How does my garden grow?

I've started a veggie garden this year, but between the rain and always having to work on the sunny days (or so it seems) I'm not making much progress.  It probably won't be as big as I'd like, but at least it's a start.  My friend Donna K recommended I read an article in the current issue of The Mother Earth News magazine about quick starting a garden, so I bought the magazine and am following that plan.  I had already put down black plastic to kill off the grass, so now I'm slowly replacing that with several layers of wet newspaper and wood mulch.  Over that I'm putting 36" rows of organic garden soil for the beds, and 24" of a thicker mulch layer for pathways.  Eventually I'd like to put a row of mulch all the way around it to help discourage the grass from growing in from the sides.

I've started a compost bin and would like to build a frame (kinda like a swingset frame) to hold upside down tomato planters that I want to make out of 5 gal. plastic buckets (like the one you see in the left hand picture).  The kits at the garden center run $20 or more, and a bucket can be had for a lot less.  All I'll need to do is cut a hole in the bottom, add the plant and the dirt and viola!  I'm wondering if cucumbers and squash can be grown that way too.  I always have so much trouble with worms and bugs destroying the plants in the past that it would be nice to find a way to foil the bugs without having to resort to pesticides.  I've got a lot of other ideas I want to try too, but may not get them all accomplished this year.