Thanks for the links guys and I'll see what they have for ideas but they are no where near extreme I'd love to have their weather! Actually I do sort of chuckle and then cry when I see the gardening shows talking about how cold Maine is.
I am a USDA zone 2, a zone 1b in Sunset lingo. (Thanks Cynthia) so I look longingly at the climates of Maine, Wisconsin, Michigan, Upstate New York, New England and actually some parts of Alaska have better weather than I do.
:: I also live in Alberta Canada which is pretty much famous for it's chinooks which coming blowing through melting off any snow cover that has accumulated and leaves everything wide open to the drop to -20 celcius and -50 celcius is not unheard of 24 hours later.
This fact does not stop me from trying to tempt the fates, push the envelope in all matter of ways, and try anything that might possibly have a shot at doing well.
So now I want to expand my collection of perenial edibles, and expand my adventures in the kitchen as well. The list from Applestar contains a couple that I have never heard of and if it sounds like they might work I will definitely look for a source.
There are some on there I have, and some I already know are out for sure. Ginger we are trying in a pot right now cause that is probably like a zone 7 to my 2, even the lemon balm, brocoli, and fennel are all annuals here unless you pot them up and bring them in. This year I have them all tucked up under burlap duvets watered in well with whey and water, hoping they will survive. Most mints will make it and most thymes, catnip is hit or miss as is tarragon and I am convinced that chives will grow north of the arctic circle. They grow well in Dawson City because that is where the starter on my clumps came from.
Asparagus loves this climate but needs a good mulch to make the winter, Rhubarb does well but again that is another one that I know grows well in the arctic. Daylillies grow well here and I had the chance to try them so they are now on my list of edibles. I wish I could find a parsnip that could be overwintered but I have tried leaves and covers and straw and but they just can't take the bitter cold and get all woody.
The bean that dies down to the ground may have a shot and there is a couple of names on there that I don't really know at all so I see what I can find out and keep you posted. I would really like to get some height in the garden.
As for the question of staying local for sourcing plant material for all tree materials I have to stay within Alberta even for my firewood. You see I have an American Elm Tree growing in my yard. My mother loves my elm tree you see she hadn't seen one since she was a kid. Dutch Elm Disease had wiped them all out years ago in the Eastern part of Canada so since Alberta is Dutch Elm Disease free I buy that sort of stuff here. We're also a rat free zone but that is a whole other conversation. There are some things that I just can't get and it would almost be worth the 25.00 just to get a bigger variety of nut bushes. I tend to source heritage and as close to home as I can for most things I just find it easier.
Bina
)
Mushroom sources are still a little scarce but a friend of mine is going to send me some spores from Ontario
I want flowers, herbs, vegies, berries and springtime sunshine. 
