[George]

Best advice I've got when I started was: START SMALL

Not that I did that, but it was good advice when I looked back at how overwhelmed I was during my first season.

[lpm67]

I agree with what everyone has said....but I have just a little extra to offer.
1) Google 'no dig garden', its a great way to get started without being too fussy and creates the perfect growing medium... I've been doing this for years and about the only thing I havent been able to grow is watermelon!
2) Crowd your garden...dont give the full space recommended, if you have built a good garden bed it can support alot more and closer together, also gaps in the garden encourage weeds!
3) A book I highly recommend if you can get it is 'Self sufficient backyard' by Jackie French...she's brilliant, even if she is Australian...lol. She's also on the internet: JACKIE FRENCH - author
4) A little gardening each week saves alot of energy later on.
5) Enjoy it...your vegie garden can bring as much pleasure as a flower garden and dont hesitate to throw in some flowers to.

Feel free to message me if you want specific info on the no dig gardens, or anything else...I've even got some great recipes for dealing with the pests.

[Camdor]

What about hydroponics?

It once was strictly for scientists and those with enough cash to kill a horse but from what I've seen, it's become much more affordable.

Here is a website entirely set up for beginners

Hydroponics for beginners

Hope that helps somewhat

[LaRemnant]

WOW, thank you everybody! Especially you Mama! So much info! There is this guy who lives a stones throw away who actually has a garden about 100ft x 150ft, and he sells what he grows. I don't know how much longer the state will allow that considering how Nazi the laws are becoming, but I think I will talk with him and see if I can learn anything. I might ask him if he would like me to help him for free, as long as I get to learn a thing or two. These days though, a lot of people think I am weird for actually knocking on doors and introducing myself as their neighbor. I've done it a couple times before, and they ALWAYS act like I am a weirdo... Imagine that, someone could live no more than 30 ft from you for ten years and not even know your name, or anything really about you.

Again, thank you all for so much information. So, all I have to do is go to my local Department of Agriculture (?) and they'll have a lot of goodies for me?

Good GOD, I was just reading about how to plant some things, and the info is nothing short of DAUNTING to absorb! Crap... It's like learning to speak another language for crying out loud. There's gotta be a rosetta stone for this somewhere... Hhmm, lemme see...

[Camdor]

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

WOW, thank you everybody! Especially you Mama! So much info! There is this guy who lives a stones throw away who actually has a garden about 100ft x 150ft, and he sells what he grows. I don't know how much longer the state will allow that considering how Nazi the laws are becoming, but I think I will talk with him and see if I can learn anything. I might ask him if he would like me to help him for free, as long as I get to learn a thing or two. These days though, a lot of people think I am weird for actually knocking on doors and introducing myself as their neighbor. I've done it a couple times before, and they ALWAYS act like I am a weirdo... Imagine that, someone could live no more than 30 ft from you for ten years and not even know your name, or anything really about you.

Again, thank you all for so much information. So, all I have to do is go to my local Department of Agriculture (?) and they'll have a lot of goodies for me?

Good GOD, I was just reading about how to plant some things, and the info is nothing short of DAUNTING to absorb! Crap... It's like learning to speak another language for crying out loud. There's gotta be a rosetta stone for this somewhere... Hhmm, lemme see...

I grew up doing the same thing, LR, so I know what you mean. I'm a Navy brat so we always knew our neighbors and well but lately it's like "who the hell are YOU to be coming over HERE without being invited, a$$hat?"

I don't see any reason why the guy down the road would be opposed to free labor..Another thing you might do is finding a community garden local to you and see if you can tag along with one of the more experienced gardeners or you can also see about joining a co-op as well.

[LaRemnant]

Originally Posted by Camdor

What about hydroponics?

It once was strictly for scientists and those with enough cash to kill a horse but from what I've seen, it's become much more affordable.

Here is a website entirely set up for beginners

Hydroponics for beginners

That's REALLY interesting. I would have to approach it like an engineer (as it says) but it sounds doable. I like the sound of the ebb and flow system, but I would feel more secure if I could come up with a way to have electricity for the pump without being dependent on the grid. Maybe I can rig my bike to it and work on my buns simultaneously LOL

[Camdor]

Check out this site for lots of ideas!

Free Energy

All the plans and toys come with a 100% working money back guarantee and they have a great reputation.

[pocomoonskyeyes]

THANK YOU LR!!! I am so glad you started this thread,as I plan on doing the same pretty soon. Also thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread.What Bones said about horse manure is true. If you are close enough I have more than I can use, And would be glad to part with all you can use!! I would probably still have some left over for someone else, and we don't even keep our horses stalled up all that much. I'm glad to hear that it is "useable". I was worried that because of the grass and grains(that the horses eat) that it wouldn't be.
I also was raised to "be a good neighbor" which means getting to know them and helping when you can.
Since we have a "farm that isn't really a Farm" there are some changes that I want to make. I want to use heirloom varieties as much as possible,so the farm is as self sufficient as possible.Yeah I may not get as big yields as some,but saving on seed costs is something I really want to do. Both with plants and animals. Heirlooms all the way!

[Screaming Eagle]

Another reason that it's good to compost any kind of manure (okay, maybe not cows) is to 'heat up' the seeds of grass etc that have passed through so they don't sprout again.

LR, find out what 'plant hardiness' zone you're in and let us know. That will make a big difference in what you can plant at different times. I'm in zone 9 so I can pretty much have a garden year round. In fact, I'm going to add some more Brussels Sprouts this week. Take a sample from the 'center' of your garden area as part of your sampling. My state recommends 4 samples from different areas in the garden. Aside from determining the amount of clay etc, the report will also give you some of the chemical components (calcium, sodium etc) that you may need to account for.

[cowgirlup]

LaRem,

Most gardeners are easy going people. If you tell your neighbor you're looking to get started and have admired their garden they wil probably be happy to help. They also already know what works well in your area and that will be handy to know!!