looking for ideas for plants under mature Norway Maple

Hi, Folks. I'm consulting at a site tomorrow to help solve a specific problem. The owner wants to be able to grow plants, food plants preferably, under a neighbor's mature Norway Maple that grows on a corner they share. It's dry there, too, but I haven't done a soil sample. I feel that I can help address some of her concerns but I'm stuck on one point. She'd like some plants to be 4-6' tall. I'm concerned that anything that tall won't establish under the tree and among the roots. I welcome plant and method suggestions that you may have. Namaste.