chelle said:Hi Dawn, 
to ATP!
The best advice that I can give is to plant in lots and lots of compost! You really can't use too much of this when it comes to growing veggies. You might grow some food without it, but it's a lot more work. Not only will plants require more watering and grow slower, but their disease resistance will be lower without it.
If you need any assistance finding your way around the forums here, just holler! We'll be happy to lend a hand. 
Welcome, Dawn! I have to second and third what Chelle says here. When I don't have compost or can't get it for some reason (having moved around and started new gardens many times in my life) I buy well composted steer manure and use it copiously on new beds. Mulching with a natural substance such as straw or dried leaves is a great help also, but enriching the soil is crucial, IMO.
I am in yet another new garden and planted some pole beans along a fence in the back. I clearly did not enrich the soil enough because while they are growing and I am harvesting some beans I can see they are struggling a bit and not the heavy producers I hoped they could be! Live and learn. Whereas my bush beans, in another area that benefitted from earlier and better soil prep, are going great guns.
Makes a gigantic difference.
