If you're absolutely dying to cross something before you find a house (or square finally gives access to these features to everyone), you could try going through wards as there are a slew of people who just have empty gardens because they find them tedious. You might be able to reach a deal for tenant status to use their garden plot (free, rent it weekly or a % of the crop). Also check with FC members who have houses as sometimes they wont be using theirs.