Novice gardener - starting a fruit/veg/herb plot, but north facing - any advice?

[HoolyHooly]

I have never done anything beyond edging my parents' lawn under duress as a teenager...but having recently bought a house with a garden, I now feel the urge to embrace all things garden related! The most convenient part of the garden for me to grow stuff in is north facing and has lots of shade...am I doomed? The other areas are grassed for kids and the driveway. I am thinking of buying some large planters, one each for fruit, veg and herbs. Our soil is slightly acidic, and there are lots of pine trees nearby, think that may be a good thing? Any suggestions for what to start with? Have three small kids so not much time to devote, but it would be great to start. Thanks!

is it shady and dark, or shady but reasonably light? Most edibles do do better in a bit of sunshine. What do you like eating? I wouldn't have the same amount of space put aside for herbs, veg and fruit if you are actually looking to grow meaningful crops of anything but if you just want to have a bit of a play then parsley, lettuce and raspberries are a bit more shade tolerant than other things. A bit acid is fine unless you want to grow lots of brassicas.

I would put some fruit - raspberries, blackberries (you can get thornless ones), currants, maybe a few smaller apple and pear trees, rhubarb - on the shadier side of a house, but not most veg (though beans and peas might do ok in semi-shade).

How about a bit of a split? You could do a fruit garden at the back and then borders on the sunnier side around the lawn, using these to grow some of the more attractive veggies. Things like rhubarb or rainbow chard and globe artichoke look truly sensational in a border and are edible too. Ditto herbs. Some lettuces also look lovely, and you can get amazing climbing beans with lovely colourful flowers followed by beans that are black, red or yellow!

Thanks for your advice. Yes that is a good idea to split!