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Jefferson terraced part of the south-facing section of the hill, and grew fig trees right up against the back of the terrace. They don't die back in the winter and are quite tall.

I copied this, sort of, by planting fig trees against the south brick wall of my house, and they never die back, no matter how cold the winter.

His mistake with the olive trees, IIRC, was getting specimens from Italy rather than central France, which are hardier.

As for Native Americans, they interplant vegetables, e.g., plant beans in with corn and pumpkins. The beans fix nitrogen in the soil that fertilizes the corn and pumpkins, the corn supports the bean vines, and the pumpkin vines keep the soil moist and shaded.

Studying their techniques have led to modern theories of intensive farming practices.

No reason to turn your nose up at learning new things, even if you are irritated by the idea that Native Americans knew things that Europeans didn't. The earliest Europeans learned a lot from Native Americans, and vice versa, it wasn't all one way.

Winter kill was a problem the year I tried planting brown turkey figs. Planting against a sheltered south facing wall is a good idea. I wouldn't mind trying another hardy variety if I ever move out to the country. I have blueberries, they do grow here and are starting to bear.

I have tried inter-plantings, but I need a bit more room, and sun, for successful intensive gardening. When I was in college, and they provided space on campus for a garden, I tried the Squanto method of raising corn. Went to the beach and loaded up on dead alewife, put 2 or 3 in a hole and planted corn on top of them. It worked well without any additional fertilizer.

Right now I am sticking to tomatoes and basil, and a couple of zucchini plants. (Heirloom tomatoes, Russian black, mortgage lifter, brandywine, delicious--why grow anything you can buy in the store.)