Suggest you check out
http://www.gardenweb.com and look at the forum for the Rockies. I know they have useful events such as plant swaps and there is plenty of very useful info for gardeners in the challenges of Colorado (height asl, four seasons in a day weather, and the challenges of keeping the yard watered - or not.)
If you are planning to host classes perhaps getting that area set up first would help the garden settle into place around it with vital matters such as wide-enough paths, that can be used 4-season if necessary, set in place.
See if you can source free or near-free mulch to keep the weeds down, the moisture in, and the workload at a friendly level.
Just as in painting - get the bones in first - the shrubs, any trees (almonds can be gorgeous and edible) and any hard architecture - arches, pavilions or gazebos. You can wander the space with a sketchbook in hand (and a means of accurately measuring) and imagine what you would like to have as well as how it might look in five years. Think about the styles you admire - that reflect the ways you are - and try them out on paper first. (Cheaper...)
Gardening for food is very much about planning and preparing months ahead. If you want plenty to conserve and share then the cheapest way to do so is by seed raising. And you certainly won't have enough room on the south facing window sills to raise the quantities required. Think about spaces in or by your house you could adapt for seed raising. You could haunt your local Freecycle for old windows, or the ingredients for a poly-tunnel. (Or, shhh, go dumpster diving

)
Always quarantine gift plants. Always. It's too easy to import weeds and pests - even from garden centres, and I'm sure you'd rather be painting or teaching than battling some pesky outbreak.
If you don't already have a favourite brand - do your best to find gardening gloves that fit comfortably. Nitrile coated are pretty good though they don't keep thorns out. They make nail-cleaning much quicker. If they aren't comfortable you can end up with ache-y hands after a day's fine weeding.
Two sources that might be helpful are videos on youtube for Sepp Holzer and John Jeavons's grow more system, which seems related to the square-foot gardening system. You might also want to check out lasagne gardening if you know the neighbours are tolerant of 'different'.
And - start small. Get to know the soil and site. Experiment and play. You can always break in a bit more as you go. (You'll know you're a lost cause when you start converting every single path into a resting place for containers and pretties.

) If it ever gets to be a hideous chore - cover the excess with mulch and enjoy freedom again.
Go well.