This year was our first with a garden, I just had the ground graded last fall. I personally hadn't messed with one since I was a young teenager. As this was that first year, I let wife experiment with different crops to get an idea of what does well here, and what doesn't. Next year will probably be "experimentation round two."

Tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, radishes, cucumbers did very well. Beans and peas were acceptable. Watermelon didn't do well (would have done better at lesser altitude/warmer summer climate), wife's potato sets (of commercial potato eyes) didn't do all that well (so far anyhow). Her lettuce was simply food for the japanese beetles (unusually heavy this year). Carrots are tbd. Artichokes tbd.

Haven't tried onions yet. Nor sweet corn.

"Guerilla gardening" is something that I hadn't thought of. The blackberry crop 'round here was quite good though.

Wife has done some good canning this year. But, she needs to get a bit more imaginative (hint hint from me).

The garden very early on proved successful enough that I bought a new tiller.

Airforce's dehydrating article is quite welcome with me. I already have a dehydrator, use it for jerky. -FNR.