I am expanding my growing area and adding two more 4′ x 40′ garden beds in another part of my yard. I have the stakes all laid out, and building all of the side walls for the beds. Then it is a LOT of shoveling dirt and moving it with a wheelbarrow to fill them up.
I will be treating the native soil with Gypsum, and tilling and watering it to help with ph and soil breakdown, but my native soil has a ph of 8.9, and not very condusive to most plants. This is why we grow our veggies on raised beds of organic topsoil. Currently, I purchase Dr Q’s organic topsoil from Star Nursery that is crafted for our desert soils.