From Beginner to Garden-Ready: 6 Things Our First-Time Gardener Learned Before She Even Touched Dirt

Town of Riverview summer student Kassidy Vesters’ had never grown anything in her life. This season, she’s attempting to grow her first garden at the Coverdale Community Garden — and sharing every fumble along the way. 

When Kassidy, or Kass to those who know her, joined the Town of Riverview as a summer student, she was handed an unexpected assignment: plant a garden. The catch? She had never grown anything before. Not a houseplant. Not a herb. Nothing. 

"I genuinely didn’t know the difference between a seed and a bulb when I started," Kass says with a laugh. "I had a lot of Googling to do." 

Rather than keep her journey behind the scenes, Kass is documenting the entire experience as part of The Garden Chronicles, a new Facebook series following her first season at the Coverdale Community Garden, guided by Alicia Clarkson, Community Engagement Worker - Sustainability at the Town of Riverview. 

Whether you’ve been thinking about starting your own garden for years or you’re simply garden-curious, here are six things Kass (and Alicia) want you to know before you get your hands dirty. 

1. You don’t need experience. You need curiosity. 
Alicia has been gardening for years, but she’ll be the first to tell you that passion matters more than expertise. The Coverdale Community Garden welcomes growers of every level — including total beginners. 

2. Start with the right seeds — and know where to find them. 
One of Kass’s first missions was visiting the Coverdale Seed Library to choose what she’d grow. The Seed Library is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2–4 PM, and it’s free to access. Beyond convenience, choosing from a seed library means you’re participating in something bigger: seed conservation. 

3. Make a plan — even if it’s messy. 
Kass sat down with her seeds, a notebook, and a lot of questions. Companion planting (pairing plants that help each other grow), sun mapping, and spacing are all things worth thinking through before your seeds go in the ground. Your first plan won’t be perfect. That’s fine as Alicia helped along the way. 

4. Compost is your best friend. 
Good soil makes everything else easier. The Coverdale Community Garden has a composting program to help gardeners build rich, healthy soil that is used to fill in the 36 in-ground plots and 27 raised beds. Using the compost bin correctly — layering green and brown materials, keeping it moist, and turning it regularly — means your garden will thank you all season long. 

5. Water wisely — conservation counts. 
Overwatering is one of the most common beginner mistakes. The Coverdale Community Garden uses a water catchment system to reduce water consumption while keeping plants healthy. Deep, less frequent watering encourages stronger root systems than a daily sprinkle. 

6. Expect visitors — both welcome and unwelcome. 
Aphids, ants, mosquitoes: the garden is a busy place. But for every pest, there’s a garden friend — pollinators like bees and butterflies, pest-eaters like dragonflies, and the ever-helpful earthworm. Learning to tell the difference is half the battle. 

Follow Kass All Summer Long 
What Kass learns over the season isn't just about soil, seeds, or spacing — it's that gardening doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in conversation, in shared mistakes, and in the quiet encouragement from the person two plots over who's been at it just a little longer.

Follow the Coverdale Community Garden on Facebook to catch Kass' updates, get seasonal gardening tips, and join the conversation. Search "Coverdale Community Garden" on Facebook, or stop by the Seed Library any Tuesday or Thursday from 2–4 PM.