Im currently on my 3rd grow. here is some stuff I would HIGHLY recommend for a 1st grow.
You want to get in.. And get out of your 1st grow fast. No matter how much you read, you will encounter slight problems.
So I say go with clones (appx 15 or so). that should be enough to fill up that nice grow space.
Choose a strain that has a fast flowering time, like a 7-8 week strain. Its harder to mess them up. Leave the 10 week strains for the 2nd grow.
Veg for no more than 3 weeks, that way they dont get too hard to manage. make your 1st grow fool proof.
My 1st grow was white widow (mistake #1).
And let them veg for 4 months (mistake #2).
post any more questions. And good places in the bay area to get strong clones are Harborside, and blue sky cafe. (12 bucks each).