Shade-loving Suggestions for a Small Space?

Started a new job at the local library and am in the process of designing programs with an emphasis on nature connection and permaculture. First up is a pop-up event where folks can learn how to build a backyard composter out of pallets. We need one here anyway, so... stacking functions!

The project I've started planning today is to rehabilitate the long, narrow bed in the front of the building. There's the odd hosta in there now and not much else. Except for a brief and partial sunkiss late afternoon in summer, it's completely shaded. The dimensions are 3.5'x12.5' and there's a walkway right beside it, so I can't plant anything that will overhang too much. Oh, and speaking of overhang, the roof does that, so growing height is about 9'. Soil is... meh. Slightly acid, not teaming with life, but not completely dead either.

I'd really like to see some edibles/medicinals in there and thought about bringing in a couple of my pawpaw seedlings as overstory, but I think the space is too narrow without really keeping them pruned and I don't have enough experience with them to know how they'd handle that.

Anyhoo, I'd love to get some suggestions for a mini guild that would thrive in these conditions. Climate is Dfb, zone 6a.

Thanks for Your help!

Some hostas are tastier than others!

Some plants that tolerate shade, don't produce well under it  -  like the black current family.  I'm not sure about the Honeyberry family - those plants like it cool for sure, as they're struggling where I put mine.

What's your deer pressure like?

Can paw paw be espaliered?

Semi-medicinals like walking onion and chives might go along as in-fill?

How close to the ocean? Seaberry is salt tolerant, but I don't know its shade tolerance. It's prickly, but it tolerates pruning well. You need male and female.

I have a friend on St. Margaret's Bay and she has a ground cover I think she calls "foxberry" - I can ask more about it if you think it has potential. I do remember them being yummy in muffins.

I haven't tried them myself, but I know the turkeys relished all the hostas they could reach through the temporary fence before I moved them up the field the other day.

No deer pressure in the village that I'm aware of - I think any that do wander through would be much more attracted to some of the more well-appointed properties up the hill...

We're on the shores of the Bras D'Or, but the library faces away and we're a few meters above sea level, so not too-too salty.

I'll add walking onions and chives to my list - think I can spare some from home.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has experience espaliering pawpaw, but I might go ahead and experiment with it anyway.

Yes! Please ask your friend about the foxberry - I'm a transplant to these parts from the big city and have been slow to learn as much as I should about the local flora.

Thanks Jay!

I just heard back from my friend - turns out she's away in Ont on family business.

She said, "fox berries (also known as lingon or cow berries)", so my memory isn't too bad yet as that was 30 years ago! I suggest you try asking some locals to confirm what they look like, as the problem with common names is that they're so... common!

Good luck with the garden.