Edible Landscaping

Since I would like to garden a bit - to have fresh produce and because I just plain like it - I have been preparing a small raised bed I have right under the kitchen window. Seeds are bought, books are being studied, and I am just waiting for the last of the snow to go away, to plant some frost hardy varieties like spinach and a lettuce called "Feldsalat" in German. They have predicted temps up to 83 degrees for Sunday, so...
Here in the South, I always have to take care to plant early enough, since it will get so hot so fast. The first year I planted lettuce, it first didn't germinate at all, then it did and immediately shot up to go to seed. I have learned since then and start early...(Although I feel that I am already sort of late this year.)
My German grandmother always had her own veggies growing. They also had a fruit yard. But as a kid I wasn't interested in growing the stuff. I only ate it. Very often straight out of the ground or off the tree. I'm a bit sad/annoyed I never paid attention to the actual gardening part. Now I am so into it and I study as much as I can.
My Homeowners Association isn't too fond of gardening. Our subdivision is in a very natural, forest-like setting, and they see it as their goal to preserve that. Preferably we should only plant native plants. But some of the people before us already broke that rule. We have several fig trees in the front yard, grapes on a trellis in the back and two pear trees. I wouldn't mind to plant more.
I love Edible Landscaping, i.e. gardening with plants that have at least one edible part. I am fairly "lucky" to have quite some Greenbriar in the more woody parts of our property. Briars are actually edible, esp in spring, when the leaves are tender. I have been pulling out Poison Ivy, to give the Briars more space to grow. (And because of the kids, obviously.)