Hello to my fellow Okies!

I guess I should start off my introducing myself. My name is Stacy, and I love to work in my yard. This year I am hoping to be able to do some improvements, and possibly even plant some things to eat! I have loved working in the yard for ages now even as a teenager, but this year I am ready to take our yard to the next level. I don't want it to look like everyone else's. You know?

My DH and I moved into our newly built house last year during all the flooding, so we didn't get much of a chance to work in the yard. We also have 2 labs who love to run and play in the backyard so that is something else we have to take into consideration.

The sod they laid last year, well to put it nicely they did a crappy job, so we are hoping to baby it along and not have to replant grass this year.

I think the first thing we need to do is aerate. I think we are going to do that this weekend, and then put some sand, or top soil down to help even out the lawn. What do you think would be better? I am sure we will also do some heavy duty fertilizing. Any better fertilizers?

Now I guess onto the other part of my randomness... I would really like to do some beds that we can grow vegetables, but I think the best bet would be in our side yard. I can fence that off and keep the dogs out of that area. I am thinking about raised beds so we can control the soil better. What would be best for me to start with? Anything I need to know? What is the best material to make raised planter beds with?

Please feel free to share ANYTHING, as I said, I really need to learn a lot!!

TIA

Stacy