I hand water, too. I volunteered at our local elementary school to help plant their vegetable garden. They use sprinklers at night, and I was surprised at how healthy everything is. I thought that they'd get mold on the squash leaves. We have a dry climate, though. Our summer has also been fairly mild, so I think it has made gardening easier.
Jemima,
Is there a college student who might want to do your garden work in exchange for some fresh produce? That might help you out, and then you could at least have you backyard stash...