Share 'Starting a New Garden'

I would like advice on starting a large garden from total scratch. I currently have a fig tree and a very (extremely) small strawberry patch, and I grow tomatoes and herbs in containers. This year, I would like to plant a fairly large garden (and in the spirit of Eat the View, it will have to be on my front lawn, where most of my empty property space lies). When is a good time to start ripping up…