Figs are coming ripe around Austin!

Julia and Claudette picking figs at Mueller.

Having trouble with your digestion?  Apanasa, the wind eliminator pose in yoga, just isn’t working this time?  Need some fiber?  Fresh figs are definitely your friend.

Once that problem’s solved by picking, washing, and eating a few from the fig tree, then you might like to use the colander-full that’s left over to make a delicious figgy pecan tart.

Your body will thank you.  Figs are considered one of the world’s healthiest foods.  Check out this long list of health benefits.

Austin’s bird population knows the time is now for figs.  I never feel like I’m denying them their fill — at 5’2″, I can only reach the lower limbs, leaving the fruit at the top half of the tree for my fine feathered friends.

City worker Davy Chapman checks on fig trees in Mueller Park.

If you don’t have your own fig tree, you might spot a neighborhood fig tree that isn’t being harvested.  That’s where the fine art of gleaning comes in.

Gleaning is the practice of collecting leftover crops — or harvesting from entirely ignored crops.  Beside figs, loquats are another great urban crop ignored all over Austin that are perfectly ready to be gleaned.  They become ripe  during the middle to end of winter, the opposite time of year from figs, so they don’t pose a time management complication for gleaners.

Gleaning requires attention to notice the crops that aren’t being used.  On neighborhood walks, they practically cry out to you.  If you don’t notice the beautiful invitation of their color, the squawking of happy, intelligent birds feasting to their delight could also serve as your signal to investigate further.

Next, gain permission.  If the tree is overhanging a public sidewalk or passage, I would say, forego this step.  I don’t want to get you in trouble though with the law or an angry neighbor.  So, you should probably ask each time.

Figs I Gleaned in another central Austin neighborhood this week.

Most people who are ignoring their fruit happily allow you to glean from their trees.

If you are able and wish to, you could offer them a small cash Thank you.

If not, no worries.  Glean away!

These are the figs I gleaned this past week.  I’ve washed them thoroughly and today they become a figgy pecan tart.

Love and health to you and yours, my friends!   Donna