When starting a garden, the first thing to ask yourself is why you want a garden in the first place. Perhaps you want to be more self-sufficient, want your kids to spend more time outside, or maybe you want to plant some flowers to support pollinators in your area.
Determining where you will plant your garden is the next step. You need a flat, open place that receives adequate sunlight. When plotting out how much space you’ll cultivate, consider how much time you have available for this pursuit. My rule of thumb is that every 500 square feet of garden space will require at least one hour of intense labor per week.
Plant what will grow in your climate and be sure you plant foods that you and your family will be excited to eat. Start small and transplant the lessons you learn there into a bigger space when you’re ready to expand.