In this second installment in a three-part series on establishing a first-year garden, we look at preparing beds and installing an irrigation system.

Getting started with gardening can be intimidating, so we put together some pro gardening tips to help. First up: establishing your first garden beds.

Olympic athletes develop certain tricks to master performances, and similarly we should develop and utilize trick sequences in the garden for growing success.

It’s helpful, when establishing a garden, to think of soil fertility management as three stages, with garden building and long-term maintenance as the final two.

Stage one of soil fertility management is the time to learn about your soil, plan accordingly and amend the growing area with manure and nutrient adjustments.

Healthy garden soil is well colonized by microorganisms that, in turn, maintain and release nutrients to the plants above. Air and water are central to this important balance.

Unwinding pipe may seem simple, but when plants are drying out in the field, the last thing you want is a kink in your irrigation line.

From breaking sod to creating beds, managing crops and even turning compost, a rotary plow is a versatility powerhouse on the small farm, working homestead or edible landscaped community.

Three tools, Permabeds, cover crops and tarps, will protect your garden and keep the soil ready to work as soon as temperatures allow.

Hand tools? Tractors? More than available acreage, the scale of your growing aspirations should determine the scale of your farm’s equipment.