no public land in my area but renting growing space is reasonable.
i'm not sure what kinda veggies your wife wants to grow but i'm at 400m elv and i grow most types of leafy greens, cucumbers, snap beans, tomatoes, eggplant and okra year round. most of the leafy greens like some shade in the summer months. the neighbors dry farm tomatoes, eggplant, cabbage and chinese cabbage crops but most commercial growers are higher up the mountain. maybe someone other members can input what grows at lower elevations..