Andrew Freeman

Thank you all who have replied. I have plans now to start on Monday. What I'm planning to do now is a swale and berm higher up, then planting fruit trees downhill (south). I will dig a 12 inch width ditch (6-12 inches deep) around the 24-inch diameter planting zone and fill with a layer of ramial mulch (I learned what that is in this thread), manure, and another layer of remial mulch. The actual soil I will plant into will be a mixture of the native clay-dominant soil and compost. Then I'll seed the inner circle with white clover and one or two guilds.
I hope this is in line with what most people would find acceptable. My issue is over-thinking things to the point of deciding against doing anything; I just need to 'pull the trigger'. If you have anything else to add, or think I'm totally screwing this up, please let me know before 3/20/17.
Thanks again!

Tyler Ludens wrote:It's not recommended to plant trees in a hugelkultur, but rather, beside one.  I'm experimenting with buried wood next to tree plantings, to try to get a similar water-storing effect.  

What if I buried the wood, and then planted semi-dwarf trees in a clay-compost mix berm? i.e. I'd dig a mock-swale, bury the newly cut logs, cover with rotted log material, then cover with the removed clay-dominant topsoil and compost, and plant in that? Would you recommend against this? If so, how else would you proceed? I'm worried that planting directly into the clay-dominant soil would set my fruit trees up for root rot since clay doesn't drain well. I dug a swale in October the day I broke my collar bone (beforehand, obviously) and when it rains the swale holds the water for a day or two.

OK. After reading everyone's replies I think I have a better idea of what to do from here. Please let me know if I am misinterpreting or if you think the following is a bad idea.

It sounds like people think I should get started on fruit trees this Spring-like ASAP-if possible since trees take some time to get established and produce. I know that planting now is considered late, so I would have to get my butt in gear. My plan was to plant trees into a hugelkulture. Now that I have the wood for that, I could use that?  I also have a gigantic rotting log I could use, too. If I plant into a hugelkulture berm, I don't have to worry as much about soil quality or structure, right?

Meanwhile, I can still get started with the herbs and seeding the property with clover and other soil-improving plants?

I bought my 0.5 acre plot in June last year. I couldn't do much with it then because there was virtually no topsoil (clay is the dominant feature). I broke my collar bone in October, and have only recently been cleared for activity. I dug some swales (fairly certain I did it correctly) along the east side of my house to address erosion issues-I live on fairly steep grade. The slope is south facing. I guess this is where I'll start my food forest; this area gets decent sunlight. I have a basic idea of starting pest repelling herbs and companion plants, and gradually introducing productive trees and shrubs later. I think wood chipping is the best place to start. I just cut down some trees and can chip those, but I cant identify them. The branches snap easily, and the drop helicopter seeds in summer. Can I use this wood?  How else can I improve the quality of the soil (clay) for the latter?
I live in East TN if that helps.
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
P.S. I can provide pictures of the space if need be.