I WISH I had a backyard big enough to garden. Also, I have terrible quality dirt too, I think its called Pan?
Welcome to the thread, please forgive me for taking so long to answer your post, I was lost in research on another thread that I work on, about terror...
My first thought to help with your more than likely hard pan, is to go to raised beds and large pots.
Look through this thread, garden information is tucked in here and there, as I found it.
And as other Freepers added to it.
I like some of the self watering planters they have made from 5 gallon plastic pails and the ‘tote ‘ type of storage containers.
I know in the early part of the thread we had links to several of those.
Another help, is to dig a hole, even if it is only a post hole digger hole and put your non-fatty garbage, peels and coffee grounds in them.
I don’t have good soil in this part of the Arizona desert and used a homemade greenhouse, attached to the mobile for many years.
This group has instructions on making the different planters and everything you need to know to garden in containers or even the ground, I have read them for several months and they love to help folks.
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ediblecontainergardens/
There is one reader here, who had the same problem and was looking at the new ways to make it grow able, Sorry, the method is gone from my mind, it is here on the thread.
Any chance of getting a lot of old hay, and lots of manure?
Plow that in the ground and if that isn’t possible, then build a bed above the ground and grow in the bed and ignore the hard pan.
Have you checked into the Free Cycle groups, they are on the internet now around the world, and are an excellent way to get the supplies or anything, free.
You give away what you do not want, and there is always someone who does...
I joined the local group, to see what it was all about, everything from free manure and even cars and appliances.
I don’t take part in it, as I am a shut in and have no way to pick up the stuff, but one of these days, my family will put an ad in the group, and my stuff will go to those who will use it.
LOL, but not yet.
Let me know, if you have more questions, there are several on the thread with even more information and more current than I am.