pasquale" fica is still Alive! He had his hand into soil feel roots and say is ok (I knew tis because I have you all tell me correct instructions) but I wanted him to do as he did for many years to correct me..... So we drink vino and have fire from dead branches and we are here now at my home where he is amazed by how I learned how to take a simple cutting... Root it,pot it and presto a tree. He's never seen tis. Just make saplings and harvest sapling with roots. He put his hand on my shoulder and says "I am very proud of you for all you've done for me and my tree and for what you have learned along the way"
