Hey Dude, I think your best starting off with Geraniums, French Sorrel and Echinacea as perennial herbs. However it is more beneficial if you wish to grow food in your backyard to use annuals like Rocket etc, allow them to seed then spread the crop the next season to create a larger coverage. Also biennials such as Parsley and Chicory are frost resistant and should grow well where you live also. I hope this helps.