Rocky and sandy soil

Hi all. We moved into a new house a couple years ago. There was a giant flagstone patio that we had removed leaving a sandy bed underneath. I wanted to create some nice soil one year ago so I did the whole compost/cardboard/wood chip thing and waited. I just dug into it yesterday and found another bed of rocks underneath the sand. I was trying to make a “worm highway” that Paul mentions in his backyard book. I could only dig 12 inches down and had to fight my way through rock after rock to even get that far.  

My question is: should I just dig out the sand and rocks and haul it away and then put some soil in  or should I just start piling soil on top?

Thanks everyone!

it depends what you want to do with the space. and where your located. in the north it would make ideal place for blueberry patch with bales of peat moss mixed in with the sand. other plants that like well drained acid soil will thrive in it too.  if you want to plant beans, peas, squash, corn, you will need a whole bunch of compost and or top soil mixed in.
if your way down south papayas, strawberry guava and other things will grow well right in the sand with a little compost mixed in

The last seven years, I have busted my tail trying to build rich soil in a sand pit. It's working, but I am far from working out all the bugs. I'm fighting the good fight because I want to, not because I have to. Guess I'm just a stubborn old cuss who wants bragging rights.

We've met and socialized with some young, enthusiastic couples who just moved into the general area. They are fresh from the city. Their little kids have conducted raids of our garden, munching as they go. Awesome. Come anytime.

The gardening advice I give to them? Don't muck around. Build some raised beds, truck in some topsoil, and have a successful kitchen garden right away. Then, over time, we'll walk around and talk about strategies and pollinators and biochar and all that good stuff. But first, experience success that lands on your plate. That's the cornerstone.

First, if this were my spot, I might want to remove some of those rocks.

If I wanted a lawn in the spot I would probably just leave it as is.  Watering the edges will encourage the grass to fill in.

If I want to plant veggies there I would start adding amendments such as coffee ground, compost, veggies scraps, and any other handy amendments.

Wood chips and mushrooms are my friends.

Here is a thread that you or others might enjoy or find interesting:

https://permies.com/t/93911/soil-mother-nature

I recommend Dr. Bryant Redhawk's Soil Series:

https://permies.com/wiki/redhawk-soil