In my previous home (a rental in San Mateo) I planted a small avocado jungle, which was eventually thinned to 3 trees that started producing in about 8 years. Half a block away was an enormous avocado, its canopy about 35' diameter. The soil there was fantastic, you could drop in anything and it would thrive. I live across the Bay now and though the soil quality is difficult (clay) the house came with 5 different fruit trees (lemon, cherry, peach, apricot, pear) and I've added a feijoa, a lime, and a few culinary herbs.
I also have a front lawn, which I haven't watered in several years, but comes back with the rain. I want to smother it permanently in cardboard, but that in itself is quite a lot of work that I refuse to admit I need to hire someone to get it done.