Crash course in gardening: 7 cheap and simple steps.

Every aspect of gardening can be made more enriching, both to you and your garden, when you compost. Whether you use barrels, a three-way system or a three foot square pile, simply add kitchen scraps, leaves, grass clippings and animal manure as they become available. You can turn the pile as often as every three days, or you can leave it to nature, depending on your level of patience. Don't be afraid of the compost pile; it can be a gardener's best friend.

Build raised beds

Do you know anyone who enjoys digging and rototilling? Well, you don't have to. Simply choose the size of your garden, then:

* Lay out newspaper to prevent weed and grass growth.

* Lay a two-inch layer of straw (not hay, which has weed seeds).

* Follow that by a two- to four-inch layer of compost.

* Do another layer of straw and compost.

* Top with two to three inches of straw to keep weeds from growing on your new garden bed.

You can outline the beds with boards to keep the soil in, but it isn't necessary. When you're ready to plant, just move the straw aside; add two to six inches of dirt and begin planting. Replace the straw between the newly planted rows to prevent future weed growth. This will save many hours of backbreaking weeding through the year.

Organize

Efficiency is a helpful ingredient when cooking up a garden. Keep tools together in a shed or in a corner of the garage.

* Have hooks for a rake, pitchfork, hand pruner, and trowel.

* Keep garden twine, organic fertilizer like fish emulsion, and cheap beer (slug bait) on a shelf nearby.

* Store seeds in a large bin.

* House reference materials together.

Good organic gardening books can be found in second hand book stores. Make sure yours includes a pest and disease identification section. A good one is The Organic Garden Book by Geoff Hamilton (DK Publishing, 1994).

* Maintain a notebook to record planting dates with rough sketches noting where everything has been planted in relation to your house. If you're like me, and drawing is a challenge, use graph paper and begin by drawing in major landmarks like patios and windows before attempting to sketch your garden. No one will critique these pictures; they are solely for identifying seed sprouts after you've forgotten where everything is planted.

Buy seeds and plants

Ordering is made easy with online and mail order catalogs. There are beautiful pictures and quick bios on the products. Browse as long as you like before making any decisions. Seeds are light, making shipping charges minimal. Choose plants that are intended for your zone to give you the best shot at cultivating success. Disease resistant varieties will toss another stone in your favor.

Plant your garden

Just do it. Maybe draw a quick sketch first to decide where everything would work best or maybe just throw some lettuce seeds in a two-foot square, throw a quarter-inch of fine soil on top and jot the coordinates down in your notebook.

That's it. It's very simple stuff. Now you just water the seedbeds until little green things sprout through and you are the proud owner of a certifiable vegetable garden.

Do a daily walk through

Looking over your plants on an almost daily basis will enable you to notice new problems like aphids and slugs, which can both be squished on location to avoid future generations. The sooner you pinch off insect pests the healthier your garden will be. This is also a good time to note whether the plants are getting too much or too little water, and a good opportunity to tie in wayward vines from, say, cucumbers and tomatoes. (With tomatoes, pinch off new growth in the elbow of main stems and branches to encourage compact growth and speed up fruiting.) The benefits overflow into the meditation department, when you're walking through nature every day. It can't hurt to have a good chair nearby to watch the sun rise or set. This may extend your walk-through time considerably.

Water

Water deeply and often--without over-watering. A timer can be invaluable. Male and female connectors make attachment changing a breeze. If using a soaker hose, leave it on for 30 minutes in the morning or evening to fully, saturate the roots. Shallow or inconsistent watering will weaken your plants.

Harvest

The time has arrived to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Pick peas and beans at different points in their maturity to find out the best flavor and crunch. Tomatoes can be picked as soon as they begin changing to red or yellow, and further ripened inside to avoid splitting that can happen when rain falls on ripe fruit. Carrots, onions, and lettuce like to be thinned to allow room for growth. Use delicious thinned vegetables in the kitchen. Take on any vegetable or fruit that appeals to you. Just read up on it first, to be sure you're aware of its needs. One season of gardening makes you a gardener, so enjoy the learning. Revel in the fulfillment of assisting nature to provide food for your table.