The first year of gardening is a defining moment for potential gardeners.
The weeding eventually becomes payment, the watering when and as you should transforms into a school, and the results are more than rewarding.
Every year is a new experience & every harvest is a gamble (regardless of skill)
You did good, in more ways than you might realize.
Reaching out to other gardeners and learning from/sharing your experiences is the ultimate reward in this endeavor.