Sounds like a plan and cool idea. Hard work that's good for the mind and soul, and fresh veges you can't beat...
The town of Hemstead was giving some rain barrels and compost bins away I think, but I never called. Interesting, save the town money hauling yard waste and on water infrastructure, and get greener giving these items away...
Here's my little suburban Long Island garden.
These beds I got in early (March and April) and already harvested the spinach. Been having lettuce for 5 weeks. The kale had a bad year with slugs, but will get a little soon. Bonanza year for beets. First picking of string beans this past weekend. Potatoes going good in sacks and 2nd planting of potatoes in where the spinach was.
Then the rain and a little laziness got me behind but have some cukes and more lettuce here. Some Swiss chard going too. Planted carrots and tomotoes last weekend. A little celery in the self watering planter I inherited. Just have to get my onion seedlings and more herbs out.