http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Category:Herb_Garden

The above web site is a very good web site for all kinds of pointers on gardening…I visit it often.

I have a short growing season, I extend the season by using these:
http://www.gardeners.com/Red-Tomato-Teepees/VegetableGardening_SeasonExtending,34-952,default,cp.html
I put them around my tomato plants and it creates a mini greenhouse effect…I get an extra month or so head start. You just fill them with water. If it snows, just put a rubber band around the top to close the top and your plants are protected. I have them out on my tomatoes at this time and it snowed yesterday. Our last frost is about May 15th and I planted a week ago.

http://www.naturehills.com/product/organic_sungold_tomato.aspx
I would like to suggest to you to try the above tomatoes…so sweet, it is like nature’s candy. I have to grow extra plants just for my friends and neighbors. They are a small cherry tomato and are ripe when the color is orange. Sun Golds…give them a try and you won’t be sorry.

Every year I try something new in my garden…This year it is Lemon Cucumber
http://www.naturehills.com/product/org_hrlm_lemon_novelty_cucumber.aspx

Have fun and if you try something and if fails, don’t fret…try something else next year.

Since it’s your first garden, you have the right idea to start small.
Tomatoes are always easy along with herbs that you like to use.

I would start with plants, not seeds. Tomato plants can be planted after the last frost in your area.
Here in Michigan, that date is May 31. The herbs can go in before that.

Now what else you plant really depends on what you like to eat.
Lettuce grows easily. Many kinds to choose from. Use seeds for those and they can be planted very early.

Cukes are easy enough but do require alot of water. I like to cage mine so they have something to cling to and don’t sprawl all over the garden.
You will want to cage the tomatoes too. The 3′ high cages that are approximately 12" at the widest work fine.
You can avoid the poisons in your food by organic gardening. http://www.organicgardening.com/

Corn, squash, pumpkins, melons take up alot of space. Better to stick with small plants in your first small garden. One squash plant can cover a 10×10′ area, for instance.
Green beans and snap peas don’t take up alot of space and grow easily. The peas can be planted now by seed. Beans by seed after the frost.
This 2nd link has an almanac where you can select your region and see what do to and when.http://www.organicgardening.com/channel/1,,s1-5,00.html

Good luck
Happy Gardening.

tomatoes, cukes, beans peppers are all easy. basically it’s plant and then water regularly. the most important thing though is to have your garden as close to a water source as possible. carrying buckets of water gets old real fast.