As a child, I vividly recall Mrs. Godfrey's magical backyard. Whereas mine was a scorched wasteland of dry weeds and doggie doo, our neighbor's was a flourishing Garden of Eden.

From squash and aloe to strawberries and lettuce, there was no greater treat than an invitation to pick produce from her fertile plot. Perhaps memory exaggerated too much, but I'm convinced her fruits and vegetables were juicier, more flavorful and bigger than any we'd comb through at the local grocer.

If you have absolutely no margin carved out in your life to consider establishing and maintaining a home garden, by all means, continue buying the bland, hyper-colored produce from national chains. Or maybe shopping the local farmer's market is a better solution for you. But, after your initial investment of time (and minimal funds), you can truly reap the rewards of growing your own garden.

Warning: If you react to this idea with haste and disregard planning and research, your efforts will be wasted in vain.

We've compiled several helpful hints to kick start your project, but the most thorough advice will come from seasoned growers in your area. Be neighborly; make them a batch of cookies and pick their brains about the soil and climate.

<B>1.</B> Establish a specific area in your yard that has full sun. Avoid planting in shady areas.<B>2.</B> Keep your garden moist with compost. Get a few buckets of dark sweet smelling stuff from a fellow gardener that is dense with worms and other soil organisms.<B>3.</B> Ditch the traditional rows. You need to maximize the small space used, so the fewer rows you have, the more produce you'll be able to grow. Opt for a few raised beds and clearly mark the produce type.<B>4.</B> Rotate your crops every three years to avoid depleting the soil. Make a map of your garden so you don't have to remember what was planted where.<B>5.</B> Plant throughout each season. This avoids a massive undertaking at the beginning or end of each season and keeps more crops flourishing throughout the year.<B>6.</B> Focus on growing vertically to save space. Plants like tomatoes, melons and cucumbers can be trellised or grown on the surrounding fence.<B>7.</B> The quality of your soil will greatly affect the nutritional value of your produce. Using an excessive amount of synthetic fertilizers will reduce your food's taste and quality.Consider the savings involved in home gardening; $1 in green bean seeds will reap $75 annually while every $1 invested in potatoes will provide $5 of purchased spuds. If you plant an 8-by-4 garden, expect to pay close to $100 for soil, plants and compost.Not only will establishing a home garden save you money if you put in the effort, it can be a fabulous learning experience for your children. Let them help tend the plants and conduct experiments within the garden.<B><I>Ashley Grimaldo is with www.freeshipping.org</I></B>