About Giles County Figs

Young fig orchard at sunrise in Pulaski, Tennessee, with rows of fig trees growing at Giles County Figs

About Giles County Figs

A Life of Helping People — Now Through Growing Figs

Giles County Figs is more than an orchard. It represents a lifetime of service, learning, and purposeful work carried forward into a new season.

I’m James Brann, MD a retired obstetrician who spent decades delivering babies and caring for mothers. When I left full-time clinical practice, my work of helping people didn’t end — it simply changed form.

I went on to build one of the early real-time pregnancy Q&A websites, where women could ask questions anytime and receive clear, compassionate, medically sound answers. That work grew into two online retail stores, a brick-and-mortar shop, and an educational platform that supported expectant mothers across the country.

Teaching, explaining, and guiding others through complex processes has always been at the heart of what I do.

From Education to Writing to the Orchard

As that work evolved, I began writing books — pregnancy guides, faith-based devotionals, and encouragement for families navigating life’s most meaningful seasons. Writing became another way to serve: slower, deeper, and lasting.

After decades of caring for patients and readers alike, I retired from medicine at age 73 — but not from purpose.

Why Figs — and Why Zone 7b

My wife Valerie and I moved to the quiet hills of Pulaski, Tennessee seeking a simpler, more intentional life. Farming came naturally: first microgreens, then aquaponics, and eventually in-ground food production.

And then came figs.

What began as curiosity quickly grew into a passion. Figs are ancient, resilient, complex, and deeply rewarding. They invite study. They reward patience. And in a Zone 7b climate, they challenge you — which is exactly what sparked the research that now shapes our orchard.

Today, Giles County Figs is both a working nursery and an ongoing agricultural research project, focused on cold-climate fig success, propagation systems, cultivar performance, and practical solutions for everyday growers.

Everything we teach is tested in real Tennessee soil, real weather, and real winters.

What We Teach and Share

Though my career path has taken many turns, one thing has never changed:

I have always been called to help people learn and thrive.

At Giles County Figs, that calling continues through open, experience-based teaching, including:

  • Fig propagation systems that deliver high rooting success

  • Soil and fertility strategies that support long-term vigor

  • Orchard layouts designed for airflow, sunlight, and resilience

  • Winter protection methods proven to reduce dieback in Zone 7b

  • Cultivar performance insights based on real-world trials

  • Lessons learned — including mistakes — shared openly so others grow better figs

Whether you are a beginner, a collector, or a fellow researcher, my goal is to provide clear, trustworthy guidance that makes your fig-growing journey more successful and more enjoyable.

Life on the Hill in Pulaski, Tennessee

Valerie and I spend our days tending the orchard, developing winter survival strategies, running propagation trials, and enjoying the slower rhythm of farm life. Our dog believes he is the orchard manager — and we’ve learned not to argue with him.

Each season brings its own focus:

  • Spring: propagation and early growth

  • Summer: orchard expansion and irrigation

  • Fall: planting and preparation

  • Winter: experimentation, protection, and planning

Through it all, we are learning — and sharing — every step.

Welcome

If you love figs, want to grow them successfully, or simply enjoy learning from a research-driven, working orchard, you’re in the right place.

We’re glad you’re here.

Let’s grow figs together — with curiosity, patience, and hope.

Explore the fig-growing guides →

  • "Fig tree protected with leaf-filled wire cage for winter survival — cold-hardy fig protection method demonstrated by Giles County Figs."

    Winter protection method used at Giles County Figs, showing how a leaf-filled cage preserves young fig trees through cold snaps.

  • "Insulated fig tree trunk using foam pool noodles for winter protection — practical cold-weather technique used at Giles County Figs."

    Insulating fig trunks with foam sleeves helps prevent cold injury and protects young bark during seasonal temperature drops.

  • Close-up of young fig leaves on rooted cutting showing healthy growth and vibrant foliage — Giles County Figs

    New fig leaves emerging in early growth, showing healthy root establishment and strong vigor.

  • "Propagation trays with labeled fig cuttings in nursery containers — organized fig propagation process at Giles County Figs."

    Professional fig propagation trays with labeled cultivars, demonstrating organized nursery workflow and high rooting success rates.

  • "Rooted fig cuttings in clear cups showing early development and rooting progress — Giles County Figs propagation."

    Rooted fig cuttings developing in transparent propagation cups for optimal monitoring.

  • Young fig orchard with multiple trees planted in rows demonstrating field growth and cultivar testing — Giles County Figs.

    Young fig orchard establishing strong growth in open field conditions, part of the long-term cultivar trials.