When I was in that general area before I had an area maybe 5' x 8' and even that was in partial shade. A lot of trees but in suburbia trees were nice, especially when it can be pretty warm in summer. I did grow a few things there but nothing like I can up here in Arkansas. I won't know what I'll have work with until I get it so it's no use to speculate too much. Whatever it is I'll manage.
New Orleans was settled there because it is dry land but it is surrounded by water, swamps, and marsh. They have built levies and keep it pumped out so parts are below sea level but not where I'm going. I have to be south of New Orleans to be near the grandkids, 20 minutes is pretty much our maximum. You can't just expand out in the country because that is all wetlands. That makes land pretty precious and lots small.
Twenty years ago I saw people buy a broken down house on a small lot for $60,000 to $80,000. They'd tear down that house to build a nice one so the lot cost was 60 to 80 plus demo costs. Then they started to build a new house. We won't be looking in that nice an area, we will be a bit further out from the downtown area, but we won't look for acreage, we'll be looking for a larger lot. They do exist, you can get some strange shaped lots when boundaries are bayous and rivers. I've known neighbors to buy a lot between them and split it. A lot depends on what is on the market when we are looking. We have another restriction too. My wife weaves. We'll need enough room for her looms. It will be an interesting search when we get to that point.
I don't have raise beds because they take up too much room in my tiny yard. I really only have 3 in ground beds that are 4x4. Also have another that is maybe 4x5 raised about 6 inches where my green bean trellis's are.
