This might give you some ideas.
Couple of years ago I laid these logs on contour on the south slope of a hill and put a few yards of soil on the downhill side. If you have willing hands and shovels or even scoop a trench with a rototiller so much the better.
The closer you can get the logs to be buried the better. Mine are just dropped on the spot (still better than the fire pile). On contour to catch and hold the
water.
Last year I planted turnip, daikon and other things but didn't get
enough mulch on to keep things from drying out. I only get there weekends. Only the two named did well.
This year I planted the same but was ready with enough mulch and also planted carrots, kohlrabi, rutabaga, green beans, kale, bush
pea, winter squash, zucchini, chard, pumpkin and more I can't remember. Just walk along and every step or so drop in a few seeds. Choose another type and come back the other way planting every few steps. See what grows well in your soil. Ours is
very alkaline - no tomatoes for a while yet.
Also very important are the chamomile, sunflower, nasturtiums, marigold, and wildflower mix also planted in the same manner(I didn't plan them, it's what I had on hand) as well as the turnip from last year that I let go to seed - they bring in many good insects and help to confuse the bad ones.
A lot is sprouting but it's been very dry this spring, we'll see what makes it.
In your case I would be putting your manure on the uphill side of the logs for the first few years, let it
compost and improve the soil while leaching through to the downhill side then get some
perennial fruits going. Be ready with about 5x the amount of mulch you think you'll need.
The riding mower has helped a lot, chopping mulch (straw, leaves, grass) en mass. Just lay down a row and chop it up, directing to the log.
As a refinement I took the lawnmower with a de-thatching blade and roughed up the soil on downhill side. Then spread alfalfa, clover and buckwheat seed down(and mulch), the idea being to replenish the mulch by the logs easily by cutting the grass and directing the clippings at the log and hoping to keep some of the crabgrass at bay.
