I garden, and have for years. For the last three springs we haven't had a large garden because we lost our tiller in a fire, in fact lost everything we owned except our car. :-( So, we have started small with just tomato plants, cucumbers in the flower beds, squash or two, and of course my number one love, herbs. My husband does most of the gardening, and I do the canning. I freeze only if I have to because I love looking at the canning jars, and showing them off. Somehow it's not the same when you open your freezer to look at the frozen stuff. I dry my herbs and use them all year long, and make herbal vinegar too. I use the vinegars for gifts. And use the herbs in soap and toiletries.
you know, it seems like anything 'fun' becomes addictive. I have to limit myself on what I want to try next because I just know it will totally consume me.