The Full Story
The Fig Orchard
Our love of animals and homesteading is matched by a passion for cultivating the land. Among the raised gardens, and daily rhythm of life here, one of our most cherished projects is our fig orchard. Carefully planted and nurtured, our orchard is home to an assortment of fig varieties that are as diverse as they are delicious. Each tree carries its own history, flavor, and seasonality — making our orchard not just a source of fruit, but a living collection of heritage and innovation.
Why We Chose Figs
Figs are among the world’s oldest cultivated fruits, with references dating back to ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean. They’re rich in fiber, minerals, and antioxidants, and for centuries have symbolized abundance and prosperity. But beyond their cultural significance, figs thrive in our North Carolina climate, rewarding us each year with lush foliage, beautiful fruit, and harvests that only get sweeter as the trees mature.
We chose figs because they perfectly reflect the homestead values we believe in: resilience, nourishment, and beauty. They’re a fruit that connects the past to the present — simple, wholesome, and incredibly rewarding to grow.
Our Varietals
Our orchard is designed to be both diverse and productive, offering different harvest windows and flavor profiles. Here are the varieties we currently grow:
Iranian Candy - Iranian Candy produces small to medium figs with pale green or yellow skin and a rosy interior. Exceptionally sweet and juicy, its flavor combines rich honey notes with a light berry finish. It is especially enjoyable eaten fresh directly from the tree.
Olympia - Olympia is known for producing impressively large figs with green skin that may develop purple shading as the fruit ripens. The soft, juicy interior offers a mild honey sweetness with gentle berry notes. Its large size and attractive coloring make it one of the most eye-catching varieties in our orchard.
Yellow Long Neck - Yellow Long Neck produces large, golden-yellow figs with a distinctive elongated neck. The amber flesh is tender, juicy, and richly honeyed, often becoming syrupy when fully ripe. This variety is excellent for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.
Strawberry Verte - Strawberry Verte is a beautiful green-skinned fig with a vivid strawberry-red interior. Its dense, jam-like flesh offers pronounced strawberry and raspberry flavors balanced by a subtle citrus brightness. It is a wonderful choice for fresh eating, desserts, cheese boards, and preserves.
Black Italian - Black Italian produces medium to large figs with deep purple-black skin and a richly colored red interior. The fruit is soft, luscious, and deeply sweet, with concentrated berry notes and a traditional dark-fig flavor. It is equally delicious fresh, dried, baked, or made into preserves.
LSU Purple - Developed through Louisiana State University’s fig-breeding program, LSU Purple produces attractive reddish-purple fruit with a light amber to strawberry-colored interior. The figs have a smooth, mild sweetness that may develop honey, caramel, or maple-like notes as the tree matures. This vigorous and productive variety is well suited to warm Southern growing conditions.
Cultivation & Care
Each fig tree is planted with care and managed with organic principles in mind. We mulch to retain moisture and enrich the soil, prune to encourage airflow and shape, and monitor for pests and disease without the use of harsh chemicals.
Because figs are naturally suited to our climate, they require little intervention beyond seasonal pruning and protection in their earliest years. Over time, they reward this care with consistent yields and resilient growth. Watching them mature each season — from tiny green orbs to plump, ripe fruit — is one of the simple pleasures of orchard keeping.
From Orchard to Table
Fresh figs are a delicacy, and their short shelf life means the best way to enjoy them is straight from the tree. At The Klepper Homestead, harvest season means baskets of figs on the porch, taste-testing in the orchard, and plenty of experiments in the kitchen.
We use our figs in countless ways: fresh eating straight from the branch, preserves and jams that capture summer sweetness, baking in cakes and breads, savory pairings with cheese or meats, and drying to extend the season.
A Living Legacy
Our fig orchard is more than a collection of trees — it’s a legacy in the making. Each variety connects us to a different history: from the experimental breeding programs of LSU to centuries-old heirlooms grown by farmers and homesteaders long before us.
For us, the orchard represents patience and stewardship. Trees planted today won’t just feed us — they’ll feed our family, neighbors, and perhaps generations to come. Sharing cuttings, teaching others about fig cultivation, and inspiring more families to plant orchards of their own is part of our vision for The Klepper Homestead.
Looking Ahead
As our orchard matures, we look forward to expanding it with additional varieties and perhaps even offering cuttings or fruit in small quantities. For now, it stands as one of our most treasured projects — a blend of history, sustainability, and simple joy that enriches our homestead and our lives. If you are interested in cuttings, please reach out to us directly!
The orchard is more than food. It’s a reminder of the beauty of growing something with care and the sweetness of enjoying the harvest together.