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Fig Trees for Sale!
Share the Magic of the Fig Tree Sprig; Support the USO

I’m excited to share a unique story with you about my journey with fig tree propagation and how you can become part of it!

This is my story of a hobby, propagating Fig trees, and one special little fig tree cutting that resulted in raising funds to assist our military personnel through the services of USO at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. It is also a narrative about how you can be part of the story.

Back in the 30's my father, Salvatore Augello, planted a cutting from a Turkish Brown fig tree that originated from his hometown of Castrofillipo, Sicily. He planted it in the small back yard of my Uncle Joe's apartment house on E. 48th Street in Manhattan, which is also were I grew up and watched the sprig slowly grow.

In the late 50's my father took a cutting from that fig tree and planted it in the back yard garden of my sister's new home (May & husband Tony) on Long Island.

In the late 70's Tony gave me a few cuttings from his now well-developed fig tree to plant at our home in Massachusetts. A couple of cuttings survived, and we brought them with us when we moved to Georgia because I read the weather would be very compatible for fig trees.

As the Turkish fig tree blossomed my interest in expanding the varietals also expanded resulting in seven fig trees - the original one in the ground and the others growing in large black plastic buckets. The trees loved their new home and thrived with religious care. To control the growth of each of the trees and making harvesting manageable, I started pruning each tree every year and propagating them with the hope of passing the trees along to our children as a piece of their history while continuing the story. This process not only allowed me to share the joy of growing these little trees but also helped me connect with family and friends who appreciated the figs and the rich history behind them.

As the years went by, I realized that I had a unique opportunity to turn my hobby into something meaningful. With the abundance of cuttings I was producing, I decided to sell some of them. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and people were excited to take home a piece of history, a story, and a connection to the past, and a taste of the delicious figs that my family had enjoyed for generations.

Inspired by this response, I began to think bigger. I wanted to use my passion for fig propagation to give back to those who serve our country. I reached out to the USO at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and learned about the incredible work they do to support military personnel and their families. It was an easy decision to dedicate a portion of the funds raised from selling fig tree cuttings to support the USO's programs and services.

I organized small events in my community where I would share my knowledge about fig trees, provide demonstrations on how to propagate them, and offer cuttings for sale. These gatherings became not just about fig trees but also about coming together as a community to support our troops. People were eager to participate, and many expressed gratitude for having a tangible way to contribute to a cause they also deeply cared about.

I’m excited to let you know that fig trees are now available for purchase at the E. 48th Street Market! There’s a limited quantity, so be sure to come early to grab yours. Together, we can cultivate a love for gardening and support a cause that’s close to our hearts—one little sprig at a time!

Posted by Charlie Augello
June 24, 2026

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