If you were born and raised in an urban setting like me, farming can feel overwhelming. I had no clue where to start. That’s why procrastination has been my closest friend in this area for a long time, even though I’ve always had the desire to grow my own food.
Think back to the day you first learned how to read and write—you started with the alphabet and slowly developed skills. That’s exactly what I’m doing here: beginning small, then growing in knowledge and skills of home farming as part of a continuous learning journey.
So… shall we kick off?
Step 1. What do you want to achieve?
Setting clear goals makes your path much straighter. My final goal is to grow a wide variety of crops for myself and be self-sustainable. What’s yours?
Step 2. Know your space
Let’s not underestimate the power of a small beginning. How about starting from where you are?
- Indoor and balcony: Pots, containers, vertical planters, hydroponics, or microgreens
- Backyard: Raised beds, vertical gardening, fruit trees, or small livestock (chickens, rabbits, etc.)
- Large ground: Larger vegetable gardens, vertical gardening, livestock, and fish
Check point!
Experts say most crops need 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. Choose a space with direct sunlight, ideally facing north (South for the Southern Hemisphere).
Also consider water access when you select your space.
Step 3. Choose a few starter plants
It’s always best to start small—experiment with just a few plants and expand over time. I plan to make a monthly produce calendar and start with 2–3 beginner-friendly crops each month. That way, I can learn through trial and error and enjoy fresh produce year-round.
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, beans, peppers, radishes
- Herbs: Basil, mint, parsley, rosemary
- Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, dwarf fruit trees in pots
Tip: Try companion planting. By pairing plants that grow well together, you can naturally reduce pests in your garden (source: Tumbleweed.com.au).
Step 4. Design a layout
Sketch out a few layouts that suit your space. I’m intentionally analogue, but I also use AI like ChatGPT for research purposes. Get creative—this is the fun part!
Tip: For the Southern Hemisphere, plant taller crops on the southern side of your garden beds so they don’t shade the smaller plants (Source: Tumbleweed.com.au).
Step 5. Join gardening groups or communities
Connect with local gardening groups or online communities for support and shared wisdom.
Step 6. Make a buying list of tools and equipment
Once your research and design are done, it’s time to prepare a shopping list. Consider:
Seeds or seedlings?
Space management (pots, beds, shelves, etc.)
Watering system
Building healthy soil
- Start composting kitchen scraps (vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells).
- Use raised beds or containers with a good soil mix (compost + garden soil + sand for drainage).
- Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Pest & disease management
- Encourage beneficial insects (ladybugs, bees).
- Use natural sprays (e.g., neem oil, garlic spray, mild soap solution).