It's too warm down here for most varieties of garlic. I've researched it a little bit and there are two varieties that would do okay here. There might be a few more that would work up north where you are. So far I don't know how I'd get my hands on the right kind of garlic to start with.
It's too cold here for ginger, I think. I've never really looked into growing it. I know a place that often has big fresh looking ginger root, maybe I'll try planting some just to see.

Good coffee, good weed, and time on my hands...