It's ground engaging time. Seeds, manure, soil, and everything that goes with them. But that's not all. Cutting and hauling wood, chainsaws and the works!
Weed control, yes. But also rebuilding the soil that had been farmed for over 100 years. It is called "The back to Eden gardening system". Keep piling on organic matter year after year, I am about 10 years into it. Planting this spring I pulled back the dry mulch and dug through 4 inches of black compost to get to the soil below. Remember tree roots run deep and bring up valuable nutrients, their leaves and finely chipped branches mixed with green grass rot in the garden and rebuild the soil. Also by not tilling beneficial bacteria, fungi and whatnot can flourish.
Picking clean squash and whatnot that would be sitting on the soil is nice too.
It may look deep now but rains and snow will compact it down by about 1/2 by spring.
Forgot to mention that after 3 or 4 weeks the transplanted seedlings have established themselves and no longer need watering, I have not had a sprinkler set out since I started this.
Not a benefit to me but the deer like a soft bed to nap in
Gordy
EDIT: The thick mulch keeps the soil from drying out, even in last years drought The mulch also keeps the soil from freezing, I have gone out to bury kitchen scraps in the mulch in late January and found the compost and soil were unfrozen.