Yeah, compost, manure, epsom salt (recently started), and she doesn't turn the soil over. Just fluffs up the surface inch or two if she needs to plant seeds into it. I think she has learned what works for her site from trial and error.

Soil testing is a great idea. Especially early on in plot development. I plan to have some samples taken out at our homestead. Hopefully next year.

Are you still using hay as a mulch? One year I had bad slug problems. It was a wet year and I was using grass clippings as mulch and it was a perfect hiding place for the slugs during the day. I suppose the hay might cause similar issues with slugs.

Interestingly enough, the year before it was very hot and dry and I had really good results with the grass clipping mulch.