People mulch with wood chips here. It helps to have a hot climate to melt them down quicker. As of now I don’t have much of a veg garden but my fruit trees all have wood chips mulch
Free wood chips from tree trimming crews
Wood chip also work in a colder climate where I would pile them up so they can heat up. And take black compost from the lowest layers periodically. Cover with a tarp to retain heat so they melt down quicker.
Charcoal...you are copying Indians slash and burn which is actually a good strategy
I have all the free tree chips I can load about 1/2 mile from me, so I use them.
It was sand and sandburrs when I was born here cough-mumble years ago. I'm trying to make soil.
/johnny