I didn’t know whether I should make a new thread for this, but I asked the question here, so I figured I would post here. It can always be moved, by “The Great and Powerful JOE” 
Okay, I finally got the chance to take a few photos. Well, when I say “got a chance” what I really mean is, there was NO WAY IN HELL, I was going to take photos with a bunch of WEEDS (and not the “good” kind) so I HAD to go ant pull and dig them out. Of course this meant 12 hours flat on my back, after, recuperating.
Any way, here is what I have to work with…
1 - Where the “Weed” will grow
Ignore the cesspool that is “The Pool” (which hasn’t been for over a decade - too long a story). This area, against the house is 2 foot deep and 14 feet long. The plants on the right will be going. The only thing that has grown here (besides weeds) is turnips, and that was about 6 years ago. There is also a “bowed” out space, at the left end, that I will probably use for something else. My thought was to dig this up to a foot deep and remove it to a tarp on the other side of the pool and mix up what I need to add to it. I’m thinking of changing that idea as I am now thinking of tilling and growing peanuts over the fall and early winter (should stay warm enough through December).
2 - Thin Strip
This section is 3.5 feet deep and 33 feet long. As you can see, it was originally a raised bed, but they messed it up cutting and grinding the trees. The trees were on the left three fourths of the area and the remaining only grew cabbage for one season. My thought is to bring this back to level and use the soil that will be removed in the other sections, preferably the next area I talk about. Being that it has full sun, all day, I will probably plant "hot weather plants here.
3 - Garden Area 2
This area is 4 feet wide and around 23 feet long. I say “around” as it is oddly shaped. It goes for 3 feet and then takes a 30 degree (I think) turn, to follow the patio. It is also 4 feet, because that is how far I went into the grass (non existent now). In the past, I rotated what was planted here with what I planted in the next area, every year (well there were only a few at that) and will probably do the same now. My thought is to use the dirt removed from the last area to make a raised bed here. Any leftover would be used in the next section. The area is somewhat shaded, in the morning, by a lemon tree and an orange tree and gets most of the sun in mid day (the house shields the late sun, some what).
4 - The Largest Area
This area is 6.5 feet deep (already defined) and 22 feet long. It could be another 4 or 5 feet longer if I went all the way to the corner, but I want to keep that empty for now. There used to be a Pepper Tree on the left end which was removed with all the others, so there is some decent soil and shavings on that end. This is the largest area in the yard and will swap this off with the other area every year, so loads of tomatoes, beans and peppers, every other year and reverse for cucumbers and squash (as an example).
There are other areas that I hope to take advantage of like a thin strip by Area 4 that goes along the fence to the gate. There are also some small strips by the front and side door that I hope to put flowering plants like Chicory and Cumin and one more area up front that had roses before and a palm at the street (since cut down, but HUGE stump still there).
I don’t know whether I will be able to get the testing done that @Meesh recommended, but am going to at least try to pick up a small soil testing kit to get an idea. So, let’s talk in generalities. What do I need to do for general growing and the 1st area for my future cannabis growing. Keep in mind that finances are extremely limited so I want to try to use as much “every day” things as possible. I would also love to just water everything, but I know this is not possible without all kinds of amendments so some “food” will have to be used. What ever y’all have would be greatly appreciated.
