I did that sort of thing back in WI. Now Im looking for a place in town (Portland) with a big yard to convert (anyone want to go in on a house, with garden/chickens potential? i was planning to live in a yurt outside and rent the house).

You might come to curse that perennial clover--in good loose soil it is tenacious and spreads. I seeded my garden with it and didnt need to. My favorite was buckwheat, a summer crop--great for attracting pollinators too. Easy to collect seeds for next year. If you already have plenty of nitrogen, which it sounds like you do with all the manure, you may not need the clover. Or you can spot-fertilize with blood meal too.

Keeping the between beds area clear was always a challenge. I tried heavy mulch (bark chips, straw) which works for awhile. A scythe works ok on the outer sides, but not so well between beds. I usually just used a power mower and hand-weeding. Id be interested to know what others' have tried.

Yowch! I thought I had cleared out all the yellow jacket nests from under the eaves this last weekend, but when I went to feed and water the little chickens this morning I was swarmed by about 3-4 yellow jackets, and got 3 bites- arms and legs. At first, I couldn't figure out where they had come from, but when I returned to the small chicken coop, I looked up inside the small coop and saw two hives, each about the size of an orange. If anyone remembers getting bit by a yellow jacket, the initial sting is quite painful... but subsides in about 3 hours. I've got to clean out the chicken poop and straw in that coop anyway...

Have you considered a non-tilled garden? It is one more way to to keep carbon contained. Here is an article if you are so inclined http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050421233709.htm . Raised beds are an easy, effective way for a small scale farmer to do no-till gardening. Easier on the back when weeding too.
Happy Gardening, Karen