I'm kind of new too, but had a previous login which I lost. Here's what I can remember.
Traffic here is a somewhat lower than some other forums so patience will be one key attribute.
If you update your
profile to list what you have to offer and what you might like to receive in exchange.
Functionality is limited for New Members but promotion to being a Member and access to extended functionality happens through constructive participation in the forum. Perhaps you can share some tips and experiences in growing various kinds of plants, have a look at whether there are some questions you could provide answers to.
Even if threads are in an area of the forum to which you (we) do not have access, it's still possible to post in the Welcome Area with a thread title such as "Re: [title of the thread you'd like to reply to but you don't yet have access]".
I hope this helps point you in the right direction towards solving this puzzle, maybe some more experienced members will chime in soon as well.