Radical jam

After picking about 4 pounds of incredibly ripe, sweet-oozing figs from a tree in the alley behind my house this morning, I was glad to hear that the food tree lovers at Fallen Fruit are holding another Public Fruit Jam this Sunday.

Fallen Fruit is a collaborative project that maps sources of fruit on public land, encourages cities to landscape with fruit trees, and facilitates bartering and sharing among home orchardists. The afternoon includes a discussion of the basics of jam making and a pooling of participants' home-grown or foraged fruit and herbs for what organizers hope will be some creative and unusual jams. Bring any clean, empty glass jars you have on hand too. The fruit you go home with will have a whole different personality from the fruit you came in with.

Public Fruit Jam 2007, noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 19 at Machine Project, 1200-D N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles, (213) 483-8761. More details at www.machineproject.com.

-- Susan LaTempa