OP I love your yard! tho its more LAND, but us suburbans say yard

Yes! This should be stickied. Will it be tho? I mean we know its a war, and theres a monopoly on resources for basic living, with the few conglomerates who run everything either controlled or controlling. So not surprising shortages is one of their evil strategies. Self sustainment is a mighty defense right now. And any help from knowledgable patriots sharing their knowledge further strengthens us individually and collectively. I hope everyone shares their knowledge. Some of us have trouble growing and we are trying our best!

HERES MY SMALL CONTRIBUTION--My main attempts, good and bad

ROMAINE: In cooler months, Ive grown nice romaine and leafy green lettuce in 5 gal buckets. My romains is starting to bolt bc its in the 90s here. Im going to cut it all and keep in refrigerator where it stays crisp a long time, much longer than store bought.

TOMATOES; I have grown tomatoes, with some success. 2020 decent, but more foliage than fruit, still did get some and they were good. 2021 terrible, blossom end rot, I cried and said forget it. 2022, trying again, learned about Ca deficiency, overwatering. So far this year I tired sweet 100s which was opposite of 2020, went crazy producing fruit on scrawny limbs. Right now, romas look like they may do ok.

FRUIT TREES: Ive planted literally 9 dwarf trees. So far, my 3 apple are the only ones that show some growth. Minimal, but its there. 3 citrus trees I let sit in pots too long, then planted in a rush. Naturally they died.

1 dwarf gala from Lowes, doing the best Id say. Nothing major but its alive, has some new leaves coming in. 2 dwarf fuji and gala, from online, doing fine. Theyre alive at least. 3 other citrus, alive but dont look like they may be for long. Green still, but no growth at all, lost some blossoms.

FRUIT BUSHES AND VINES:

Blueberry, blackberry, grapes. LOL. Pretty pathetic. Online ones seemed poor to start. Lowes bought, meh. Not dead but literally no growth.

HERBS

BASIL: 2020 IT WAS GLORIOUS. delicious, gorgeous. 2021 and 2022, emaciated shriveled awful

CILANTRO: 2020-2021 lousy, weak. 2022: was really good, lots of growth, great taste. Just needed to plant more bc we go thru cilantro fast

PARSLEY: Mediocre every year

One odd event, have this oregano plant from 2021 that I ignored bc after the tomato fiasco I wouldnt go near garden. Anyway it stayed green thru hot summer everything without water or any attention. So I started watering it this year, and its really big now. So this may be a desert friendly herb.

I also am experimenting with a bird forage garden and grass. I took the side of my house and my son and I have gotten amazing workouts removing many, many landscape rocks. Still have some but in meantime, tried a patch of grass to make a cool area for birds, chipmunks whatever. Grass actually grew. I had to cover it with the basement well grate cover so birds wouldnt eat all the seed. But it did grow ok. Working on doing more.

Next to grass patch, Ive scattered so many chicken forage seeds. So far almost no growth. I did rush tho, and regret it. I should have broken up the hard ground more and mixed in soil and whatever else (someone recommend please) but def was too hard. I wanted to just get seeds in ground and start growing, bc Im impatient. I regret that

Other misc: wildflowers blends, bird & butterfly blends (both sprouting, seem to be going somewhere, planted in front yard); dandelions, (oddly this 'weed'--NOT a weed to me, also its medicinal--but oddly not growing yet) lavender, (nothing yet) sunflowers (they seem to grow pretty easy).

QUESTIONS So my first hopeful question: Is there anyone, at all, in zone 8-9, desert hot climate, successfully growing? PLease for the love of God share any and all tips and secrets

Talk to me about COMPOSTING. Can I just throw everything that IS COMPOSTABLE in a compost tumbler bin? As long as its compostable, do I need to keep track of how much for ratios?

MULCH: I may sound stupid, but to a store buying raised girl in the burbs who never had a houseplant until 2020, I hear 'mulch' in so many ways. I see 'mulch' on this bag I buy at lowes but have no idea if Im using right, Someone, please ELI8, MULCH. what, how, why, etc.

SOIL: IDK if its sand or clay. Its super compact, dries on top almost instantly, but hold moisture underneath. So I think one pf my problems is overwatering roots get too much. So far part shade cover has seemed to balance this. So, WHAT can I mix with it? Be specific, ELI8 or even 5

FERTILZER: When I plant/transplant--and use 'fertilizer'--am I feeding plant or soil or both?

WORM CASINGS: I read about this often, and always as like the super game changing everything. ELI8 what, when, how

EDIT: Almost forgot-- CUT AND COME AGAIN HARVESTING: How is this done? On for ex romaine, herbs, tomatoes

I know Im losing a lot of $ bc I have too many failures. And Im not stupid or research challenged. Ive grown up buying everything from the store, live in the desert, am busy with limited time with kids that I homeschool. And for these reasons, live in the suburbs with barely a 6500 ft^2 lot so not the biggest land plot. Thats literally rock hard ground for soil.

Sorry so long, really hope to draw out some good contributors, some of us want your experience and knowledge.

thanks God bless you if you read and reply