You don’t need to be a Civil War buff to understand the nature of the north vs. south conflict in your garden. It’s all about sunshine and how to get the most of it.
Unless you live at the equator, the sun will always be on the southern side of the sky as it moves from east to west (though if you are in the southern hemisphere, everything in this tip is opposite). So look to the south for the most sunlight.
For a yard that is relatively flat, the worry about north or south doesn’t mean much. Your garden isn’t “facing” any direction to begin with. It does make a difference when you have trees or buildings around your space. If your garden is on the north side of the house, it will be shaded a lot more than if it were on the south side.
All of this also applies to indoor gardening, even more so because that window is the only source of light for your plants. Get your plants in south-facing windows as often as you can, unless they are cool-weather plants that prefer much less sun.
The issues with sunlight in east vs. west is also worth considering though the sun moves from one side to the other over the day. That means that any shade you get in the morning will be in full sun by evening.
Don’t worry if all this direction talk gets you turned around. For the most part, your garden will do just fine. As we said, a typical level garden doesn’t really “face” anywhere. It’s about taking note of the sun’s position and getting things oriented for the best results.