Planning for Planting - one of my favorite times of year

And so it begins...the planning season for the harvest season, one of my favorite times of the year. 

This year is full of firsts, the first time I will be working with raised garden beds. And the first season fully retired from the workforce, presumably with more time on my hands to cultivate and care for these new gardens.  The first time with a much longer, but much hotter growing season. And the first time with a separate orchard, berry patch, vegetable garden, and various flower beds to enjoy but also maintain!

Oh, I am so looking forward to getting my hands dirty, quite literally!  Oddly, even more, I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and the harvest that awaits, no matter how big or small at the end of the growing season.   

The soil we've inherited with this property begs to become fertile soil once again. But that could take a lot of amending and a lot of time. It will probably get real interesting before we get that fixed.  But, for now, my Baker Creek Whole Seed Catalog arrived and I am scouring the pages, making my lists and checking them twice!  Like a kid in a candy store and I'm soooo not ashamed to admit that! 

In the meantime I am busy composting, I'll update with my progress as the planting season nears.

For those of you who do garden successfully in clay, what are your tips and tricks for amending this soil into more plant friendly and fertile soil?  Feel free to comment below; I need all the help I can get!