welcome. I addition to LM-1's answer a good place to start is http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Beginners%27_guide You can also learn lots from the documentation link on the map page and searching these help pages. If you are in an area with good bing Ariel images, that's a traceable background that you may draw over in the editors,with local knowledge you can do a lot without even stepping outside,but is more interesting to survey on the ground especailly if your ipod as a GPS. good luckluck edit extra their are also some good tutorial videos http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Video_tutorials

welcome. I addition to LM-1's answer a good place to start is http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Beginners%27_guide You can also learn lots from the documentation link on the map page and searching these help pages. If you are in an area with good bing Ariel images, that's a traceable background that you may draw over in the editors,with local knowledge you can do a lot without even stepping outside,but is more interesting to survey on the ground especailly if your ipod as a GPS. good luck