Secrets to starting your first home garden off right

By Emily Burleigh American Press

With the spike in food prices — the Consumer Price Index for grocery store food purchases is 10.2 percent higher than it was last year — and the fresh spring air, many are looking to nurture their own garden, and maybe even build a chicken coop.

Lori Gutierrez-Richard, creator of the popular community Facebook group called “Southwest Louisiana Gardening,” has devoted many years to creating a garden that produces food year-round.

She explained that while it takes a lot of money, time, resources and commitment to create a sustainable food source that ultimately saves you money, the process of creating a garden is full of hard work, joy and fulfillment.

Home Garden

It is best to start small when creating a home garden, said Gutierrez-Richard. By starting small, you are able to fully learn about the needs of certain plants. It also prevents garden burnout. She said new gardeners who try to grow a whole garden of plants become easily disheartened when there are failures “that make you want to quit gardening altogether.”

The next step is to choose where you would like to garden — an area of your yard that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight — and what method of gardening you’d like to use. Popular methods include in-ground, raised