The revised fig book is now on Kickstarter The special hardcover edition of
Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t and registration for the October 15 and 22 Fig Camp are available now. A lower-priced softcover will follow this fall.
See the book and Fig Camp options.---
Bob Duncan showed Canadian gardeners that the line between possible and impossible isn’t always where we think it is.
At Fruit Trees and More, the nursery and demonstration orchard he ran with his wife, Verna, on Vancouver Island, Bob grew figs, lemons, olives, yuzu, loquats, feijoas and many other fruits that gardeners might not expect to see growing in Canada.
Bob was also extraordinarily generous with his knowledge. I wrote about his work in my books about growing figs, lemons and olives—and turned to him many times with questions.
In this special tribute episode, I’ve gone back through recordings from my visits and conversations with Bob. Some were made while we walked through his garden; others come from longer interviews about citrus and unusual fruit.
You’ll hear Bob talk about:
- His enormous Meyer lemon tree, which produced more than 400 lemons annually
- Why keeping a citrus tree alive is different from bringing its fruit to harvest
- His focus on breba figs
- Growing olives on Vancouver Island
- Why yuzu is especially well suited to coastal British Columbia
- The danger of keeping container-grown citrus too wet
- The thinking that led him to try growing these unlikely fruits in the first place
Near the end of one of our conversations, Bob summed up his approach in five words:
“So I thought to myself, ‘Let’s try it.’”
Bob died on July 20, 2026. My condolences go to Verna, Bob’s family, and the many gardeners who learned from him.
You can read more about Bob’s remarkable life—and find details of the August 24 celebration of life—in his
obituary.
What is Food Garden Life Show: Helping You Harvest More from Your Edible Garden, Vegetable Garden, and Edible Landscaping?
Want to grow your own food but need creative ideas so you can get the most from your space and your growing zone? Our passion is the edible garden.
We help people grow food on balconies, in backyards, and beyond—whether it’s edible landscaping, a vegetable garden, container gardens, or a home orchard.
There are many ways to approach edible landscaping. Find out how to harvest enough fruit, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. Get top tips for exotic crops. And learn how to garden in a way that suits any situation.
Host Steven Biggs was recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the “green gang” making a difference in Canadian horticulture. His home-garden experiments span driveway straw-bale gardens, a rooftop kitchen garden, fruit plantings, and an edible-themed front yard. He's a horticulturist, award-winning broadcaster and author, and former horticulture instructor with George Brown and Durham Colleges in Ontario, Canada.
Get started with one of our fan favourites. Season 6, Episode 10: Big Harvests from a Small Space with a Vertical Vegetable Garden.