So am with you there as it sounds just like my designated veg plot when we bought an acre of field to use for sheep, hens and geese. I needed raised beds as there was only 4-6" topsoil over a "pan" of consolidated alluvial silt that the tractor didn't reach when rotovating. I sat on my butt and used my feet to shove a sharp spade in horizontally to hand-cut the turf off from my 6 beds, then dug trenches below this pan, wiggled a fork in the bottom and added manure, grit, etc, then back-filled with the topsoil from the next "trench to be." Gypsum is a great idea as it binds the tiny clay particles to aid drainage. Clay retains nutrients well, but can also be acidic so I would recommend one of those simple pH tests (not a meter) so you can determine this. If it is acidic, kinda good because you will need the addition of lime, which will also act like Gypsum. As for keeping costs down, a nice local farmer may give you some of the black plastic they use for silage, or cut farm feed or compost bags into lengths. Bark chips - ask your council or goggle your local tree surgeon who will probably have loads to share. Whatever you decide, be prepared for possible drainage problems, wireworm in your pots if the land was previously farmland/grass or similar, backaches, headaches, a glut or two, and the best-tasting produce you can get, plus it's all your own work. You've got lots of good advice on here already, so please take your time and ask whatever you want whenever. We were all newbies once. :happy: