If you are one of the many people starting their first vegetable garden this year, congratulations! You have just entered into the world of health, vitality, nature and some really great eating! Whether you are planning on producing acres of fresh produce to sell in markets, or are an urban gardener with a raised vegetable bed on the roof of your apartment building, the ingredients for your vegetable garden are all the same: sun, soil, water, seeds and plants!

Growing a vegetable garden is one of the simplest ways to enhance not only your garden but to put a little extra flavor into your life. There is nothing better than a ripe tomato fresh off the vine, or a sweet strawberry patch that your kids can pick tasty treats right out of the backyard. You can even start a salad garden with a wide variety of lettuces, cucumbers, and herbs to give yourself the gift of fresh greens right outside your doorstep. Container gardening is a good way for urban dwellers or small-spaced gardeners to grow their vegetables and herbs. As long as you have a container with adequate drainage, good soil and some sunlight, your vegetables will grow just as well as any garden plot! Container gardening can make vegetable growing a little easier, as you can control the moisture and help prevent pests from getting into your small but bountiful garden. Try sprinkling some lettuce plants into a container on your front stoop, add some water, and you'll have a fresh salad in no time! Building a raised vegetable bed is an inexpensive way to start a vegetable garden, as well as a great way to plan out exactly what you are going to grow. Having one spot where your vegetables grow can make the process not as intimidating for the beginning gardener. Try making your vegetable beds a square or rectangular shape which also helps to ease your confusion, as you can map out your garden easily with the "square foot gardening method". Choosing which vegetables to grow can be a fun adventure in culinary dreaming as you think of what to eat. Do you love hearty soups that stick to your ribs? Try growing an array of root vegetables such as carrots, turnips or potatoes. Or do you love nothing better than the simplicity of a ripe tomato sliced with mozzarella cheese and topped with fresh basil? Choosing what you plant can give your diet diversity that you may not otherwise have thought of if you’re just going to the market, and it opens up a whole new world of cooking with new recipes. So welcome to the world of vegetable gardening. We hope to hear all about veggie adventures; please share your stories and pictures here!

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