If you have ANY non-boosted factories, then you are wasting not only space but population. Build only boosted factories and lots of them. When I was in chapter two I think I had 20 planks factories (my boost).
If you have a hard time trading your boost, then you're in the wrong fellowship. Check out other fellowships that have a few new players such as yourself, but that also have mostly experienced (minimum 100K) players. Type in their names (of the fellowships) on elvenstats.com and see what boosts they are low in. If they have a glut of what you want to sell, they aren't the right fellowship for you. If they are desperate for your items, you'll have an instant market (at 2 or 3 star trades.)
When I was in chapter two, I wanted to cultivate my neighborhood and build relationships. I didn't want to alienate anyone or make them resent me, so I didn't do 0 or 1 star trades. I mostly did 3 star trades ... that may sound counterintuitive, but it isn't. Having 20 planks factories allowed me to do slightly favorable (100 planks for 95 steel, for example) and always, always, have my trades snapped up quickly.
If someone in your fellowship offers to do a zero star trade with you, then go ahead, if you want to. There's no harm provided the trade doesn't sit in the trader and be seen by your neighbors, who will get a negative opinion of you if they notice it. Just make sure the fellowship member is right there to pick up the trade immediately and all will be well.
The traveling merchants are excellent in the early chapters. If for some reason you can't get goods from your fellowship (and then, as I said, you're in the wrong fellowship), then at least the TMs will give you better production than having non-boosted factories. Again, I can't stress that enough. Have zero non-boosted. They are a total waste of resources and just keep population locked up that you need for other things.
Best of luck to you. I think you're going to do very well. You ask the right questions and are trying to do the right things. Soon, you'll be an old hand at this.