Excuse me for butting in here, its admirable that you both have done so much digging.
I prefer to adopt the no dig way myself.......hey no backache! And the wormies do all the heavy stuff for you.
We started by making raised beds then covering the grass (lawn) with thick cardboard, then mulching over with an 8" layer of manure. Granted this is not advisable in the summer months.
Then just plant through the cardboard into the soil beneath....no weeding, no watering and the following year, the soil is gorgeous dahlings
I do appreciate however that a lot of folk love to dig, but I love my back!
Happy growing