Leave It? Clear it? Cover it? Weeds as Mulch?

I know, the W word. I moved to this new place and there's a gloriously composted, rich dark garden soil area, and I let the weeds take over last year--mostly jewel weed and something with buckwheat in the name. I wonder if I should rake it all away and put something else down (wood chips or something like that) or just pull away small areas where I make squash mounds, etc. I am intending to fence this area in, as the woodchuck is incorrigible.

If you have an opportunity to get some wood chips that looks like a perfect place to get about 6" to cover.  Then pull the wood chip back, and dig a hole for the plants.

I do not have experience with jewel weed but I have a buckwheat family weed, spotted lady's thumb, all over my garden. I've found it makes a really good living mulch and chop and drop mulch as long as I keep a small area around the garden plants clear. It doesn't show up until late spring after my plants are established and it is loose and easy to work around.