It is all in soil

Step 1: Spread some gypsum over this clay and water it down. If I'd a wheel, I could be doling out some serious pottery with this chunky dirt (yikes!).

Step 2: Repeat that process a couple of days in a row.

Step 3: Dig up the entire area (at least a foot deep) and apply human traction to break the clay up (i.e., burn calories).

Step 4: Dump an enormous amount of compost (live compost is available free at the local landfill), manure and other such delightful soil amendments.

Step 5: Invoke the shovel Gods - mix this all up.

Results: Some 50 cu ft of compost / soil amendments have gone into a 220 sqft bed to make up these little hills. Go figure!

PS: In four years or so, I might have beautiful soil (I hope).
PPS: You get serious brownie points for guessing how many man hours of sweat these five steps represent.