A starter farm should solve hunger with as little daily attention as possible. Build something small and dependable before turning it into a large project.
Start smaller than you think
A compact farm is easier to maintain and can already remove most early food pressure.
Keep it close to the base
Food production is most useful when harvesting and replanting fit naturally into the normal base routine.
Store a reserve
A food reserve makes exploration and recovery much easier than relying on whatever is ready that day.
Expand when consumption justifies it
Grow the farm because you need more output, not simply because more space is available.