As I look out toward my snow-covered garden, I wonder whether it will ever be ready to plant.

I think about this every year, and I know that in another eight to 10 weeks, the soles of my feet will be dark brown from walking through the soil, and my muscles sore from creating all the rows and hills I must have to plant my seeds and seedlings.

Now is the time to start some of those seedlings, so I’ve been sorting through last year’s leftover seeds, listing what must be bought this year, gauging the amount of soil I have in which to plant some of those seeds and, above all, dreaming about all the fresh greens and other vegetables that I will grow.

For me, gardening is a renewal of my soul. I never tire of seeing the first seedlings poke through the soil, then guessing when they’ll be ready to eat.

We definitely eat local. It can’t get any more local than growing some of your own food. Along with the fresh duck eggs I gather each day, I feel pretty good about eating locally.

I’ve also been assessing the number of canning jars I have, deciding whether I need to buy more or reduce the number I have by giving a few to others who may want to preserve some of their harvest.

Also, I check the pantry and the freezer to learn what we’ve run out of, and what we have too much of. That will determine how much I grow during the 2017 season. Of course, weather and luck have a huge say in what and how much we will have.

Each growing season is different. Some years are really good for tomatoes — to me the most important crop — some years are not. Most years the summer squash do really well, giving us far more than I can cook (or want to cook) and result in my giving some of them away.

Some years too much rain pours down, rotting some vegetables; other years, not enough arrives to water the plants.

I love herbs, so basil, parsley, thyme, dill and others will be planted in their own sections of the garden. Some, such as parsley, will be started inside. I oftentimes grow parsley on the windowsill year ’round so I will have it fresh for cooking.

I always look forward to another growing season. It’s lots of work, but the results are far superior to anything I can buy in the supermarket.

So, for those who wish to grow some of their own food, now is the time to get going.

A few hints:

*Plan what you want to grow. Order your seeds now. I have had good luck with Pine Tree Garden Seeds in New Gloucester and Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Winslow. I try to buy my seeds from in Maine because most varieties are well acclimated to our northern New England weather, and I try to buy as much as I can of virtually anything that is produced in Maine. I also purchase seeds and/or seed potatoes from the Farmington Farmers Union, as well as from the Paris Farmers Union. They have a good variety of seeds and most are suitable for our climate. Both farmers unions also sell seeds in any quantity you might want, as well as in packets.

*Plot out your garden spot on graph paper, assigning vegetable plantings to specific “squares.” This also helps out when you can’t quite remember what was planted where.

*Some vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers, benefit from starting seedlings inside the house. We have a grow rack that accommodates dozens of seed pots that has now taken over my sitting room. It will remain like that until late May or early June.

*Some vegetables, such as winter squash and pumpkins, which take a long time to fruit, seem like they should be started early, too, but I haven’t had good luck with that, so generally I seed them directly into the garden. Most years they’re ready before the first frost. Sometimes, I have bought the started seedlings, just to be sure.

*If a full-fledged garden spot is not available, or one might be too much to keep up, building garden beds in most any length can help out a lot. Just make sure that the bed or beds aren’t more than four feet or so wide so they can be planted, weeded and harvested easily.

* Another idea for growing containers are five-gallon buckets. Be sure to poke holes in the bottoms for drainage. I’ve had really good luck planting tomatoes in such containers, and it’s a lot of fun to step onto the porch to pick tomatoes for a salad. If containers are used, remember to water them frequently.

*Survey your garden tools. We have a small garden shed that offers plenty of space to store the hand tools, such as trowels, as well as the rakes, hoes and even the rototiller. If replacements are needed, now is the time to keep a sharp watch out for sales. Businesses that sell gardening equipment and seeds are now mailing out their flyers.

*Have a chat with neighbors who grow vegetable gardens. Sometimes, sharing the planting can help reduce how much or the number of varieties you need to plant.

And, best of all, when March seems like an interminable month, planting a few seeds and then watching them emerge from the soil can bring hope and positive thoughts.

Eileen M. Adams has been gardening for decades and always gets excited when a new gardening season is about to begin. She may be reached at [email protected]