newbie farming question

I've got a small acreage here in Oklahoma and am wanting to start growing my own veggies this year but I don't know where to start. A pond, tilling the soil, etc...
I don't want to waste my time, only to discover that I started out on the wrong foot.....does anyone know if there are basic plans that I can follow to get me started in the right direction?
Is there such a thing?

A sort of "basic plan" of permaculture is the idea of "Zones."  This has been a very helpful concept to me and one I wish I'd known when I set up our small acreage.

http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/permaculture_zones.html

Great idea, thanks!

Ludi, thanks for the link.  Now I can understand what people mean by "zones".