I'm really lookin' into this but I just don't know where to start. I have a huge backyard that's all grass and I'd like to know how to start a garden. Any good websites or books any of you guys know? Oh and I feel ya about the job. I got layed off about a month and a half ago and still lookin.
I can give you some basics, this might help you with search terms, and you will need to adapt everything you find to your local conditions. If you live in the green part of OR, you're in luck; if you live in the desert part, you'll have to water a lot more.
1) choose your spot(s). Veggies and herbs almost universally need full sun (that means ~ 8 hours a day). In the desert part they probably wouldn't mind a few hours of shade here and there. Look for good drainage in the green part of the state; something that collects runoff in the desert part.
2) get rid of the grass. Depending on what kind it is and where you are, you might be able to put an ad on craigslist and have ppl who need it come and dig some of it up for you. Otherwise, grab some shovels and family members, and make sure you get all the root bits out. Knock clumps of roots with a hand trowel to get all the topsoil out. It may help to cover the grass with a black painter's dropcloth for a week to kill it first. Then, depending on the grass, you may need to install a root barrier to keep the grass from spreading back into your garden. It's those rolls of black semi-rigid plastic edging.
3) amend the soil. Here you need to figure out what kind of soil you have. Example, in heavy clay soils, I would add sand for drainage. Humus / composted manure is usually a good thing to add unless your soil is already rich.
4) Plant stuff after your last freeze date (this varies widely across the country). Read seed packets thoroughly so you understand how big the adult plant will be, whether it will need support (beans, tomatoes), and any tips on planting and harvesting. Check out 'companion planting' - some plants repel insects that like another plant. Leave enough space between rows / clusters that you can move through your garden to prune, weed, water, etc. Strategically-placed stepping stones will help keep you from slipping in the mud if you're in the rainy part of the state.
Protect plants from wildlife if necessary. Some plants are better grown from seeds, others (some herbs) you should buy already sprouted in pots (they are more expensive per plant than seeds, but useful for things that are hard to get to sprout).
Soil around the seedlings should be kept moist until they get big enough that their root systems are more established. Poke your finger into the soil about 2" in various spots to check for moisture. Once you're sure that everything in a row/cluster has sprouted, mulch if you're in the desert. Helps hold water in the soil.
5) Maintenance - weed and water, sometimes prune (tomatoes do best if pruned in a specific way), and harvest.
6) Compost - everything that comes out of your garden that doesn't get eaten should go back into your garden soil in the form of compost. Anything you get from a store's produce aisle that is waste should also go in the compost pile. There are many ways to compost; some people do one huge pile, others do smaller piles contained in wire fencing or brick enclosures; you can do aerobic or anerobic, etc etc.
There should be enough search terms in there to get you started. Good luck and post pics!
Please feel free to pm or email me if I've misunderstood your intent.
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