What a nice thought for the new year! Excuse the sarcasm, because you may very well be right about this coming year. But yeah, you can grow a lot of stuff intermingled with some weeds and/or keep the weeds down with cardboard and wood chips applied at the beginning of the season. I can't claim to be an expert gardener, though. That's just what I have sometimes done or seen.
As for Jessie Kyle: I removed this person or entity from the group about a week ago. I don't remember how he got added originally. Sorry it took so long, I know it's annoying.
There is someone else pending approval right now, who sounds genuinely interested in permaculture, gardening, and "homesteading".
I'd like to resurrect this group and the activities that we used to do. Ideally we'd get some of those younger people coming up in the group, too, and do more site tours, potlucks, and presentations on a wide variety of issues related to sustainable, resilient, healthy, and natural living. Maybe we start with a potluck to just bring people back together again and have some discussions/updates? If we all make an effort to invite one new person as well, it could be a great start.
But Happy New Year to all! Deeply, meaningfully, and hopefully.
Patrick