Moving in August - should I start my vegetable garden?

I got the news yesterday that my husband and I are being transferred to Birmingham, Alabama after living in Iowa our whole lives. Obviously we are reeling from this news but something I am really struggling with is what to do about my vegetable garden. We have only lived in our house for 19 months and last year I just got three raised beds established. I had big plans for tilling up part of the yard and really expanding my gardening efforts, but now these plans seem to be mostly dashed.
My question is - should I go ahead and start my pepper, eggplant, tomato seedlings like I did last year, plant what I can in pots and containers, and give away seedlings to my friends/family? Is it ridiculous to lug a container garden to Alabama from Iowa? I also had plans to get my own small flock of urban chickens this year and I am not sure this is a reality now.
Change is hard! I would appreciate any words of wisdom my fellow gardeners could provide.

I wouldn't try to move veggies from IA to AL...since they have to be started new every year anyway it just doesn't feel worth the effort. Since you're not moving until August, it feels like you'd have time to get some production from your plants before you go so there's no reason you can't still grow some things this year, just be prepared to leave them behind when you go. I'd save your plant-moving efforts for things like houseplants or a few favorite perennials that are going to come back the following year. I would also hold off on the chickens and get them once you're settled in your new home. And I wouldn't till up more of the yard for garden space when you're not going to be staying there to enjoy it

Moving can be scary, but try to look at the up side too--you're moving to a zone with warmer winters so you'll have a longer growing season and you'll be able to grow some new kinds of plants that you can't now.

Hi sabinegar,
I've moved before so I know how unsettling it can be but there will be some pluses for you. Down here in the south you'll have a longer growing season so even though you'll be getting here toward the end of summer, you'll still have time to put in a few fall crops. August is the time when most of us down here put in our fall gardens. I'm sure you'd have to use containers the first year but there are several things you can grow in them such as tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, herbs, etc. I hope everything works out well for you and your family.
Nature

Has the shock eased yet?

Agreed that you should not even attempt to move anything in containers during the move. Not worth the work and worry, really.
Are you selling the current residence? Plan a modest and tidy garden. Don't discourage your buyers with anything remotely messy or overambitious. Enjoy a small garden, don't overdo because you will be quite busy anyway. If a buyer is interested, that will remind them of the potential. Another buyer may be totally indifferent and want to rip it out and grow grass there.

Its a shame you have to change plans but we hope things will work out for the better. Remember you can take DG wherever you go.

I have had to move several times and leave all my plants/ veg plot and tended lawns, believe me, it hurts like mad at the time but, you have now had warning and plenty time to get your head around a move where as some folks don't get that luxury so remind yourself that your preparing for a new adventure every time you feel low or worried about it.
The good thing about a move with time between now and leaving and the many months of planning is that it gives you time to plan, change what you felt was not so goo and select new things that grow in the new zone, it aint all bad but the apprehension you feel right now will fade into the distance once you actually get there and your new home is ready for you to make a brand new start.
I would not bother taking plants with you, as for the remainder of your growing year you can buy peppers / tomato's and beans / peas etc to get you through a couple of months or start to freeze or bottle all you can before the move. Things will become less stressful once your head tells you you have no other options, that's when you begin to make plans to suit the time /season of the new place, who knows, maybe you will go to a veg garden already done for you, ha, ha, ha, and the band is still playing .
As for selling your present home, Definitely DON'T go dig up new areas for veg as there are so many folks who still cant get their heads around growing the same stuff you buy in the store and better for it, you may limit the choice of home buyers, just have it spotless, beds and borders like show gardens and tell anyone viewing the ideas for extending the veg plots IF they so wish.
I was always told that presenting your home for sale is like giving a lifestyle idea to possible purchaser's and that's all you can do both inside and out.

Make sure you have in writing what you will leave and what you will be taking as that can become a very gray area for both sides, I've heard of deals being broken just because the new people thought things like light fittings would stay but the owners had just purchased them for the viewing so either bite your tongue or let things like that go with the sale of the house, best have it all in writing to save extra stress.
Good luck and hope all works out for you and family. WeeNel.