Start Your First Victory Garden

With even the Obamas plowing up the South Lawn for a White House Victory Garden, why not tear up some of your sod and plant it with luscious veggies for your family to eat this summer?

If you're a beginning small farmer or homesteader and this is your first year gardening, you may worry you have a black thumb. Well, try these seven easy plants and you'll be assured of success. I'll confess something to you: these are really the staples of my vegetable garden, the ones I have the most consistent results with. They're also veggies that most people like to eat: peas, lettuce, pumpkin, beans.

What else do you need to know if you're just getting started? Start with great soil and half the battle will be won. Set up your compost pile this spring (every small farm should have at least one!) and fill it with grass clippings, hay, animal manure, kitchen scraps, and whatever else you have around. You won't be sorry when you have amazing compost to add to your soil next spring.

Photo © Lauren Ware