Assemble your toolkit.

Before you plant, make sure you have all the basic tools you’ll need, from a trowel (to break up soil, dig holes, and mix fertilizer) to a cultivator/tiller (to loosen soil and help pull weeds) to a bucket, hose, and soil amendments and fertilizers.

I’ve already emphasized the importance of growing organically. With all the resources and technologies available these days, there are few excuses for not growing this way. And because these methods mimic nature, they actually work better than growing plants with chemicals. After all, nature has billions of years of experience on us. The first rule is to avoid chemical pesticides. Then make sure that your plant food, or more aptly soil food, is truly organic. Lots of companies are hopping on the organic bandwagon but may still add inorganic fertilizer to their mixes, which defeats the purpose of going organic in the first place. As you’ll come to learn in later pages, with organic gardening the goal is to feed the soil, and feed it naturally, rather than to feed the plants themselves.

Get some help.

I recognize that starting a garden can be intimidating. I believe that one of the best ways to gain confidence and set yourself up for success is to associate with other gardeners. Spend time with neighbors while they work in their gardens, and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Join a local gardening club where people share what works in your area. I’ve found hands-on experience and friendship with other gardeners to be more educational than any book or article, although print and online materials can certainly be helpful. And don’t forget the knowledge available at a local nursery or the agricultural extension service of a nearby university.

Despite the best-laid plans and intentions, take to heart that even the most experienced growers fail from time to time. Thomas Jefferson, at age 68, wrote, “But though an old man, I am but a young gardener.” Plants don’t always do what is expected of them, and Mother Nature is unpredictable and largely beyond our control. It’s all part of the process. In the end, I’m confident you’ll feel that all the effort is worth it.