on the flip side, Linux, the distros, the desktops are a lot more about community than anything Windows – and Linux projects are a lot more willing to admit they can’t operate in isolation – there’s constant interplay between the projects, the security teams, the kernel hackers, the language devs, the testers, and the users – and they communicate with each other through the blogs and mailing lists and IRC and toots and Fedi communities
didn’t even think of this earlier – you can also look into the next step beyond growing and eating: preserving – pickling for the cucumbers (tsukemono or quick pickles, dill pickles, bread-and-butter pickles) – fermentation for the cabbage (sauerkraut, kimchi)
if you can handle fruit trees and perennials, then annuals won’t pose too much of a challenge – same rules apply, pick plants that like your climate – USDA hardiness, humid continental climate
most plants and seed packets will come with relatively basic instructions (how often to water, how much sun, etc.) to give you a starting point
cucumbers (pretty much the whole squash family) can be pretty prolific growers (there’s running jokes about planting too much zucchini and ending up having to leave bags of extra zucchini on neighbors’ doorsteps)
if you go a large pot (or a raised bed), take a look at companion planting (plants that traditionally grow well together)
the classic is “four sisters” (“three sisters” + pollinator) – tall corn in the center, something out of the bean family that will climb up the support of the corn, something out of the squash family that will act as ground cover, and something flowering (like sunflower) that will attract the pollinators (bees and birds)
if you’re dealing with early winters
something out of the cabbage family (cabbages, kale, broccoli, cauliflower) and a tuber (carrots, radishes, daikon) – one grows up, one grows down
