Garden Obstacles and Challenges

Since I've never gardened before, the act of gardening itself will be a new challenge for me. I can be somewhat germaphobic, so any anxiety about getting my fingers and arms in the dirt gardening will need to be overcome. However, I'm not too concerned about that - I think a main obstacle will be what happens to the garden after it is planted. I hope I will have enough time to help maintain the garden and keep it safe from pests or animals who might eat the plants. Other major issues are going to be maintaining the soil at an optimal condition for all the plants. Like anything, this garden will be a time commitment with a payoff that may take some time to come. I will be happy to work on it and nurture growth!