You might want to try alpine strawberries for your shady slope. They
need a little watering late in the summer but they're everbearing.
Other shade tolerant berries a wintergreen, lowbush blueberries and
there's also a groundcover raspberry...

http://virginiaberryfarm.com/Fruit_b...oundcovers.htm
http://www.raintreenursery.com/catal...%20Raspberr y

Bay and ginger may not be hardy enough for zone 6. Maybe grow all
your herbs in pots then move them outdoors later -- after the locusts.
Good luck!