Zone 1 is damp, shady east facing stony area...

Between the front door and the car there are some areas that would to me, be clearly suitable for zone 1 planting were it not for a couple of minor details:

this area faces east - we have a woodland on this side of our house so the earliest summer sun is blocked and as it comes around...
this area is shady - even in summer its pretty shaded as the oak is on the south east corner of the house so blocks much of the suns path. The house is in the way of the western afternoon / evening sun.
this area is damp - I could probably manage this but we are right in the bottom of a valley. Low enough that we have a pump under the house for when the water table comes above a certain level.

However this door is the closest to the kitchen, the one we use most and all of the above aside actually has reasonable infrastructure for some zone 1 planting (raised beds in places, space to add pots for herbs etc). I could I guess bring down the oak tree and that would essentially solve the issue (along with some others around humidity near the house) - but aside from being an awful shame to do that, I think it probably helps drink up alot of moisture from the ground by the house.

Have any of you had to deal with the dichotomy of a clear zone 1 by use, but that being an area that is far from optimum for growing those things that need most attention?

Lettuce in the summer, mushroom logs and a pretty woodland garden with ferns, hostas and other woodland ornamentals?

What is your climate? Do you have hot summers? If so, that oak is very much helping moderate it. It would also likely  be beneficial to grow something to shade your house from the afternoon sun, as that is the cause of a great deal of unnecessary air conditioning.