So four years ago we picked out an unused corner of the yard, mowed it all down as short as we could go, measured, and started building garden boxes. In our part of the country the soil is really heavy clay, and we decided that rather than spend a lot of time and energy tilling we would just use the square foot raised bed method. Building the boxes took awhile. Filling them with soil took awhile. And planting? Yes, that took awhile too.
Our garden has given us highs and lows. I've never successfully grown a crop of corn, but the first year I had the mother of all potato harvests - from a 4'x8' box! Last year we had no potatoes, but managed to grow enough onions for most of the year and share with friends (and I use a lot of onions when I cook). I (finally) figured out how to grow a crop of peas last spring and had another good crop this year.
Each year something fails and something exceeds my expectations. Sometimes I can't seem to keep the fire ants from invading and by others a wandering deer may eat half my grape vines. I never know.
The one thing I do know is that the reward is always worth the work. There is simply nothing like a salad made of veggies you grew yourself; eggplant Parmesan from the glossy purple fruits of your labor; chewy and sweet sun dried tomatoes. And let's not forget, peas straight from the pod.
Oh the joys of gardening!
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