Yes I think the Mt Tamalpais trail is the better choice for this weekend. The coastal route gets too foggy in the afternoon and you lose the view anyway. I checked the weather app and Saturday morning is supposed to be clear until at least 2 PM so we will have plenty of time to reach the summit and enjoy the scenery. Parking at the main lot fills up early so we should aim to be there by 7 30 at the latest. If we leave by 6 45 we will be fine and we can grab coffee on the way. Everyone should pack at least two liters of water and some snacks for the top. The round trip is about 7 miles with moderate elevation so plan for four to five hours depending on how many breaks we take. I can drive since my car fits four people comfortably besides myself. Let me know if you want to meet at my place or if someone else wants to drive separately. We can stop for lunch at that new sandwich spot in Mill Valley on the way back if people are up for it. Let me know what you think about the timing.

The raised bed method is definitely the best option if your native soil has too much clay or doesn't drain well. I built mine from untreated cedar planks and filled them with a mix of compost plus topsoil and perlite for aeration. For anyone just starting out I suggest trying tomatoes peppers and basil because they grow reliably and produce a lot even with minimal experience. Make sure the bed gets at least six to eight hours of direct sun every day and water deeply a few times per week rather than a little bit every day. That encourages the roots to go deeper and makes the plants more resilient. Mulching with straw or shredded leaves helps keep the soil moist and prevents weeds from taking over. If you travel sometimes or tend to forget to water look into a simple drip irrigation system on a timer. I added one last season and it made a huge difference. The initial setup takes a couple of hours but after that you save so much time and the plants stay consistently hydrated.