For those who start seeds indoors there is a way of starting them outside during winter. The plants are more full and healthy than seedlings grown indoors. Google 'Winter sowing' and you'll get all the info. It's so easy and it doesn't fill up every horizontal space you have in the house. Also for new gardeners check out the site Garden Web dot com and go to the forums. There are scores of forums and many are specialized to particular states, climates, plants and garden styles. People generously share their gardening knowledge there and are as helpful as the people here are. It will be a new addiction, haha! There is also a winter sowing forum there.
Oh BTW there is also a quilting and embroidery forum under the home section, as if you need another forum for that!